The much-loved Spring Outdoors Festival is back this September, with a jam-packed program of free and low-cost events for all ages.

Running from September to November, the festival – a partnership program of Manningham, Banyule and Nilumbik Councils – features more than 50 events celebrating nature, sustainability and local biodiversity. 

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante said the festival is a much-anticipated part of the annual calendar, offering the community a chance to connect with the environment and each other. 

“We’re lucky to live in an area with such incredible biodiversity and green spaces,” Cr Diamante said.

“The Spring Outdoors Festival is all about inspiring our community to get outside, learn something new and take simple steps that help our environment thrive.”

This year’s program shines a light on biodiversity, with environment seminars, a wildlife gardening seminar series, a guided nature walk and more. 

Festival highlights include:

• Breakfast with the platypus river walk (Sunday 7 September, 6:45am to 8:30am)
• Backyard birds of Warrandyte (Tuesday 14 October, 11:00am to 12:00pm)
• Wildlife Gardening Seminar Series: Attracting wildlife and birds into the garden (Thursday 30 October, 7:00pm to 9:00pm)
• Star gazing night at Ruffey Lake Park (Friday 17 October, 8:00pm to 10:00pm)

The festival kicks off on 7 September and runs until November. Bookings are essential.

For the full program and to register, visit manningham.vic.gov.au/spring-outdoors 

Getting involved in climate action is vital to creating a more liveable future. We’re making this action easier by offering resources, events, programs and partnerships. 

Since we recognised the Climate Emergency in 2020, we’ve introduced several initiatives to help us move towards our zero emission targets – for Council by 2028 and for the Manningham community by 2035. 

Here’s how we’re supporting you to act on climate, both individually and together as a community.

Individuals: How we can support 

We’re making individual change feel less solo by sharing handy resources, connecting you with government discounts and even providing a year’s supply of compostable bin liners. 

	1. Resources and discounts to go electric
	We’re supporting households to go electric with free resources, webinars and information sessions. Residents can also access installers and government discounts through our partnership with Solar Savers. The benefits? The opportunity to create a healthier, more efficient home while also powering a cleaner future.
	2. A network of public electric vehicle (EV) chargers
	Considering purchasing an electric vehicle (EV)? Owning one will soon be more convenient in Manningham, as we’re rolling out a network of nine public EV chargers from early 2025. The chargers will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, through government accredited GreenPower.
	3. FOGO support (and a free roll of liners!)
	The FOGO service is one of the simplest ways to reduce carbon emissions.  By using our FOGO bins, we can decrease the waste sent to landfill to create a healthier environment for us all. This means placing the right items in your FOGO bins and using the certified compostable liners (that meet the AS4736 standards), as these decompose.  To make this simpler, we’re providing each Manningham household with a free roll of 150 compostable liners (approximately one year’s supply), available for collection from the Manningham Civic Centre or Council Depot. We’re also sharing FOGO tips and tricks, ‘how to’ videos, translated language guides and more to help you with FOGO. Explore our helpful FOGO resources.
	4. Clothes swap days
	Fast fashion has a negative impact on our environment, accounting for 10 per cent of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. An alternative to this?  buying secondhand and vintage swapping clothes. Clothes swap days are a fantastic way to refresh your wardrobe and meet new people. Here at Council, we regularly run clothing exchange days. See when the next one is.

Our community: How we’re helping 

Our impact is greater when we work together. That’s why we’re facilitating community events and connecting you to local groups who make a positive difference.  

	5. Tree planting days
	Planting trees is one of the best and simplest ways to take climate action, while making Manningham a greener and more beautiful place to live and work.  Join us next National Tree Day (Sunday 28 July) to plant trees together. Check our What's on event calendar each July to find planting locations.
	6. Access to community groups
	Local environmental groups are a fantastic opportunity to connect with neighbours and make a difference in your shared backyard. We can connect you to: Andersons Creek Landcare Group Jumping Creek Catchment Landcare Group Friends Of Warrandyte State Park Wonga Park Environment Group Friends of Park Orchards Reserve Friends of Yarra Valley Parks
	7. A regular community garden
	The Doncaster Hill Community Garden is a friendly space for anyone interested in gardening and making new friends. Meeting every second Tuesday morning, volunteers tend to the garden with all produce donated to Doncare’s food relief program. Register for the next session.
	8. Sustainable schools program
	We run several programs to encourage local schools to protect and care for our natural environment, as well as sustainable education programs for our teacher network. This includes: Eastern Alliance for Sustainable Learning Resource Smart Schools Program Environmental Leadership Program for Schools Learn more about our schools programs.

We’re excited to launch our new expanded community award program to honour and celebrate individuals and groups who are doing amazing things in Manningham.

Mayor Deirdre Diamante has officially announced the new Manningham Community Awards program, with nominations opening on Monday 16 June 2025.

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have so many remarkable individuals, groups and organisations in our community, all working tirelessly to make a real difference,” Cr Diamante said.

“I’m thrilled to introduce the new Manningham Community Awards - a program dedicated to recognising the outstanding contributions of those who are helping to shape our vibrant community.

“This year, we will celebrate those who have gone above and beyond in making Manningham a better place to live, work and visit over the past 12 months.”

The expanded awards program will recognise achievements in eight categories with one of the individual winners also named the Manningham Citizen of the Year.

The expanded awards program will recognise achievements in eight categories with one of the individual winners also selected by the judging panel to be the Manningham Citizen of the Year. The categories are:

• Doreen Stoves Excellence in Volunteering: Recognising an individual who has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to volunteerism.
• Active Community: Recognising and individual or group who has contributed to community participation in active lifestyles, sports or physical activity. 
• Ageing Well: Recognising an individual or group who has contributed to enhancing the lives of older residents, fostering social connection, safety or active ageing.
• Artistic Achievement: Recognising an individual or group who has contributed to Manningham’s creative community, sparking artist, cultural or creative expression.
• Community Excellence: Recognising a community organisation or group that has delivered outstanding programs or initiatives contributing to the wellbeing, development and cohesion of the Manningham community.
• Community Health and Wellbeing: Recognising an individual or group who has enhanced health, wellbeing or resilience in the community, whether through advocacy, program development or direct service delivery.
• Inclusive Community: Recognising an individual or group who has actively contributed to community accessibility, inclusivity or diversity.
• Young Achiever: Recognising a young person aged under 25, who has made a positive impact within the Manningham community through demonstrated leadership, innovation, or commitment to helping others.

Nominations will be open Monday 16 June to Sunday 20 July, with the winners announced at an Award Ceremony at the Manningham Function Centre on Tuesday 16 September.

“I encourage you all to nominate someone who inspires you, someone who has positively contributed to our community. It’s a great way to show how much we appreciate what they do,” Cr Diamante said.

For more information on the awards and how to nominate, visit our Community Awards page.

Council has provided a submission to the Urban Design and Landscape Plan (UDLP) for the next stage of the Eastern Freeway Upgrades, as part of the North East Link Program (NELP).  

NELP recently exhibited the latest UDLP for the Eastern Freeway Upgrade from Tram Road to Springvale Road for community review and feedback, providing information about the project design, landscape plans and architectural plans.

We have provided recommendations throughout the submission that aim to improve the overall design and net community benefit for Manningham residents. 

Our submission identifies various matters in the UDLP for attention by NELP and reiterates Council’s strong and ongoing advocacy to ensure: 

• no net loss of open space results from the project, 
• a sensitive environmental approach including no further undergrounding of the Koonung Creek,
• active transport connectivity and safety are maximised, including safety at underpasses, and; 
• Net-community benefit outcomes are achieved through additional benefits and upgrades. 

We have also sought full transparency and accountability from NELP and its contractors on an agreed, documented and effective tree removal process, while maintaining our position for vegetation removal to be minimised to the greatest possible extent. 

Our detailed submission focuses on key areas across: 

• Net-community benefit 
• Open space 
• Urban design 
• Active transport connectivity and safety  
• Amenity 
• Future proofing 
• Local contexts and knowledge  
• Environmental impacts 
• Trees and landscape 
• Art, culture and history 
   

We lodged our submission in September 2025.

For more information, please download the Urban Design and Landscape Plan submission. - D25/47927 

For more information and to view the UDLP, visit Tram Road to Springvale Road - Victoria’s Big Build. 

What’s next? 

North East Link Project will consider all written comments and submissions received, then finalise the UDLP and submit it to the Minister for Planning for approval. 

After the Minister for Planning has approved the UDLP, the community will be updated on how feedback was considered. 

While North East Link refines the design for the Eastern Freeway Upgrades from Tram to Springvale Road through this UDLP – you’ll start to see the team setting up construction compounds for workers and preparing for further works along the Eastern Freeway. 

Council also continues to engage actively with North East Link beyond the UDLP process, including by reviewing detailed design packs, providing comments on upcoming construction and communications activities, and advocating for key community and environmental outcomes. While Council is only a stakeholder in this State-led project, we are doing our utmost to ensure the needs of our community are considered at all stages of the project.   

You can read more on the Big Build website and sign up to receive email updates. 

North East Link will notify the community once exhibition dates for a UDLP for the remaining stage of the Eastern Freeway Upgrades, from Hoddle Street to Burke Road, are released.