Community voices will remain at the forefront as Manningham Council embeds the Community Panel’s recommendations into its planning – moving forward with a shared vision for the future.

Council provided its response to the Panel's recommendations in March, with a commitment to implementing them to the fullest extent possible.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante said she was proud to be a Council that seeks community insights and takes meaningful action. She will meet with Panel members in May to discuss how the key priorites they identified for Manningham will be addressed. 

“Together, we’re building a future that’s inclusive, sustainable and prosperous for all – guided by the voices and aspirations of our residents,” Cr Diamante said.

The Panel was formed in September 2024 and tasked with delving into complex challenges to help determine key priorities for Manningham.

One of its initial focuses was to review Manningham’s existing Community Vision to ensure it reflected the community’s evolving needs and aspirations. The Panel agreed on an updated vision, which was then adopted unchanged by Council at its March meeting.

Manningham is a harmonious, inclusive and safe community that is committed to sustainable growth, well-being, and innovation. We celebrate our diversity and natural environment whilst fostering a connected community that enriches the lives of all.

— Manningham Community Panel (2025)

The Panel handed over its final recommendations to Council at a meeting held in February, following approximately 1,680 collective hours of deliberation. 

The report contains 14 recommendations and one minority report, which were formally adopted at the March Council meeting. The recommendations span several themes including community safety, transport, open spaces and more.

“We’ve carefully considered each recommendation and prepared a detailed response, outlining how we plan to approach and implement each of them,” Cr Diamante said.

“This will play a pivotal role in helping shape our strategic planning and will drive decisions that will reflect community values,” she said. 

The Panel’s recommendations will provide valuable guidance as Council develops its four-year Council Plan and 10-year Asset and Financial Plans.

For further information and stay up to date, visit yoursay.manningham.vic.gov.au/help-shape-manninghams-future

Road improvements, targeted education and speed zone reviews are key priorities in Manningham’s draft Road Safety Strategy 2025-2035.

Manningham Council is seeking feedback on the draft strategy, which includes clear objectives and a detailed action plan for implementation. It aims to enhance road safety - reducing traffic-related accidents, injuries and fatalities.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante said it will serve as a roadmap for proactive projects and programs over the next decade.

“We’re committed to improving our transport system as we strive for ‘vision zero’ – where nobody is seriously injured or killed on our roads,”

“To plan for safer roads, we needed to first understand the local issues and experiences of road users in Manningham,” said Cr Diamante.

“We received more than 200 responses to last year’s community survey, which told us what matters most to our community.

“Now we want to ensure the proposed strategy and action plan accurately reflects community priorities,” she said.

The proposed actions include:

• conducting road safety audits in high-risk areas
• upgrading infrastructure
• speed limit reviews
• continual road user education
• updating of the Manningham Walking and Cycling Strategy.

The draft strategy was developed using local road safety data, input from road safety partners and aligns with State and Federal strategies.

Community to have their say
Have your say on the draft Road Safety Strategy 2025-2035 by completing the survey via Your Say Manningham, until 21 February 2025.

Feedback from community and Councillor consultations will inform the final version of the Road Safety Strategy. It will be presented for Council endorsement in early 2025.

For more information, go to Your Say Manningham – subscribe to the project to receive email updates.
 

Council has endorsed Manningham’s suite of key strategic documents, marking a decisive step toward building a vibrant and sustainable future. These include our Council Plan 2025-2029 and 2025/26 Budget. 

Our Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante, said: “It’s essential that Council’s actions reflect what truly matters to the people who live here – what they value, what they want improved and what kind of future they envision for our neighbourhoods. 

“Endorsing these strategic documents is more than a procedural step. It’s a commitment to delivering real and lasting outcomes for our community.

“Together, they set a clear direction for the future – one that is community-led, inclusive and focused on delivering meaningful outcomes for everyone who calls Manningham home,” Cr Diamante said.

At its meeting on Monday 30 June, Council formally endorsed the following documents:

• Council Plan 2025-2029 (including the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan) and supporting Action Plan 
•  2025/26 Budget (an annual document)
• 10-Year Financial Plan 2025/26 to 2034/35
• Revenue and Rating Plan 2025/26 to 2028/29
• Asset Plan 2025–2035 and Asset Management Policy

The endorsed documents are the result of extensive community engagement. They have been shaped by the Manningham Community Panel’s recommendations, the Community Vision 2040, and feedback from the broader community, advisory bodies, partners, Councillors and Council officers.

“We’ve listened to our community’s concerns, priorities and aspirations for Manningham. From the rising cost of living, community safety, access to transport and open spaces, and protecting the unique character of our neighbourhoods as we grow – we understand what matters most to you.

“Together, we’ve created a roadmap that reflects our shared values and sets us on a path toward a healthier, more connected and resilient future,” Cr Diamante said.

At the heart of the Council Plan is a strong focus on building a healthier, more vibrant city. 

For the first time, we've integrated our Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan into the Council Plan to ensure a unified approach to achieving the highest possible standard of public health and wellbeing, while meeting legislated obligations.

“We know that building a great city isn’t just about infrastructure and services. It’s about the health, happiness and resilience of our people. This integrated approach ensures that every decision we make supports the wellbeing of our community, now and into the future.

"Together, all these strategic documents lay the foundation for a stronger, more inclusive Manningham – one that reflects our community’s voice and is ready to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead," Cr Diamante said.

View our full suite of strategic documents, including the Council Plan 2025-2029, 2025/26 Budget.
 

Our community panel came together for the first time on Saturday for the first of six and half day’s deliberation.

The Panel recruitment started with 8000 envelopes sent randomly to local households. Of those who accepted the invitation, a second random draw resulted in the final 40 people chosen. This second draw was ‘stratified,’ set up, so people chosen were representative of Manningham by age, gender, location, living situation and the language spoken at home.

This will be our most significant deliberative engagement to date, with the panel set to play a crucial role in shaping our major strategic plans. 

Here’s some feedback from two panel members after day one:

“I was surprised when I got the invite but said to myself, I have grandchildren and what better way to leave a legacy for them but to have a say into shaping Manningham.” 

“I am from an accounting background so especially interested to look at Council’s financial documents and exploring that side of the process.”     

You can also participate in the deliberative process by registering to be an observer. Observing the process means that you can form your own assessment of the merits of the deliberative approach.

We’ve completed a review of our Road Management Plan (RMP), and the updated plan was formally adopted at the Council meeting on 27 May 2025.

The RMP sets out how we manage more than 680 kilometres of local roads across Manningham, in line with the Road Management Act 2004 – ensuring they stay safe, functional and well-maintained for everyone in our community.

As part of the review, we proposed a number of updates to make the plan easier to read and more aligned with current best practice.

What you told us

We invited feedback from the community between 20 March and 17 April 2025.

Thank you to everyone who took part and provided input into the plan.

Most feedback focused on specific local issues like traffic conditions, road crossings, or footpaths which are areas outside the scope of the RMP. We’ve passed these concerns on to the relevant Council teams or other agencies like the Department of Transport and Planning to follow up.

We also heard that many of you supported our current practices, such as proactive vegetation management.

Based on your input, no major changes were made to the Road Management Plan. We did make some minor formatting improvements.

You can find out more about the consultation on Your Say Manningham.

View the Road Management Plan

View the Road Management Plan on our website. You can also view in person at the Manningham Civic Centre, 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster.

If you have questions or want to know more, please contact our Coordinator Sustainable Engineering on 9840 9333 or email us at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au