Women’s and girls’ sport is set for a boost in Wonga Park with the local netball facility to undergo a major redevelopment.

Manningham Council has secured a $1.47 million grant to upgrade the Wonga Park Netball Facility through the Australian Government’s Play Our Way program.

This funding is in addition to $450,000 allocated in Council’s 2024/25 capital works budget to deliver a new pavilion, lighting and to reconstruct the netball courts.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante, welcomed the funding announcement, describing it as a huge win for women and girls’ sport and the Wonga Park community.

“We’d like to thank the Australian Government for their support in providing quality facilities for women and girls in Manningham that help reduce barriers and increase participation in sport and physical activity,” Cr Diamante said.

“Advocating for more inclusive and equal community facilities is a key part of Council's role and we’re thrilled that we’ve been able to achieve this significant win in collaboration with Wonga Park Netball Club.

“This is going to make a huge difference to the club and players – providing toilets, change facilities and storage at the courts. New lighting will also allow the club to train in the evenings,” the Mayor added.

Wonga Park Netball Club spokesperson, Jeanette Morriss, said the funding announcement was a fantastic early Christmas present for the club.

“We are just so excited. It’s going to be amazing for women and girls in sport and will create a much safer and inclusive space for our 150 players,” Ms Morris said.

“We would like to thank the Federal Government for the funding and the work Councillors and Council staff have done in advocating on our behalf,” she said.

We’re installing 3 new community batteries to capture and store renewable energy, so we can power our facilities more sustainably. 

This is one step towards our goal of achieving zero emissions for Manningham Council by 2028 and for our community by 2035.

Community battery benefits 

These batteries – at Mullum Mullum Stadium, MC Square and Manningham Council Depot – will deliver:

• lower emissions
• a more stable grid
• backup power to the site during an outage

How do community batteries work?

Community batteries store extra solar power from that site and release it when demand is high.

This keeps the grid reliable, which will become increasingly important as more renewable energy powers our community. 

When will construction begin?

Construction will begin in October 2025, with all 3 batteries switched on by March 2026.

How will this impact me? 

Compact and quiet, these batteries won’t disrupt your power supply or services. 

Victorian Government funding 

The battery at Mullum Mullum Stadium is made possible thanks to State Government funding, as part of the 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program.  

Learn more 

Join our free information session in March 2026 to learn how these batteries work, why they matter and how you can be part of the clean energy future. Details coming soon.
 

A new wave of youth leadership is making its mark as the 2025 Manningham Youth Advisory Committee (MYAC) steps forward to amplify young voices in local decision-making.

Together, these members will help shape our initiatives and contribute to meaningful, positive changes across our community.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante welcomed the newly appointed committee members and reiterated Council’s commitment to elevating youth voices.

"Our young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow – they’re leaders today. This committee ensures their voices are heard and their ideas help shape a stronger, more inclusive community,” Cr Diamante said.

“Young people bring fresh perspectives and bold ideas. By giving them a platform, we’re helping build a community that reflects the hopes and needs of all generations,” she said.

Returning member Sienna Strangis shared their excitement about the new term. 

“Young people are just as diverse as the wider community, and it's essential that we’re represented in the decision-making process. Being at the table ensures our voices are heard on the issues that matter to us.”

The committee’s 2025 priorities are:

• youth safety and crime prevention
• transport and accessibility – enhancing public transport options, supporting young people without a driver’s license, and improving pedestrian and traffic safety
• recreation and public facilities – upgrading local recreation facilities, creating more inclusive community spaces, and increasing green and open areas
• community inclusion and engagement – encouraging volunteering, local opportunities for all youth, and responding to global challenges like climate change and displacement through local action
• housing and youth support services – advocating for more affordable housing and expanded youth support programs and financial assistance
• education and civic participation
• environmental sustainability.

In collaboration with Council and the broader community, MYAC members will play a key role in shaping local policies and programs, promoting positive change and empowering young people as confident and active leaders.

Now in its fourth year, MYAC has a renewed structure that better reflects the diversity of our local community. 

The 2025 committee is made up of:

• 9 public representatives aged between 15 to 25 who live, work or study in Manningham (including 3 returning members)
• 7 school representatives, each nominated by one of Manningham’s secondary schools, collectively representing nearly 9,000 students
• 4 youth service representatives, nominated by Manningham Youth Services (Each).

The committee remains a vital platform for young people to share their perspectives, develop leadership skills and gain experience that supports their personal, educational and professional growth.

We encourage all young people in Manningham to stay engaged and get involved.

We invite residents to provide feedback on upcoming projects in Warrandyte and Wonga Park in November.

Our CEO, Andrew Day, encouraged residents to share their thoughts and ideas at upcoming consultation sessions – to help ensure future projects reflect community values and priorities.

“We want to hear directly from the people who know the area best – its residents,” said CEO, Andrew Day.

"If you like the project – tell us. If you have ideas to improve the project – tell us. Your feedback, no matter the opinion, is essential to helping us make informed decisions for the community," he said.

The sessions will consult on projects across various stages. Some will be in the initial planning phase, where community sentiment and input are vital. Others will be further advanced, where project designs will be shared, and officers will be available to answer questions.

Each session will focus on projects within its suburb.

Consultation Session details

• Monday 25 November, 4.00pm to 7.00pm, Wonga Park Hall, corner of Launders Avenue and Yarra Road
• Monday 2 December, 4.00pm to 7.00pm, Warrandyte Community Hall, 2-8 Taroona Avenue 

Can't attend a session? Provide your feedback online.

Projects

Wonga Park

• Paynters Road

Warrandyte

• Pound Road (stage two) footpath upgrade
• West End Road footpath upgrade
• Main Yarra Trail Extension, stages three (Pound Road to Taroona Avenue) and four (Taroona Avenue)
• Tindals Road footpath upgrade
• Blair Street drainage upgrade
• Mitchell Avenue drainage upgrade
• Pedestrian Refuge at Russell Road
• Alexander Road road upgrades

There will be opportunities to discuss other projects, which may be taken on notice as required.

We host these sessions twice yearly as part of our ongoing commitment to meaningful community engagement.

Stay informed about upcoming events and outcomes by visiting the Your Say Manningham website. 

Subscribe to the project page for email updates on current and future consultations.

18 October 2024

Council officers have today seized two dogs suspected of being involved in animal aggression and livestock losses in the Wonga Park and Warrandyte South area.

This action was taken this morning, after officers were able to formally speak to an individual who is assisting Council with our ongoing investigations.

We are assessing all available evidence. We encourage any witnesses with new information that could assist with our investigation to contact us directly on 9840 9333 at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au.
 

16 October 2024

We are actively investigating reports of uncontained dogs, animal aggression and livestock losses in the Wonga Park and Warrandyte South area.

Since we received reports early last week, we have:

• visited 26 local properties that house large dogs, including German Shepherds, to confirm they are appropriately contained and that the owners understand their obligations to contain their dogs
• met with local residents, taken multiple witness statements and photos related to the reports – however, at this stage, we have not collected evidence that directly links the reported incidents to dogs from an individual property
• been in contact with local police
• continued to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to attend to emergency reports relating to community safety.

We have not received any reports of further attacks on livestock or wildlife since Monday this week.

If you have information about this

As part of our ongoing investigation, we are collecting all available evidence and encourage any witnesses to contact us directly. Timely and accurate reporting will assist with our investigation.

Our officers are ready and available to follow up any new information and will meet with witnesses to take statements and gather evidence, once reported.

Direct evidence is required before we can take legal steps to seize or remove animals from a property. It’s important to note, social media speculation doesn’t assist our investigation, it can just create concern in our community. If you have witnessed something in relation to this matter, please contact us directly as we cannot act on social media content alone. Where we have sufficient direct evidence, we will take all appropriate and available actions.

Contacting us

If you have witnessed something, we encourage you to let us know as soon as possible.

If you have information or evidence relating to these incidents and that could assist with our investigation, please contact us on 9840 9333 at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au

We have officers on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to attend to emergency reports related to community safety.

Calls received outside of office hours, between 5.00pm to 8.30am and on weekends, are directed to our on-call after hours emergency service.

Doncaster Park and Ride will close from Sunday 12 January 2025, with temporary bus stops to be put in place along Doncaster Road.

This is part of NELP’s upcoming redevelopment of the facility, which will connect it to the Eastern Busway – a new dedicated busway along the Eastern Freeway.

Doncaster Park and Ride has been a valued service for many years, providing convenient parking and bus services for hundreds of commuters daily. 

Manningham Council recognises the closure of the Doncaster Park and Ride will significantly impact the Manningham community.  We are actively advocating on your behalf to improve alternative commuter options. 

Though we have made several requests to NELP, we’re disappointed with the State’s lack of alternatives for impacted commuters and will continue advocating for further options to minimise disruption. 

Bulleen Park and Ride opened in April 2023 to provide replacement parking and other travel options, while the Doncaster facility is closed for upgrades.

However, as the Bulleen facility has been consistently operating near capacity, there are limited car spaces available to accommodate commuters affected by the Doncaster facility’s closure. 

As the Doncaster Park and Ride bus services will now operate from the newly constructed temporary bus on Doncaster Road from 12 January 2025, we also encourage you to check before you travel and plan your journey via the PTV Journey Planner. 

Manningham’s new Councillors have elected Councillor Deirdre Diamante as Manningham Mayor and Councillor Andrew Conlon as Deputy Mayor for the year ahead. 

Unanimously voted in by her fellow Councillors at the Annual Meeting of Council on 19 November 2024, Cr Diamante said it is an honour to lead the newly elected Council in the first year of its four-year term. 

The Tullamore Ward Councillor is passionate about equal opportunity, our natural environment and family, and has been a Manningham resident for more than 40 years. A Councillor since 2020, Cr Diamante previously served as Manningham Mayor in 2022/23. 

“I have grown up in Manningham, in Council Street, and the opportunity to again lead this City in public service is truly amazing,” Cr Diamante said.

“I want Manningham to continue to be a great place to live, learn and grow. I want my children to want to live here and want to raise their families here.” 

Cr Diamante said some of her key priorities over the next year will include advocating for the Manningham community on the North East Link Project, working with local multicultural communities, supporting the work of our healthy ageing unit and enhancing opportunities for local businesses.

“I look forward to collaborating with all of our Councillors in developing our Council Plan, the Budget and our strategic approach for Manningham, harnessing our extensive expertise and experience for our community.”

Cr Andrew Conlon was elected as Deputy Mayor and congratulated Cr Diamante.

“This is an important year to set the tone for our Council term and I know you will support us to collaborate and make the right decisions for our community,” Cr Conlon said. 

Find out more about Manningham’s Councillors.

Watch the Annual Meeting of Council.
 

We’re seeking feedback on our draft Road Safety Strategy 2025-2035, which identifies road improvements, targeted education and speed zone reviews as our key priorities. 

The draft strategy outlines clear objectives and a detailed action plan to enhance road safety and reduce traffic-related accidents, injuries and fatalities

Our Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante, said this strategy will guide 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,” said Cr Diamante. 

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

“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.

Key proposed actions include:

• road safety audits in high-risk areas
• infrastructure upgrades
• speed limit reviews
• continual road user education
• updates to the Manningham Walking and Cycling Strategy

The draft strategy was informed by feedback from last year’s community consultation, local road safety data, input from road safety partners and aligns with State and Federal strategies.
 

Have Your Say

Provide feedback by completing our survey on the draft Road Safety Strategy 2025-2035 via Your Say Manningham by 21 February 2025. 

Feedback from the community and Councillors will shape the final version of the strategy, which will be presented for Council endorsement in early 2025.

Did you know there are 20 virtual fence posts positioned along Jumping Creek Road, between Nelson Drive and the entrance to Warrandyte State Park’s Jumping Creek Reserve, to protect local wildlife and help reduce roadkill?

Installed by Manningham Council as part of the Jumping Creek Road upgrade, these innovative virtual fences are designed to save animals’ lives by releasing sound and light when a car approaches.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante, said the initiative is an important step towards addressing wildlife road fatalities.

“These virtual fences are a fantastic way to protect our local wildlife, especially in areas where animals frequently cross the road,” Cr Diamante said.

“We strategically placed these fences near Jumping Creek, as animals use creeks as habitat corridors.” 

“You will see the fence posts along the side of the road… and we encourage residents to be aware and help us keep our wildlife safe.”

While they might look like street posts, these virtual fences play a crucial role in enhancing road safey for both wildlife and drivers. 

Local wildlife rescuer, Katja Gutwein, has seen the benefits of these fences firsthand.

“The virtual fence is a low-cost solution that has drastically reduced wildlife fatalities and improved safety for all road users,” Ms Gutwein said. 

If you spot any damage to the fences, contact Manningham Council on 9840 9333 or email environment@manningham.vic.gov.au. 

The fences were installed as part of the Jumping Creek Road upgrade, which aims to improve road safety for all road users.

For more information on this project, visit yoursay.manningham.vic.gov.au/jumping-creek-road-upgrade.