Come along to our 2025 Inspired Living Series panel to participate in an all-ages discussion on climate optimism and action. 

Lee Constable 

Lee is a science and sustainability presenter and edu-tainer. She is best known for hosting Network 10 kids’ science TV show Scope, as well as appearing on Studio 10 and War on Waste. Lee is the author of How to Save the Whole Stinkin’ Planet: A Garbological Adventure and How to Save the Whole Blinkin' Planet: A Renewable Energy Adventure. Lee uses comedy and humour on and off screen to reach untapped audiences and tackle the often-daunting topic of climate change. 

Ivy Sheng

Ivy is a 16-year-old student and youth advocate who is passionate about democracy, civic participation and community-led climate action. She is the creator and host of Taught, Not Told, a podcast that bridges generational gaps by sharing practical life lessons and personal stories from guests with diverse experiences – helping young people find clarity, direction and hope in an uncertain world. Ivy volunteers with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and City of Boroondara’s ‘Youth Voice’ reference group, where she works to make climate conversations more inclusive, grounded and hopeful.

Inspired Living Series – keynote speaker events

Our 2025 Inspired Living Series showcases five insightful, not-to-be-missed evenings. The series will introduce you to a diverse lineup of local keynote speakers who will offer unique insights on embracing sustainability.

Topics range from sustainable food to low waste lifestyles. Each speaker will share their journey – inspiring our audience to embrace positive choices, nurture a connection to nature, and foster community for a stronger, more resilient future.

Registration for this event is required.

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Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.

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As part of the MC Square 10 Year Anniversary celebrations, Manningham Art Studios is opening its doors for a range of free art activities to get you inspired for the new year!

Drop into the studios or our marquee in the forecourt between 11.00am and 3.00pm to try your hand at sketching, painting and hand-building with air-drying clay, and see demonstrations by some of our expert tutors.

Suitable for all ages.

Program of events

Home Harvest Manningham is a monthly home gardening seminar series that will teach you how to grow your own delicious fresh food at home.

Manningham has more than four seasons. Duncan Cocking from Leaf, Root and Fruit will deep dive into succession planning for local conditions.

Duncan will discuss the patterns that he sees in nature and how easily you can begin observing them too. Use these observations to inspire your gardening activities by working with nature rather than against it. Learn how to refine your succession planting and ripen that elusive Christmas tomato. Create your own action plan for your vegetable patch.

Topics covered include:

• the seasons of Melbourne/Manningham
• being an observant gardener
• Phenology
• timing of planting and succession planting
• growing Christmas tomatoes, creating an action plan.

Food swap from 6.45pm, session starts at 7.00pm.

Registration is recommended but not required.

This event is part of our Inspired Living Series. This series showcases an exciting range of fun and sustainable activities and events for all ages, supporting sustainability at home, in the community and at work.

Subscribe to our Environment Newsletter

Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.

Subscribe now

Home Harvest Manningham is a monthly home gardening series to inspire you to grow your own delicious fresh food at home.

Gardens are the natural habitat for all types of insects – the good, the bad and the ugly.

Integrated Pest Management aims to manage pests using a mixture of physical, cultural, and biological control methods, with low impact chemical being used as a last resort.

This session will cover:

• an introduction to Integrated Pest Management 
• being a detective – identifying the culprits
• beneficial insects versus pests
• using barriers and cultural strategies
• when to consider garden chemicals
• an introduction to companion plants to help control garden pests and diseases
• common garden pests and control options.

Food swap from 6.45pm, session starts at 7.00pm.

This event is part of our Inspired Living Series. This series showcases an exciting range of fun and sustainable activities and events for all ages, supporting sustainability at home, in the community and at work.

Subscribe to our Environment Newsletter

Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.

Subscribe now

Home Harvest Manningham is a monthly home gardening seminar series that will teach you how to grow your own delicious fresh food at home.

Karen Sutherland has a lifelong passion for growing her own food. In this seminar Karen will share with you her expertise in incorporating a bush tucker garden at your place.

This session will cover:

• the best bush food plants for gardens in Manningham
• which plants to pot vs those to plant in the ground
• basic growing information
• the basics of harvesting bush 'tucker'
• simple uses for both fresh and dried plants.

Start your passion for native edibles such as lemon and cinnamon myrtle, native thyme and sage, peppers, mints, fruits and berries.

Food swap from 6.45pm, session starts at 7.00pm.

Registration is recommended but not required.

This event is part of our Inspired Living Series. This series showcases an exciting range of fun and sustainable activities and events for all ages, supporting sustainability at home, in the community and at work.

Subscribe to our Environment Newsletter

Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.

Subscribe now

The Infant Feeding, Active play and Nutrition (INFANT) program provides parents with evidence-based skills and information about healthy eating and active play for their babies.

INFANT is an evidence-based initiative led by our local Maternal Child Health (MCH) Nurses.

Sessions cover topics including:

• feeding, solids introduction, healthy eating, food refusal and fussy eating
• strategies and ideas on how to play with your baby
• the role that parent wellbeing plays in your baby’s life
• experiences, strategies and tips from other parents. 

Cost: Free

Who should attend: Parents and caregivers

Please note: This is the 9 months session - for babies aged from 8 to 10 months.

We offer interactive sessions in four different age groups:

• 3 months (babies aged from 2 to 4 months)
• 6 months (babies aged from 5 to 7 months)
• 9 months (babies aged from 8 to 10 months)
• 12 months (babies aged from 11 to 13 months).

For more information, go to Maternal and Child Health Services or call 9840 9188.

Join the Astronomical Society of Victoria (ASV) for a stargazing evening at Ruffey Lake Park. 

ASV astronomers will be on hand with telescopes and demonstrations.

Key details

Please bring a torch covered with red cellophane (to keep your night vision), mosquito repellent, snacks and warm clothes. 

Telescopes will be arranged near Mimi's Memorial Tree in Ruffey Lake Park.

Parking will be available at The Boulevard Playground car park.

Please note, this event may be cancelled due to cloud cover (>25% cover) or in the event of a total fire ban or poor weather. Please provide a contact email for an automated update of any event changes.

Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

Want to hear about more events like this?

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Home Harvest Manningham is a monthly home gardening seminar series that will teach you how to grow your own delicious fresh food at home.

Want to be able to garden without spending a fortune? Maria Ciavarella from My Green Garden will show you how to utilise things you already have to garden and save money.

During this seminar you will discover innovative ways to create a sustainable garden without breaking the bank. Maria will share tips and tricks to help you save money while still achieving a beautiful and eco-friendly garden.

This session will cover how to:

• repurpose everyday items
• recycle organic waste
• make the most of your garden space.

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone looking to embrace sustainable practices and save money in the process.

As a special treat, all attendees will participate in a tomato seeding activity with a heritage or heirloom seed variety from the Bulleen Art and Garden range.

The community food, seed and garden swap takes place at 6.45pm, 15 minutes before each session.

Registration is recommended but not required.

This event is part of our Inspired Living Series. This series showcases an exciting range of fun and sustainable activities and events for all ages, supporting sustainability at home, in the community and at work.

Subscribe to our Environment Newsletter

Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.

Subscribe now

By going all-electric and improving the efficiency of your home, you can improve comfort and lower your energy bills.

Solar Savers is a local government initiative set up to help residents go all-electric with trustworthy suppliers and quality products. 

The Solar Savers program is expanding again in 2025 to provide greater choice - with more products and multiple suppliers. 

From efficient electric heating/cooling and hot water systems, induction cooktops, solar panels, batteries, EV chargers, insulation, draught proofing and home energy assessments, Solar Savers have done the hard work to find quality suppliers and negotiated competitive pricing.

Through Solar Savers, Manningham residents can access:

• information about eligibility for State and Federal discounts, incentives and interest-free loans
• quality products at competitive prices
• multiple quotes from trusted suppliers
• ongoing advice and support from quoting through to installation
• reliable products, a quality installation, additional safety checks
   

Join us at this in-person session with the Solar Savers team to learn about the exciting new offerings, how it all works and get started improving comfort and energy efficiency at home.

Registration is essential. 

Electrify Your Life

This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, which supports residents to go all-electric at home, creating a brighter Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life.

By going all-electric, you can create a safer home and brighter Manningham.

Thinking about adding a battery to your home solar system? Want to know how to power your home during blackouts, reduce your bills, or even get paid to support the grid? 

Join expert presenter Glen Morris for an informative session on home energy storage systems. 

Topics covered:

• Understand the pros and cons of different battery types
• Get tips on choosing the right installer and product
• Battery safety and installation rules
• How your EV can power your home (V2H/V2G)
• Learn how to join a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) and earn credits
• Find out how to access battery rebates through the Federal Government’s new 'Cheaper Home Battery Program'.

About our presenter:

Glen Morris is a highly respected expert in off-grid and renewable energy systems, with more than 30 years' experience in the design and implementation of innovative energy solutions.

Glen has played a pivotal role in shaping Australia’s renewable energy standards and policies. For over a decade, he has served on the Australian Standards Committee for renewable energy systems.

Additionally, he held the position of Vice President of the Smart Energy Council for 6 years, contributing to advancing the renewable energy sector nationwide.

Living off-grid for the past 34 years, Glen embodies the principles of sustainable living, combining his technical knowledge with a deep commitment to renewable energy innovation.
 

Registration is essential. 

Electrify Your Life 

This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, supporting residents to go all-electric at home and power up a brighter future for Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life. 

Subscribe to our Environment Newsletter

Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.

Subscribe now

To help you remove garden waste to prepare for bushfire season, you can drop off either one car boot, station wagon, ute or a 6‘x4’ level trailer load of garden waste on certain dates throughout the year.

Who can use this service?

You need to live in a Bushfire Prone Area to use this service. We will ask you to show proof of residency (either a driver's licence or rates notice) at the check-in point on the day. If someone else drops off the garden waste for you, make sure you provide them with your proof. 

If you are not eligible for this service or have excess garden waste to dispose, you can:

• order an additional garden waste bin for spring
• book a bundled branches collection
• take it to a local transfer station.

Need help? Contact us

What items can and cannot be dropped off?

How much can you drop off?

You can drop off either one car boot, station wagon, ute or a 6’x4’ level trailer load of garden waste for free. There is a charge for any extra garden waste – see costs below.
 

Garden waste load type	Example	Cost
Car boot		FREE
Station wagon or ute		FREE
Single trailer level – 6’x4’		FREE
Single trailer heaped – 6’x4’ (up to 1.1m3)		+ $30
Single trailer high sides – 6’x4’ (up to 2m3)		+ $50
Tandem trailer level (up to 1.25m3)		+ $30
Tandem trailer heaped (up to 2m3)		+ $50
Tandem trailer high sides (up to 3.65m3)		+ $90

How to pay

You can only pay by EFT on the day.

How to book

Choose a date from the list below, select your preferred 30 minute timeslot and click ‘Register’ to finalise your booking. Each household is eligible to attend one time slot each month.

UPDATE: This event has passed. View the webinar recording.

By going all-electric and improving the efficiency of your home, you can improve comfort and lower your energy bills.

Solar Savers is a local government initiative that helps residents go electric with trustworthy suppliers and quality products. 

The Solar Savers program is expanding to provide greater choice, with more products and suppliers. 

Join a series of informative webinars during August 2025 to learn about the exciting new offerings. 

Session 1: Solar, batteries and EV chargers

In this presentation, the Solar Savers team will cover:

• solar PV systems
• batteries
• EV chargers 

Learn how these products work and their benefits. You will also hear from Solar Savers' panel of trusted suppliers, who will answer common questions about these products.

Join us at further sessions throughout August:

Electrify Your Life

This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, which supports residents to go all-electric at home, creating a brighter Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life.

Come along to our 2025 Inspired Living Series panel to learn about the exciting future of electrification and energy efficiency – both at home and beyond!

Heidi Lee

Heidi is the CEO of Beyond Zero Emissions, an independent think thank that shows how Australia can prosper in a zero emissions economy through ambitious research, influential engagement and compelling communications. Heidi has two decades' experience in sustainable design and architecture, and in 2024, was named one of The Australian's 'Top 100 Green Energy Power Players' for the third year running. 

Tim Forcey

Tim is one of Australia's leading voices in home energy efficiency and electrification. He is an avid researcher and author of 'My Efficient Electric Home Handbook', which captures a decades worth of advice and insight. Tim founded and contributes to the thriving My Efficient Electric Home online community. As a qualified home energy advisor who has advised in more than 1,000 homes, Tim will share his main insights on how to transform and retrofit any home to be efficient, comfortable and sustainable. 

Brendan Lang

Brendan is an electrician with more than 10 years' experience operating his electrical contracting business. He's also the founder of Get Off Gas. The core motivation for his work is to help accelerate the transition to renewable all-electric buildings and transport, which will reduce running costs and improve liveability. Brendan and his Get Off Gas team offer solutions to electrify homes, with a strong focus on educating homeowners to ensure they make great choices for the environment and their wallets.

Inspired Living Series – keynote speaker events

Our 2025 Inspired Living Series showcases five insightful, not-to-be-missed evenings. The series will introduce you to a diverse lineup of local keynote speakers who will offer unique insights on embracing sustainability.

Topics range from sustainable food to low waste lifestyles. Each speaker will share their journey – inspiring our audience to embrace positive choices, nurture a connection to nature, and foster community for a stronger, more resilient future.

Registration for this event is required.
 

Electrify Your Life 

This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, supporting residents to go all-electric at home and power up a brighter future for Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life. By switching to electric appliances, you can create a safer and healthier home for your family. 

This is a Partner Event hosted independently as part of Renew’s Sustainable House Day 2025 program. Visit Sustainable House Day for the full program.

Subscribe to our Environment Newsletter

Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.

Subscribe now

By going all-electric and improving the efficiency of your home, you can improve comfort and lower your energy bills.

Solar Savers is a local government initiative that helps residents go electric with trustworthy suppliers and quality products. 

The Solar Savers program is expanding to provide greater choice, with more products and suppliers. 

Join a series of informative webinars during August 2025 to learn about the exciting new offerings. 

Session 3: Reverse cycle air conditioners (split systems)

In this presentation, you'll learn about reverse cycle air conditioning systems, how they work and the benefits of installing one. You will also hear from Solar Savers' panel of trusted suppliers, who will answer common questions about this energy efficient heating and cooling option.
 

Registration is essential. 

Join us at further sessions throughout August:

Electrify Your Life

This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, which supports residents to go all-electric at home, creating a brighter Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life.

By going all-electric and improving the efficiency of your home, you can improve comfort and lower your energy bills.

Solar Savers is a local government initiative that helps residents go electric with trustworthy suppliers and quality products. 

The Solar Savers program is expanding to provide greater choice, with more products and suppliers. 

Join a series of informative webinars during August 2025 to learn about the exciting new offerings. 

Session 4: Induction cooktops

In this presentation, you'll learn about induction cooktops, how they work and the benefits of installing one. You will also hear from Solar Savers' panel of trusted suppliers, who will answer common questions about this energy efficient cooking option.
 

Registration is essential. 

Join us at further sessions throughout August:

Electrify Your Life

This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, which supports residents to go all-electric at home, creating a brighter Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life.

By going all-electric and improving the efficiency of your home, you can improve comfort and lower your energy bills.

Solar Savers is a local government initiative that helps residents go electric with trustworthy suppliers and quality products. 

The Solar Savers program is expanding to provide greater choice, with more products and suppliers. 

Join a series of informative webinars during August 2025 to learn about the exciting new offerings. 

Session 5: Insulation and Draught Proofing

In this presentation, you'll learn about insulation and draught proofing, how they work and the benefits of installing them in your home. You will also hear from Solar Savers' panel of trusted suppliers, who will answer common questions about insulating and draught proofing your property.
 

Registration is essential. 

Join us at further sessions throughout August:

Electrify Your Life

This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, which supports residents to go all-electric at home, creating a brighter Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life.

UPDATE: This event has passed. View the webinar recording.

By going all-electric and improving the efficiency of your home, you can improve comfort and lower your energy bills.

Solar Savers is a local government initiative that helps residents go electric with trustworthy suppliers and quality products. 

The Solar Savers program is expanding to provide greater choice, with more products and suppliers. 

Join a series of informative webinars during August 2025 to learn about the exciting new offerings. 

Session 2: Heat pump hot water systems

In this presentation, you'll learn about heat pump hot water systems, how they work and the benefits of installing one. You will also hear from Solar Savers' panel of trusted suppliers, who will answer common questions about this energy efficient hot water option.
 

Join us at further sessions throughout August:

Electrify Your Life

This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, which supports residents to go all-electric at home, creating a brighter Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life.

By switching to induction cooking, you can create a safer home for your family.

Curious about switching to induction cooking? Keen to reduce food waste in your kitchen? Join us for a hands-on cooking workshop, followed by a community meal hosted by Ajani Neighbourhood House.

Our facilitator from Open Table will provide an educational and interactive cooking experience, focusing on innovative yet simple ways to reduce our household food waste. You'll learn more about the benefits of induction cooking and how Solar Savers can make it easy to switch. 

Be inspired to get creative with vegetable scraps, odds and ends and excess seasonal produce!

Workshop content:

• Induction cooking - how it works, cookware, how to switch
• Food waste impacts
• Interactive cooking demonstration and tasting - Veggie Scrap Fritters
• Hands on activity  - Pantry Clear Out Bliss Balls

The workshop will be followed by a 2-course lunch, including food prepared during the hands on activity.

About Open Table

Open Table is a Melbourne based charity with the dual purpose of increasing food security and reducing food waste. They share good food that would otherwise go to waste through regular free community lunches and food relief programs.

Please note:

Registrations are essential and places are limited.

• This workshop is funded by Manningham Council and hosted in partnership with Ajani Neighbourhood House. The event admission fee paid to Ajani covers the cost of the venue, lunch, tea and coffee.
• This event is aimed at adults and is not suitable for children.
• Food tasting is involved - you will be required to detail any allergies when registering.
• Please wear close-toed shoes to the event.

Power up a cleaner future

This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, which supports residents to go all-electric at home, creating a brighter Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life.

Subscribe to our Environment Newsletter

Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.

Subscribe now