Through increased climate action, we aim to enhance the liveability of Manningham, promote community health and wellbeing, and boost the resilience of our natural and built environments, as well as the economy.

Climate emergency resolution

In October 2021, Manningham Council unanimously adopted climate mitigation targets. These targets are:

• net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2028 for Council operations
• net zero emissions by 2035 for the Manningham community.

The climate emergency resolution and the net zero targets empower us to enhance climate action. Community feedback enabled a shared commitment with Council to respond to climate change with decisive action.

Climate Emergency Response Plan

Climate change is the defining issue of our time. That’s why we're pursuing ambitious but achievable goals of our own as part of our climate emergency response. 

Focus areas:

• improved public transport and car share services
• more electric vehicle charging infrastructure
• conversion to energy efficient LED streetlights
• more rooftop solar
• household and building energy saving measures
• diverting food and garden organics (FOGO) waste away from landfill
• incentives to recycle and repurpose materials
• preserving and strengthening local biodiversity and bushland
• continuing community education and awareness raising through workshops, events and activities.
   

What we’re doing

We’re adopting a diverse approach to tackling climate change and its effects. We know a challenge like this requires action on several fronts. 

We developed the Climate Emergency Response Plan, our blueprint to address the impacts from climate change for our community. Each year we will publish a Climate Implementation Plan Update to ensure transparency with our community in actions to meet the set targets.

Our key actions include:

Sustainable transport 

We've introduced a pilot car share service at Doncaster Hill. We've transitioned more than 60 per cent of our fleet to low emission vehicles. We're increasing the number of electric vehicles (EVs) in our fleet and we've begun electrifying our plant equipment, including:

• a fully electric heavy vehicle
• electric mowers
• gardening equipment such as blowers and hedgers. 

We're expanding our EV charging infrastructure, including 14 chargers for Council vehicles and a network of public EV chargers.

Sustainable energy

• a program to convert all streetlights to energy efficient lighting
• transferring all our electricity to renewable power (at lower than business as usual costs)
• rollout of solar and battery storage program (10 buildings per year)
• supporting the Solar Savers Program, an incentive and education program for residents to convert to all-electric homes.
   

Nature and greening our suburbs

• planting 2000 street trees each year
• maintaining streetscapes and reserves
• preserving and strengthening local biodiversity and bushland reserves.
   

Community education

We run monthly biodiversity walks and produce a monthly What's On e-newsletter. We run webinars and workshops to educate and raise awareness on the circular economy, climate and biodiversity, including:

• Inspired Living Series
• Spring Outdoors
• Electrify your home
• Clothes swap days
• Detox your home.

View the events calendar.

Related pages

Take climate and environmental action

Council Plan theme

Council Plan 2021-25 was adopted at the Council Meeting on 24 August 2021.

We are developing a new a four year Council Plan, ten year Asset Plan and ten year Financial Plan in pursuit of our Community Vision 2040. A Community Panel will make recommendations to Council on what to include in the Plans.

The Council Plan is our promise to you in pursuit of our community’s vision for the future and to achieve the very best for Manningham.

The Council Plan 2021 – 2025 sets out our priorities and goals over Council’s four year term.

Themes and goals

The Council Plan has five themes and 11 goals.

We have developed actions to deliver outcomes for every goal, for every theme.

Download the Council Plan 

How can my school get involved?

Schools can sign up for the following programs and events.

Eastern Alliance for Sustainable Learning

Manningham Council is a member of the Eastern Alliance for Sustainable Learning (EASL). EASL provides professional development, learning and networking opportunities for early years, primary and secondary schools. Events run throughout the year, including the Learning for Sustainability Conference held in March.

Register for the annual Learning for Sustainability Conference.

Resource Smart Schools Program

Get involved in the Resource Smart Schools Program run by EASL. The program can help your school embed sustainability into everything you do, including ways to promote biodiversity, minimise waste, save energy and water, and take action on climate change.

Sustainability and Environmental Education Day 

In 2025 we are piloting a new program for Manningham primary schools, Sustainability and Environmental Education Day (SEED).  

This program will be an incursion, and will cover four themes of biodiversity, composting, waste and Traditional Owner education. The program includes both theory and hands on activities to enable students to gain a practical understanding of sustainability initiatives within their local context. The program is free of charge for schools and lead by Council Officers and in partnership with the Wurundjeri Corporation Education Unit.   

Lead to Sustain Conference

Bring your students along for a day of discovery and education at Currawong Bush Park. 

The Lead to Sustain Conference offers young people in our community the opportunity to learn how to lead the implementation of sustainable actions for the benefit of our local community. The conference includes activities dedicated to supporting biodiversity and ecology, saving water, reducing waste, recycling and reducing energy consumption.

This conference is designed to follow on from the SEED program and provides a day of celebration for the students and schools that participated in SEED. 

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Our 10 Year Financial Plan 2024/25 to 2033/34 provides a financial road map for the future. Adopted at the 25 June 2024 Council Meeting, the 10 Year Financial Plan ensures we deliver on the Council Plan and continue to be a financially sustainable organisation.

Highlights of the 10 Year Financial Plan

• Provides the long-term financial resourcing for the future to build a better Manningham.
• Provision of funding to deliver on a range of key strategies and initiatives such as community health and wellbeing, our parks and public spaces, road maintenance and footpaths, the environment and waste and storm water management, support for local businesses including the introduction of a co-working business hub, a youth hub, and increased community grant funding to support community led initiatives.
• We will deliver on our Climate Emergency Action Plan to reduce the impacts of climate change. We have allocated $11 million in our capital works program over the next ten years for Circular Economy (Sustainability) initiatives.
• A commitment of $1.69 billion of operational expenditure over 10 years (an average of $169 million per annum) to deliver more than 100 services for our community.
• The delivery of a 10 year Capital Works Program of $549 million (an average of $55 million per annum) to renew and enhance Council’s $2.7 billion of community assets. This program focuses on core infrastructure such as footpaths, drainage, roads and open space and will enhance the liveability and amenity of our municipality.
• The Capital Works Program is in addition to the $247 million over 10 years (an average of $25 million per annum) to maintain our important community assets included in our operating budget. 
• A significant allocation of funding in the Capital Works Program for major projects including the construction of major community and recreational facilities. These projects will be funded primarily from Council’s Strategic Fund.
• Average forecast general rate increases in line with the State Government’s rate cap/forecast CPI.
• Despite the challenging economic environment, we have continued to focus on ongoing financial sustainability through innovation and efficiencies, and containment of expenditure at less than inflation. We are also seeking alternative sources of income to reduce the dependence on rate income, such as ensuring that we strategically unlock the potential of our assets to enhance our financial sustainability.

Strategic Property Portfolio

The Strategic Property Portfolio (SPP) makes up part of the 10 Year Financial Plan by contributing to Council’s vision of being a financially sustainable organisation. Adopted at the 25 October 2022 Council Meeting, the Strategic Property Portfolio intention is to acquire property that will strategically enhance opportunities for development and community enhancement.  

The SPP vision and principal:

The Strategic Property Portfolio will provide the City of Manningham with an additional funding source to enhance services and associated infrastructure for the benefit of the community.

Contribute to an alternative income stream to achieve Council’s mission to be a financially sustainable Council.

 Acquired properties

Toilets allow people to spend more time in public spaces to socialise, exercise, recreate, learn, support local businesses and to engage with their community. Equitable access is critical for the health, wellbeing and diversity of a community.

Focus areas:

• opening up five existing toilets to provide new public toilet facilities
• constructing new public toilet facilities in eleven locations
• upgrading older style toilets to improve safety and be gender inclusive
• conduct accessibility audits and upgrade access paths to public toilet facilities
• provide Changing Places at major destinations around Manningham
• provide public toilets along linear trails at regular intervals as site conditions permit
• investigate a program of artworks on blank walls of toilet buildings to raise awareness of our toilet facilities, improve perceptions of safety and activate public spaces.

Council Plan theme

The Community Infrastructure Plan will direct Manningham’s significant investment in new and upgraded infrastructure and guide decisions to decommission those assets that no longer meet the needs of the community. It reflects two of our Council Plan 2021–2025 priorities for liveable places and spaces and for a healthy community.

Focus areas:

• Early Years
• Young People
• Libraries and learning spaces
• Arts and Culture
• Community meeting spaces
• Community Services (medical and legal services, material aid and aged care).

Council Plan theme

Transport systems shape cities, build lifestyles and drive local economies, and a well-integrated transport network often underpins the successful operation of a city. 

Focus areas:

• improve current transport options including bus and active transport
• reinforce advocacy for the Doncaster Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) 
• actions that will assist Manningham to move towards sustainable transport technologies such as on-demand bus services, car-share schemes and electric vehicles 
• support the concept of achieving a City of 20-minute neighbourhoods throughout the municipality.

Related downloads

Council Plan theme

We are committed to ensuring that all people in our community are treated with dignity, respect and fairness. We will consider the gender, equality and diversity of all people in our community as we develop our plans, strategies and services.

Focus areas:

• an overarching policy and planning environment which commits Council to addressing gender equality and other disadvantage related to intersectionality
• leadership commitment, capability, and accountability
• an organisational culture which embraces gender equality, diversity, and inclusion
• people leaders and key staff who have the understanding, commitment, confidence, and skills to implement gender equity action, including Gender Impact Assessments
• policies and systems which enable effective action to progress gender equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Related Pages

Careers

Council Plan theme

The Templestowe Village Structure Plan seeks to provide greater certainty for residents, businesses and landowners regarding the future planning and development of Templestowe Village up to the year 2030.  It will assist us in determining planning permit applications and planning scheme amendment requests. The Plan will also guide Council investment in streetscape, open space and community facility development within the area. 

Focus areas:

• improving pedestrian and cycling infrastructure
• future development in the commercial core
• strategic redevelopment sites with considerations for built form, community facilities, and public amenities
• business development to enhance existing services and promote appropriate redevelopment
• housing opportunities and built form to encourage a mix of dwelling types and sustainable design
• public environment and public realm improvements to create visually appealing and accessible spaces
• public transport, traffic, and car parking enhancements to prioritize cycling, public transport, and safe traffic flow
• promoting safe and attractive pedestrian and bicycle routes throughout the area. ​
   

Related Pages

Liveable City Strategy

Vibrant Villages - Activity Centre Action Plan

Council Plan theme

One of our significant areas of open space is Donvale Reserve. It's a sporting hub for the local community and home to six sporting clubs and a preschool. This Reserve supports the active participation of more than 800 club members and 100 volunteers throughout the year. Many local residents access the Reserve regularly to walk, play and exercise with family and friends.

Focus areas:

• improve the broad range of formal recreational services and programs based at the Reserve, including building and facility upgrades
• improve pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular access to and within the Reserve to encourage greater use and increase safety
• maintain and enhance opportunities for informal recreation
• protect the existing environment and encourage improved environmental practices for future use, development and management of the Reserve.

Related Pages

• Donvale Reserve

Council Plan theme

The purpose of the Domestic Wastewater Management Plan is to manage domestic wastewater systems. It integrates with the Stormwater Management Plan and the Manningham Planning Scheme, and is an essential strategic planning tool to address existing and future wastewater issues within Manningham.

Focus areas:

• Improve and protect public health
• Promote the principles of environmental sustainability by reducing the impacts of domestic wastewater on local creeks, streams and remote receiving environments
• Continue to engage with property owners regarding septic tank management and ongoing maintenance responsibilities
• Identify properties that would benefit from an alternative sewerage solution and refer these to Yarra Valley Water (YVW) for inclusion in their Community Sewerage Program
• Advocate on behalf of the community to ensure the same access to sewerage infrastructure (reticulated or onsite solutions) as the rest of the Melbourne population
• Support YVW in applying their powers of enforcement for properties that continue to discharge to stormwater.

Related Pages

• Manningham Planning Scheme

Council Plan theme