We are privileged to live surrounded by green open spaces and bushland in Manningham. From walking tracks along the Birrarung (Yarra River) to our many parklands and reserves, natural beauty is all around us. We all have a role to play in ensuring our local wildlife and plants thrive. Together, we can create a nature-positive legacy for future generations.
Learn about how we are protecting natural and rural values and what it means for residents living in the Green Wedge area.
Learn all about Manningham’s unique local wildlife and environment with TV Zoologist Chris Humfrey from Wild Action, ‘The Zoo That Comes to You’.
Through our commitment to environmental action, we’re determined to maintain the liveability of our area and build our resilience to the impacts of global warming.
There are several ways you can take action and make a difference, from electrifying your home to planting trees at your local park. We have also been busy with our ongoing programs of sustainability initiatives.
You can learn about what we’re doing and how to be involved.
Want tips on how to be your most stylish self in the most sustainable way? Award-winning eco stylist and educator, Nina Gbor of Eco Styles will share her restyling tips.
Learn how to stylishly (re)use the items in your closet to look and feel amazing with any size and on any budget, while reducing your carbon footprint and textile waste.
Nina will also talk about:
About Nina Gbor
As the founder of Eco Styles, Nina Gbor is an award-winning sustainability advocate, ethical fashion speaker, climate activist, writer and educator.
Nina has a master’s degree in International Development and is a former sustainable fashion tutor in short courses at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. She coined the phrase ‘get off the fashion trendmill’ which means individuality and self-knowledge should be the premise for consuming clothing, not fashion trends.
Follow Nina on Insta @eco.styles for inspiration on secondhand and sustainable style hacks.
Maroondah City Council is hosting this event in collaboration with Knox City Council, Whitehorse City Council, Yarra Ranges Council, and Manningham Council.
We are committed to recognising, valuing and protecting the natural environment and ecological processes that life depends on. We support and encourage using Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) principles for land use planning and development, design and construction.
We encourage you to consider ESD principles in the early stages of your development proposal.
The Manningham Planning Scheme requires medium and large scale developments to meet specific ESD objectives and standards.
Clause 22.12 - Environmentally Sustainable Development defines the requirements for medium and large residential and non-residential developments.
The following tables also outline the ESD application requirements.
The fact sheets and links below provide further information about the application requirements.
| Type of development | Application requirements | Example tools |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) | |
| Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) Green Travel Plan (GTP) |
| Type of development | Application requirements | Example tools |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) |
|
| Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) Green Travel Plan (GTP) |
If you don't know which category your development fits into, please refer to the following resources:
If you are still unsure, please contact us.
Planning permit applications for medium or large developments, as defined in Clause 22.12 - Environmentally Sustainable Development, must include information on how the proposal meets the ESD objectives.
You will need to consider each of the 10 Key Sustainable Building Categories when preparing your application. More information about these categories can be found below.
Depending on the scale of your project, you may need to engage an ESD consultant or qualified sustainability professional. They can help you meet the ESD requirements and prepare the necessary documentation.
We have a series of fact sheets to assist you in meeting the requirements of Clause 15.01-2L Environmentally sustainable development – Manningham. The fact sheets cover each of the Key Sustainable Building Categories.
They provide an outline of:
The ESD tools fact sheet explains what ESD tools are, why you should use them and which tool to use for SDAPP.
The following list provides links to the ESD tools described in the fact sheet above.
The On-site Stormwater Detention (OSD) guidelines help developers and engineering consultants meet the technical requirements for engineering plans.
All stormwater management features must adhere to these guidelines. This includes:
Contact us if you need help.
As part of the Inspired Living Series, Jesse Glascott and Elle Paton will discuss sustainable building design and tiny homes at the Manningham Function Centre.
Jesse Glascott, is co-founder of the Sustainable Building Alliance, Director of G-Lux Builders and architect of the iconic Warrandyte Panel House. Jesse will discuss what goes into designing and building net zero sustainable homes.
Elle Paton is co-founder of the Australian Tiny House Association. Tiny homes are prefabricated, transportable dwellings that can provide off-grid, eco-friendly and low cost solutions. Elle will share her story of what its like to live in a tiny house.
The Inspired Living Series - keynote speaker events showcases five insightful, not-to-be-missed evenings at the iconic Manningham Function Centre.
The series will introduce you to a diverse line-up of local and international keynote speakers offering unique insights on how we can all shift to a greener future.
Topics range from permaculture to sustainable fashion. Each speaker will inspire and motivate simple, positive lifestyle choices, connection to nature and growing a thriving community in the midst dynamic change.
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.
Environmental Leadership Program for Schools
Bring your students along for a day of discovery and education at Currawong Bush Park. In term two of each school year, we invite all Manningham schools to participate in our Sustainability and Environmental Education Program. The program is run by staff from the Manningham Environment team and is free of charge, including bus transport to and from your school.
Lead to Sustain Conference
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.
For more information, contact the Environment team at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au or on 9840 9333.
Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.
As part of the Inspired Living Series and National Recycling Week, Nina Gbor and fellow panel members will discuss sustainable fashion in a circular economy at the Manningham Function Centre.
Nina Gbor:
Nina is a sustainable fashion educator, international speaker, sustainability consultant, and Founder of Eco Styles. Nina is also the Director of the Circular Economy and Waste Program at The Australia Institute and has been featured on the ABC's War on Waste. Nina will talk about her journey into sustainable fashion and discuss the collaborative effort needed to address sustainability challenges in the fashion industry.
Courtney Holm:
Courtney is a circular fashion systems designer, thought leader and entrepreneur. She founded experimental circular fashion label A.BCH in 2017 and built it into a world leading example of what circular fashion could aspire to. In early 2024, she made a strategic decision to step away from making new clothes in order to focus on industry wide solutions. Courtney is the founder and CEO of Circular Sourcing - a climate tech platform turning surplus textile waste into resource. Courtney's expertise is in circular design for clothing, material flows and circular systems design. The heart of her practice is industry transformation for sustainable and equitable futures.
Jenna Flood:
Jenna is a slow fashion advocate whose main focus is helping people understand the issues that surround fast fashion. She advocates for sustainable alternatives such as pre-loved, vintage and clothing made with sustainable practices. Jenna believes in slowing down our clothing consumption by curating capsule wardrobes and buying for long term investments instead of purchasing on a whim or following short trends. She hopes that in the future, more people invest in the sharing economy by renting or borrowing garments instead of owning them.
The Inspired Living Series - keynote speaker events showcases five insightful, not-to-be-missed evenings at the iconic Manningham Function Centre.
The series will introduce you to a diverse line-up of local and international keynote speakers offering unique insights on how we can all shift to a greener future.
Topics range from permaculture to sustainable fashion. Each speaker will inspire and motivate simple, positive lifestyle choices, connection to nature and growing a thriving community in the midst dynamic change.
Find out how solar power and solar batteries will improve your home, save you money and generate a clean future for the environment.
This webinar will include:
Our presenter, Ian Moxon, is a seasoned sustainability consultant with over 15 years of experience in this field. He’ll share his extensive knowledge and valuable industry insights into the benefits of installing solar power and solar batteries at your home.
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.
Bookings are essential.
Protecting our environment and biodiversity is everyone's responsibility. We encourage residents to get involved in climate action and sustainability – whether in natural spaces, at home, or in the garden.
Our Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP) outlines our approach to addressing climate change and its impact on Manningham.
We encourage and support residents to get involved in climate action, sustainability, and protecting our natural environment.
Residents can sign up for the following programs and events.
Spring Outdoors Program
Come along to one of the many Spring Outdoors events. In collaboration with Nillumbik and Banyule Councils, we offer over 50 programs each year, including sessions on local frog and bird species.
Check our What's on event calendar each spring to find out what's happening near you.
Home Harvest
The Home Harvest seminar series is a free monthly program that teaches you how to grow fresh, healthy food at home. Home gardening is a fun way to take climate action and benefits both you and the environment. Whether you're new to gardening or an expert, everyone is welcome.
Check our What's on events calendar for upcoming sessions.
Doncaster Hill Community Food Garden
Join the Doncaster Hill Community Food Garden. Help local volunteers grow fresh produce, most of which is donated to local charities and community food banks.
Landcare
Join your local Landcare group.
Guided walks
Join a guided walk through Manningham bushland and learn more about our unique biodiversity. Check our What's on event calendar to find upcoming walks.
Inspired Living Series
Come along to the Inspired Living Series. A range of sustainable activities and events for all ages, including keynote speaker events featuring a diverse line-up of local and international subject matter experts.
National Tree Day
Plant some trees with us on National Tree Day. Check our What's on event calendar each July to find planting locations.
Solar Savers
Get free advice about energy saving and solar installation services via the Solar Savers Program. You can register for a free solar and/or battery quote and get access to state and local government rebates and subsidies. We also run regular Solar Savers information sessions.
Check the What's on event calendar for more details.
iNaturalist - City Nature Challenge
Observe and document Manningham's natural environment as part of the iNaturalist - City Nature Challenge. During a four day observation period, residents are invited to find, photograph and document the native wildlife that lives and grows in our neighbourhoods.
iNaturalist observations submitted are added to the global iNaturalist database and shared with the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to help scientists find and use your data. All you have to do is observe.
Aussie Backyard Bird Count
Sign up for the Aussie Backyard Bird Count, run each October by Birdlife Australia. You can join in on the fun and contribute with any birds you spot in Manningham by visiting Birdlife Australia.
Melbourne Water Frog Census
Get involved in local citizen science by recording frog species in Manningham with the Melbourne Water Frog Census App. An easy to use app to record audio and identify frog species by their call in local waterways, parks, and on your own property.
More information is available at Melbourne Water.
Waterwatch program
Join Waterwatch and get involved in exploring and protecting our local waterways. Volunteers collect water quality data that contributes to scientific research, management planning and on ground actions that improve the health of our waterways.
To sign up for Waterwatch, email environment@manningham.vic.gov.au.
For more information, contact the Environment team at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au or on 9840 9333.
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 from Edible Eden Design will talk about the best way to maintain and prune your fruit trees during winter for long lasting thriving fruit trees.
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.
Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.
Our strategies and action plans detail how we deliver outcomes for the community and Manningham. Planning is developed in consultation with the community in line with our community engagement policy.
Manningham’s 2040 Community Vision
Manningham is a peaceful, inclusive and safe community. We celebrate life with its diverse culture, wildlife and natural environment. We are resilient and value sustainable and healthy living, a sense of belonging, and respect for one another.
Have a FOGO question? We’ve got the answer.
Not quite sure how the new FOGO service works?
Drop in to one of our casual online Q and A sessions where our friendly staff will be available to answer any of your queries.
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:
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.
Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.
Native Bees and butterflies are great pollinators and beautiful additions to any garden. There are many things you can do to attract them to your garden.
This workshop will introduce you to the wonderful world of native bees and butterflies. It will cover the role of insects in nature as pollinators and discuss practical ways you can attract them to your garden. You’ll be helping the environment while enjoying the splash of colour, movement and beauty native bees and butterflies bring to a garden.
Presenter: Charlotte Harrison from Sustainable Gardening Australia.
Supper is at 6.45pm, the seminar begins at 7.00pm sharp.
Registration is essential.
This is the third session of a four-part series on Gardening for Biodiversity. The following and final session will cover how to attract small birds into your garden. The series of workshops is run by Sustainable Gardening Australia and provides tips and tricks to garden for wildlife and support biodiversity in your local area.
有关于FOGO的问题吗？我们有答案。
不太清楚新的 FOGO 服务如何运作？
欢迎参加我们的在线问答环节，我们友善的工作人员将回答您的任何疑问。
有關於FOGO的問題嗎？我們有答案。
不太了解新的FOGO服務如何運作？
歡迎參加我們的網上問答環節，我們友善的工作人員將回答您的任何疑問。
Have a FOGO question? We’ve got the answer.
Not quite sure how the new FOGO service works?
Drop in to one of our casual online Q and A sessions where our friendly staff will be available to answer any of your queries.
Please note: this session will be run in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
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:
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.
Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.
Learn how to identify our local eucalypt trees and find out how understanding where they grow can help you to read the landscape.
If all the trees and bush look a bit the same to you, this short walk and talk could change the way you see the world!
Join experienced local naturalist and ecologist Alan Noy to guide you through the process.
To celebrate National Recycling Week, we are hosting an online Q and A session about all things waste.
Not sure what item goes into each bin?
Get confused about what can and cannot be recycled?
Would you like to know more about what is happening the in the waste industry?
Come along to our friendly Q and A session so we can answer all of your queries and dispel any myths!
For over 150 years, Longridge farm was grazed by cattle. Now, under Parks Victoria management, it is recovering with plant regeneration and the return of wildlife.
The ridge offers spectacular views to the north, and the rapids are some of the prettiest on the Yarra.
Wear sturdy shoes and weather appropriate clothing. Bring a water bottle and a snack
Meeting point advised on registration.
To celebrate National Recycling Week, come along to our information session about all things waste.
Not sure what item goes into each bin?
Get confused about what can and cannot be recycled?
Would you like to know more about what is happening the in the waste industry?
Come along to our friendly session so we can answer all of your queries and dispel any myths!
