Ward Reserve is a large reserve located at the end of a small court in a low density residential area. The majority of the site is on a moderate slope rising from the street and has limited pedestrian accessibility.
Report an issue
Have you noticed something unsafe like a broken tree branch or damaged playground that needs our attention?
Organising a large event?
Some types of events, such as festivals or school's cross country runs need a special permission to be held on public land.
Join award winning visual artist Bridget Hillebrand and Charlotte Sterrett from Yarra Riverkeeper Association as they share their knowledge and passion to promote river connection and care.
Bridget will reveal insights into the creation of her immersive, site-specific installation ‘River’ and Charlotte will discuss ways in which we can all help achieve a healthy, protected and loved Birrarung (Yarra River).
Registration for this event is not required.
Photo by Charlie Kinross.
Explore a stunning reach of the Yarra River enjoying spectacular views as we rock hop over the escarpment and then along the gentler banks. Here we will see the results of more than 25 years of wildlife habitat rehabilitation.
The walk is 4.5km over 3 hours. Parts of the trail are not on a flat walking track and involve good balance and rock hopping. Please consider your ability to complete the walk, being mindful the group will need to keep a steady pace to complete it in the allocated time.
Wear solid walking shoes, weather appropriate clothing, a hat and sunscreen.
Participants must provide a mobile number.
Please note: This walk starts and finishes at different locations, so will involve a car shuttle with fellow walkers.
Location will be given upon registration.
This event is part our Manningham Spring Outdoors Series, where we offer a range of fun outdoor activities across Manningham.
You can also check what’s happening across other Councils by visiting the Spring Outdoors website.
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Following the Council elections in October, we are pleased to announce your new Councillors.
The elected Councillors will represent Manningham through to 2028, across our nine wards.
Your Councillors are:
Mayor: Cr Deirdre Diamante – Tullamore Ward
Deputy Mayor: Cr Andrew Conlon – Currawong Ward
- Cr Geoff Gough – Bolin Ward
- Cr Peter Bain – Manna Ward
- Cr Jim Grivas – Ruffey Ward
- Cr Laura Mayne – Schramm Ward
- Cr Anna Chen – Waldau Ward
- Cr Isabella Eltaha – Westerfolds Ward
- Cr Carli Lange – Yarra Ward
Cr Carli Lange is a long-term Warrandyte resident and has been a councillor of Manningham since 2020, serving as Mayor in 2023/24.
Cr Lange is passionate about Manningham’s Green Wedge, protecting local parklands and sporting facilities, including cycling, and walking connections. She supports the maintenance of community infrastructure, social connection programs, community organisations and health and wellbeing services for families, young adults, and older residents. She is an advocate for emergency management, community safety, environmental security, financial efficiencies and reducing traffic congestion as well as sustainable and responsible development.
Cr Lange believes in being authentic, proactive, and transparent advocacy in representing the community’s needs and concerns. With her teaching and not-for-profit board background, Cr Lange is passionate and committed in bringing people together for a common goal.
Committees and working groups
The mighty Yarra River winds its way through Manningham, where walking and cycling trails hug the banks. Get out into the fresh air with those you love and have an adventure beneath the gum trees.
Regional trails
Enjoy jogging and cycling opportunities along our regions trails.
Encounter native flora and fauna on the Mullum Mullum Trail and cross the suspension bridge at Finns Reserve and you may even be lucky enough to spot a platypus in the Yarra. Continue onto the Main Yarra Trail you can ride your bicycle all the way to the city or complete a 42km circuit by joining the Koonung Trail and the Eastlink Trail back to your starting point.
Dog friendly spaces
Your four-legged friend can join you on a lead in the outdoors at a range of parks across Manningham. Explore Banksia Park in Bulleen, Stiggants Reserve in Warrandyte, Ruffey Lake Park or Westerfolds Park in Templestowe.
Playspaces
Find adventure at Wombat Bend. The massive adventure playground and maze provides adventures for the whole family. On the banks of the Yarra for that extra special day, it’s dog friendly with outdoor cooking facilities, a fitness station and so much more.
The fenced wonguim wilam is located in Warrandyte and is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. This newly upgraded playspace includes a range of play opportunities to discover as well as a new picnic shelter, barbeque and plenty of furniture and grassy open space to enjoy.
Self Guided Neighbourhood Walks
Explore Manningham's local environment with 20 self-guided walking brochures that showcase the wealth of natural, historic, cultural and environmental assets we have right here in Manningham!
Offering walks from Bulleen to Wonga Park and everywhere in between, the guides include detailed maps, as well as interesting and informative notes to enrich you walking experience.
Yarra River - Warrandyte
Warrandyte River Reserve is a great place to explore with many activities and places of interest to enjoy. Follow the Yarra River through Stiggants Reserve - it is instantly relaxing and calming and there are colourful artworks to enjoy along the path. Dip your toes in the water, try your hand at fishing or grab a canoe and paddle down the river to Pound Bend Reserve and Warrandyte State Park for a truly unique experience.
Currawong Bush Reserve
Encounter Australian wildlife, with koalas, wombats and kangaroos amongst the mighty gum trees of Currawong Bush Reserve. Native flora in bloom, bright red bottle brushes, sunny yellow wattles, and so much more photogenic subjects for your keen eye. Landscapers, sculptors and artists have helped create a natural play space for kids to explore and immerse themselves in the outside world.
Offering eight different walking trails, you can get out there, explore nature and take a moment to breathe in this escape from the hustle and bustle of city life in this oasis in the heart of the suburbs.
Find your local outdoor adventure in Manningham.
We can all participate in the movement to minimise waste.
To celebrate Plastic Free July, we'll be popping up at our local activity centres to chat with visitors about how we can all continue reducing our waste and in particular, single-use plastics.
Come along and say hello!
Elections for Manningham occur every four years. There are nine wards, with a representative in each. ...
The Manningham Council general elections will be held on 26 October 2024. Voting is by post.
The Local Government Act 2020 and the Local Government (Electoral) Regulations 2020, regulates conduct of council elections. The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) manages the process.
If you’ve got any questions about the electoral process, you can contact the Public Enquiry Service (PES) number on 131 832.
Manningham ward structure
Manningham has nine wards with one councillor representing each ward. The wards are:
- Bolin
- Currawong
- Manna
- Ruffey
- Schramm
- Tullamore
- Waldau
- Westerfolds
- Yarra.
For further information, visit Find your local councillor and ward.
Election period policy
The Local Government Act 2020 requires us to adopt an Election Period Policy. This provides guidance to councillors and officers leading up to and during the election period.
For more information, you can view our policy.
One of Australia’s most important national occasions, ANZAC Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day in which we remember all Australians who served and died in all wars and operational service past and present. Come along and mark the day at one of the RSL services in Manningham.
- 10.30am: March
Prior to the ANZAC service a march will commence in Yarra Street.
- 10.45am: Service
Warrandyte RSL will hold an ANZAC service at the conclusion of the march noted above. Refreshments and morning tea will be available in the club following the service. Limited reserved seating is available on the club balcony for those unable to stand for the service. Doors open from 10.00am.
Phone 0481 307 696 to reserve seating
Tikalara Park is located where the Mullum Mullum Creek and the Yarra River join. It forms part of the Yarra Valley Parklands on Crown Land managed by Parks Victoria (which supports the Mullum Mullum/Main Yarra Trail) and Manningham freehold land parcels.
Generally Tikalara can be defined as the area north of Websters Road and between Mullum Mullum Creek/Yarra River to the west and Blackburn Road to the east.
The reserve provides flora and fauna, informal recreation, linear park and unstructured nature play.
Fire safety at Tikalara Park
All Manningham reserves are closed on days of total fire ban, or higher extreme or catastrophic Fire Danger Rating. Visiting a reserve on these days places you at risk and potentially in danger.
To check the current Fire Danger Rating or find out if it’s a total fire ban day, go to the CFA website.
Report an issue
Please let us know if you notice anything unsafe, like a broken tree branch or damaged playground.
What we do to reduce fire risk at Tikalara Park
Finer fuels such as leaf litter, tree branches and twigs raise the level of risk within reserves. Large fallen trees require a much higher level of heat to burn and provide habitats for native wildlife.
Here are some actions we take throughout the year to reduce the fire risk at this reserve:
- create and maintain fuel breaks within the reserve
- maintain grass heights with slashing, brush cutting and tractors year round
- remove fine fuels such as loose and fallen branches
- annual inspection and maintenance of Fire Access Tracks, to ensure emergency service vehicles can access the reserve
- inspect access points, gates and locks
We manage 20 per cent of the land in Manningham, but the other 66 per cent is privately owned. Visit the CFA website for information on how to prepare your private property for fire.
Safer Together
Watch the video below to learn more about:
- different types of vegetation
- how a fire may behave within the reserve
- how to prepare for a fire
Report an issue
Have you noticed something unsafe like a broken tree branch or damaged playground that needs our attention?
Organising a large event?
Some types of events, such as festivals or school's cross country runs need a special permission to be held on public land.
Cr Isabella Eltaha is a long-term Manningham local, dedicated to driving benefits to the community.
Cr Eltaha is passionate about optimising Manningham Council’s financial outcomes for residents, small businesses and local groups. Having worked in corporate finance and strategy for over a decade, she wants to help optimise solutions to benefit the community broadly.
She is also a community advocate, prioritises improving essential infrastructure, wants to improve public transportation and sees the importance of protecting our precious park life and green spaces. Cr Eltaha believes it is important that council offers essential services efficiently and sees value in supporting small local businesses — all to ensure we enhance and love living local.
Raising a family in the area, Cr Eltaha’s whole world revolves around our great community. She is passionate about making community members feel welcome to reach out to her and to ensure Manningham further becomes a place we are blessed to call home, now and into the future.
Committees and working groups
Find out which committees Cr Isabella Eltaha is appointed to.
Cr Chen has lived in the Waldau Ward for more than 20 years and has been a Manningham Councillor since 2016.
Cr Chen values equity, inclusion and positivity as well as the importance of understanding local issues, listening and working together with our community. She stands for cost-effective operations, sustainable planning outcomes, common sense climate solutions and improving bus services in Manningham. Cr Chen wants to see more civic participation and employment opportunities for our young residents. Cr Chen also wants to see our parks and open spaces are protected and improved. Cr Chen believes in an inclusive, safe and sustainable community for all.
A practising lawyer, Cr Chen is a volunteer solicitor at the Eastern Community Legal Centre and is also volunteering with Manningham Neighbourhood Watch.
Committees and working groups
Cr Laura Mayne has lived in Manningham all her life is an active member of the community. She has been a councillor since 2020 and served as Deputy Mayor for 2023/24.
Cr Mayne is passionate about making Manningham as inclusive as possible. She endeavours to promote community connection and foster an environment where everyone feels a strong sense of belonging. Cr Mayne values our natural environment and encourages strong climate action and improved parks and open spaces. In addition, she advocates for sustainable transport, quality community infrastructure, and support for our community clubs, organisations, and small businesses.
Cr Mayne is about to complete a Bachelor of Law and Commerce at university and works for a national law firm. She has played multiple sports in the local area and currently plays high level Australian football.
Committees and working groups
Cr Grivas has lived in Manningham for over 25 years, together with his partner and three kids.
As a previous Councillor in the 2012/16 Council term, Cr Grivas previously served as Mayor in 2013/14.
Cr Grivas has a background in finance through both the corporate and government sectors, and is also a director of his local family businesses.
Cr Grivas is passionate about good governance, with integrity and transparency to allow the Council to provide support services for all our diverse families and older residents, our local businesses, sports clubs and volunteer organisations. He advocates for improved local traffic management, footpaths, roads and streetscapes as well as park maintenance.
Committees and working groups
Cr Peter Bain has been a resident of Donvale and surrounds with his young family since 2002.
Peter has spent over twenty years in executive and governance roles spanning the corporate and not for profit sectors. He has worked in various fields including health, education, international aid, aged care, disability, and housing. He holds a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University. He has been actively involved in a number of community groups and endeavours.
He is passionate about helping those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable within the community.
Committees and working groups
Cr Deirdre Diamante has lived in Manningham for more than 40 years and recognises the importance of sustainable economic and environmental decision making that enhances the long term liveability of Manningham.
Cr Diamante believes in growing opportunities for local businesses and efficient spending of our rates on services and infrastructure that better connects the local community, suburbs and streets. She is an advocate for equal opportunity and diversity, for programs that support our elderly residents and for greater state and federal government funding support for Manningham’s charities.
Cr Diamante has three school-aged children, is a business owner, a school council representative, Board Director of the Manningham Bendigo Bank Community Branch.
Committees and working groups
Find out which committees Cr Deirdre Diamante is appointed to.
Cr Conlon has lived in Currawong Ward with his wife and family of eight children for over 20 years.
A Manningham Councillor since 2016, Cr Conlon previously served as Mayor during 2020/21 and 2017/18.
Cr Conlon is passionate about improving local amenity including parks, playgrounds and streetscapes. He advocates for high standards of roads and Council services. Cr Conlon believes good governance starts with integrity and transparency.
Cr Conlon is a professional engineer and teacher with many years of broad business management experience along with community service on various local school and sports clubs committees.
Committees and working groups
Cr Geoff Gough is passionate about Manningham, having grown up and then raised his own family in the area. He is one of Manningham’s longest serving councillors, having been a councillor continuously since 1997, and has served as Mayor for four terms.
Cr Gough sees the improvement of our footpaths, roads, streetscapes and parks as a priority and is committed to ensuring Manningham’s community infrastructure is well maintained.
He believes in prioritising community support, including local business support, transparency in decisions, sound financial management and accountability to our community. Cr Gough advocates that council needs to listen, consult and act with responsibility and integrity.
Committees and working groups
Fitzsimons Reserve is a large 78,237m2 (7.8 hectares) habitat corridor between Westerfolds and Candlebark Parks on the Yarra River. It forms part of the Yarra Valley Parklands and protects flora and fauna, managed sympathetically with adjoining Parks Victoria managed Candlebark Park.
Fitzsimons Reserve was the former site of Kiwanis Community Farm. A series of dams and wetlands, covering an area of approximately 4,000 m2, remain from this use.
Parks Victoria’s Main Yarra Trail goes through the western part of the reserve and skirts the southern side although informal tracks have been established along the river. By agreement, Parks Victoria manages the Main Yarra Trail and adjacent viewing platform within the reserve.
The site is also a popular launching point for canoes and kayaks, with a carpark and viewing platform adjacent to the river, overlooking rapids.
Places and spaces
- Large kangaroo population
- Main Yarra Trail
- Viewing platform overlooking the Yarra River
- Off street carparking (Fitzsimons Lane)
Report an issue
Have you noticed something unsafe like a broken tree branch or damaged playground that needs our attention?
Organising a large event?
Some types of events, such as festivals or school's cross country runs need a special permission to be held on public land.
Whipstick Gully Reserve is fairly steep and has limited access to the land at either end. The adjacent road provides the pedestrian link between Yarra Street and Warrandyte State Park and also provides carparking for the Park and Yarra Street shopping strip.
Report an issue
Have you noticed something unsafe like a broken tree branch or damaged playground that needs our attention?
Organising a large event?
Some types of events, such as festivals or school's cross country runs need a special permission to be held on public land.