Maroondah news -- June 2025 by MaroondahCityCouncil

Whether you are a regular or casual cyclist,walker, runner or dog walker, we want to hear from you!

Help shape cycling and active transport

Do you ride a bike, skateboard or scooter, or use our shared paths for exercise, leisure, sport or transport purposes?

Share your thoughts on the Maroondah Bicycle Network Plan!

The draft Maroondah Bicycle Network Plan explains how Council will improve and expand a network of pathways, trails and bicycle lanes over the next 10 years.

We want to encourage more people to ride, scoot, skate, run or walk by developing routes with infrastructure that is safe, convenient and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.

Complete our survey or drop pins to leave comments on our interactive aspirational map to help us find gaps

Visit

in the network, or to suggest areas that could use improved infrastructure, such as bike lanes, shared paths and bike parking.

Your feedback will help ensure that the Bicycle Network Plan reflects the diverse needs of our community, catering to all bike riders and pedestrians, including older residents, children, and individuals with limited mobility or vision impairments.

Welcome to Maroondah news

Thanks for reading the June edition of Maroondah news. This is one of many ways that you can keep informed and engaged with the range of Council’s services, events and programs.

We also provide other digital and print news publications, including our quarterly Maroondah news magazine, our eNewsletter and regular updates via our website and social media.

If you haven’t already, visit www.maroondah.vic.gov.au and subscribe to our regular eNewsletters, or keep up to date on our social media channels.

Page 3: Have your say

Page 7: Men’s Health Week

Page 8: Plastic Free July is almost here!

Council meetings

Council meetings are generally held on the third Monday of each month from 7.30pm in the Council Chamber at Realm and are live-streamed via Council’s website.

Upcoming dates are:

Monday 30 June

Monday 21 July

Monday 25 August

Council meetings are open to the public and are promoted across a range of channels, with an open invitation to attend. If attending in person, please arrive on time for the start of the meeting. Agendas are made available online on the Friday before the meeting date.

Council Customer Service opening hours

Our Customer Service team is here to help. Visit us at:

Realm

Ringwood Town Square 179 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood (opposite Ringwood Station)

Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm

Open Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm Open 10am to 5pm on the King’s Birthday public holiday, Monday 9 June.

Croydon Service Centre

Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon

Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Closed on all weekends and public holidays, including the King’s Birthday public holiday, Monday 9 June.

Get in touch with us

Live chat via our website www.maroondah.vic.gov.au

Phone 1300 88 22 33 or 9298 4598

SMS 0480 020 200

Email maroondah@maroondah.vic.gov.au

Subscribe to Maroondah eNews via our website.

Mail PO Box 156, Ringwood, VIC 3134

Scan the QR code to subscribe to Maroondah eNews, our digital community newsletter that features a range of news, consultations and events to keep you connected with what’s happening in and around Maroondah.

Please recycle this publication.

Maroondah City Council is certified for its organisational operations.

Leave wild wood in the wild

Living and dead wood play a vital role in healthy ecosystem functioning, so leave fallen wood in place. Dead wood, whether on the ground or still standing, provides essential habitat and resources for a wide range of species. It’s essential to leave dead wood in place because native birds and mammals rely on tree hollows and dead wood for shelter from predators and for breeding and perching.

Trees with hollows provide housing and shelter for native wildlife. Hollows often form when the centre of a tree limb rots away.

This is more common in old or dead trees and the process can take many hundreds of years, so hollow bearing trees are especially valuable to local wildlife – particularly in urban areas.

Insects such as the stag beetle also rely on dead wood as a food source and other insects rely on the protective cover of fallen branches for nesting and shelter. In turn, birds, reptiles and mammals rely on these insects for survival. Decomposing wood plays an important role in nutrient cycling in ecosystems, which is important for growth of flora and fungal species.

Council encourages leaving fallen wood in place to provide habitat for indigenous wildlife, especially in urban areas where habitat is limited. It is illegal to remove wood from bushland reserves without permission from Council. Council will remove dead wood or trees that have been assessed as dangerous.

To report dangerous dead wood or trees, please contact Council’s Tree Maintenance team on 9298 4598.

Protect yourself and others from measles

Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others from measles.

Victoria is currently experiencing an increase in measles cases. Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that causes flu-like symptoms, a skin rash and fever. It can cause serious and potentially life-threatening complications.

Council offers measles vaccination for free under the National Immunisation Program. This is available to any person born during or since 1966 without evidence of receiving two documented doses of valid Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine or without serological evidence of immunity.

The MMR vaccine is also offered free to children at 12 months and 18 months, as recommended under the National Immunisation Program.

Visit the Better Health Channel website www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au to find out more about measles and how to protect yourself and others.

If you require vaccination, scan the QR code or visit the ‘Public immunisation sessions’ page on Council’s website to book into a public immunisation session.

Tell us what you think!

Do you have a topic that you’d like to see covered in Maroondah news? Email us at news@maroondah.vic.gov.au

The information provided in this newsletter was accurate at the time of print. For the latest information, please visit Council’s website.

Have your say on the future of Maroondah

Council is currently seeking feedback from our community on important consultations.

Share your thoughts on our draft Communications Strategy

Help shape Council’s communication with you and our community.

Council is dedicated to ensuring accessible, effective and engaging communication across various channels to keep the community informed and involved.

The Communications Strategy 2025-2029 aims to provide strategic guidance and direction for Council’s communication with the Maroondah community, ensuring that all residents are informed, engaged and able to participate in Council services and activities. It aims to capture what

Shape the future of Croydon Main Street

Croydon Main Street is getting an upgrade! Provide your feedback to help shape enhancements to the area.

Council has received funding from the Australian Government to make important enhancements to Croydon Main Street.

A well-loved and unique part of Maroondah, we want to make sure future improvements reflect the needs of our growing community.

We want to know what Main Street means to you, what improvements you would like to see and how you currently visit the precinct.

Have your say to help guide the project design and provide feedback on key elements including safety, accessibility, lighting, street furniture, landscaping and more!

Keeping Maroondah moving into the future

Council has adopted the Maroondah Transport Strategy 2025-2035, to help prepare Maroondah for the future of transport.

The strategy involves an accessible and connected network vision and prioritises modes of transport that are in demand, safe, healthy and affordable, to deliver a transport network and services that are sustainable and work for everyone.

It also demonstrates Council’s commitment to partner with our community, transport authorities and service providers to achieve the best outcomes for Maroondah and provide transport choices for residents of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

It has been developed in response to contemporary transport policy, data and research, community consultation and stakeholder engagement. It replaces the previous Maroondah Integrated Transport Strategy, Maroondah Bicycle Strategy and the Maroondah Pedestrian Strategy and builds on their achievements.

Thank you to everyone who provided input and feedback on the draft strategy last year.

is currently being done well in the communications space in Maroondah, as well as outlining new goals, key directions and priority actions to achieve over the next four years.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback during our community consultation last year. Your initial feedback has helped shape our draft Communications Strategy, which is now available for you to view and share your thoughts on.

The adopted strategy reflects this feedback, including interest in more sustainable transport options, safer roads, more accessible pathways and better public transport options.

You can find out more and read the strategy on Council’s Your Say Maroondah website yoursay.maroondah.vic.gov.au

Give your toddler the best start to life

Council’s free Food, Play and Sleep information sessions are designed to help parents and families give their toddler the best start to life.

Led by Council’s Maternal and Child Health team, these sessions cover topics including food refusal and fussy eating, active play ideas, typical sleep patterns and routines, challenging sleep problems, and more.

Information provided during the Food, Play and Sleep sessions is based on the Deakin University INFANT program, which is developed by child health experts and health professionals at Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition.

Sessions are informal and children are welcome to attend with their parents or carers. You can join online or in-person on various dates and times, with in-person sessions held at Ringwood Maternal and Child Health Centre, Notlen Street, Ringwood.

Visit Council’s website to find out more and register for the free program. You can also contact Maroondah Maternal and Child Health Services on 9294 5777 or email mchprograms@maroondah.vic.gov.au

Supporting access for community members of all abilities

An Access Key is now available for Jubilee Park in Ringwood.

Access Keys, developed by Access Ability Australia, are visual and text-based accessibility guides that can be downloaded onto a mobile device or printed on paper. They contain essential information about accessing a particular venue, event or experience, helping people determine if it will be suitable and accessible for them. The Keys aim to reduce obstacles, enhance opportunities and deliver user-friendly guidance on how to access venues and events.

The Access Key for Jubilee Park helps community members know what to expect when visiting the precinct.

Winter holiday fun

The Access Key includes information on the facilities in the precinct, such as RO Spencer Pavilion, Maroondah Edge and Jubilee Oval, as well as information on where to park, how to navigate throughout the precinct, how to access the Jubilee Park Changing Places facility, where to find accessible toilets, and more.

Council is proud to provide the Access Key for Jubilee Park, supporting people of all ages and abilities to be independent and confident as they participate in community life in Maroondah.

Ideas to keep your family entertained these school holidays.

Get into golf

Looking to brush up your skills or pick up a new hobby? Dorset Golf and Ringwood Golf offer a clinic to suit your needs. Experienced community coaches and PGA professionals run individual lessons and clinics for adults, women and juniors, covering chipping, putting, pitching, bunkers, full swing and more. Golf clubs and motorised carts are available to hire, for a modest fee.

Visit the Maroondah Leisure website www.maroondahleisure.com.au to book or find out more. You can also call Ringwood Golf on 9298 4500 or Dorset Golf on 9294 5555

School holiday programs atThe Rings and Maroondah Nets

No matter the weather, school holiday programs at Maroondah Leisure’s stadiums are a fun way to keep your child active and entertained.

There’s a range of sports on offer for children aged 5 to 12, including basketball, netball, tennis, futsal (indoor soccer), volleyball, badminton and multi-sports.

To find out more and book, visit the ‘School Holiday Programs’ page on the Maroondah Leisure website www.maroondahleisure.com.au

Visit the ‘Children’s activities and programs’ page on Council’s website for more school holiday ideas.

Wyreena Community Arts Centre

Wyreena Community Arts Centre offers a school holiday program featuring a great range of creative and fun activities. With guidance from Wyreena’s experienced tutors, children can learn new skills and techniques while creating masterpieces to display at home.

Visit the ‘Wyreena School Holiday Program’ page on Council’s website to view programs for the winter school holidays and to book.

To download or

your free Access Key for Jubilee Park, visit Council’s website.

The best in business

Nominations are opening soon for the 2025 Maroondah Business Excellence Awards.

Hosted annually, the awards recognise and celebrate the winners while enhancing the journey towards excellence for all participants.

The awards recognise business achievements across key industry sectors, including:

• Manufacturing and Technology

• Trades and Construction

• Retail and Hospitality

• Education, Training, Health and Lifestyle

• Professional Services

• Health and Wellbeing

• Not For Profit

Community members can nominate an outstanding business in Maroondah, or Maroondah business owners and operators can self-nominate.

All entrants receive a tailored report on their business, highlighting strengths, areas for suggested improvement and options for future development.

The awards will be presented at a gala dinner at Karralyka in October.

2024 Business of the Year Footlab+ (pictured) was recognised for their advanced foot and ankle care, with cutting-edge treatment techniques that empower patients to regain their mobility.

“We were extremely excited to be acknowledged... It is a huge reflection and validation of our journey and the determination, perseverance and patience that small business requires,” said Fiona Massarotti at Footlab+.

Visit the BizHub Maroondah website www.bizhubmaroondah.com.au for details in the coming weeks.

FOGO, home compost or landfill?

NEWS IN BRIEF

Mayoral Art Exhibition

Council is inviting entries for the annual Mayoral Art Exhibition, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year!

The exhibition is a fundraiser for the Bone Marrow Donor Institute, Croydon Branch as part of Fight Cancer and is supported by Maroondah City Council and the Ringwood East and Croydon Community Bendigo Bank.

Follow three vegetables on different journeys to see what happens to your food scraps when you place them in landfill, your food organics and garden organics (FOGO) bin or your home composting system – and why it matters.

Landfill

Forgotten lettuce is placed in the general waste bin, still wrapped in plastic packaging. It is sent to landfill and joins all sorts of items – including layers of plastic, which stop food and garden waste from being exposed to air and other natural soil organisms. Unable to break down into new soil, the lettuce may take up to 25 years to fully decompose.

Home compost

Half a cucumber is removed from its plastic packaging and added to a home compost bin. A few months later, it has fully broken down into nutrient-rich soil that can be used in raised beds, vegetable patches, pot plants or even as mulch, saving the home composter money that would otherwise be spent on fertilisers.

FOGO

Mouldy tomatoes are removed from their plastic container and tipped into a Council-supplied food organics and garden organics (FOGO) caddy liner before being dropped into the lime green-lidded FOGO bin.

The tomatoes are taken to a sorting facility and mixed with other organic materials before being sent to an industrial composting site. They are exposed to the perfect conditions to be turned into nutrient-rich compost, which is then used by Victorian farmers to grow our food. By composting your food scraps at home or via your FOGO bin, you are diverting them from landfill and helping them become a valuable resource.

Scan the QR code or visit Council’s blog to read more.

You can also subscribe to Council’s Waste and Sustainability eNewsletter to learn more about FOGO, how to compost food waste at home and other tips.

This year’s theme is ‘Time’, inviting artists of all ages to reflect on the past, present and future. Artworks of all mediums are eligible. A number of works will be selected for the Mayoral Acquisition and the Ringwood East and Croydon Community Bendigo Bank Acquisition.

Visit Council’s website to find out more.

Biddy Ball

Help your child get a great start in basketball! Sign up to one of our Biddy Ball programs at The Rings in Ringwood.

Biddy Ball provides an ideal way for children to learn the basics of basketball with experienced coaches in a safe, supportive and friendly environment. Our structured programs are suitable for players of all abilities, boosting their gross motor skills as well as their social skills. Your child will hone their basketball talents on the court, building a lifelong love of the game.

Term 3 runs from Monday 21 July to Friday 19 September, with registrations opening in mid-June. Visit the Maroondah Leisure website www.maroodahleisure.com.au to find out more and to book.

What’s On

Visit Council’s website for more information about these and other events. Hosting a community event? Visit our website and add your event to our online ‘Events calendar’.

19 Jun

Setting boundaries –supporting children’s behaviour

Thursday 19 June, 7pm to 8.30pm Online

Join this free interactive workshop and gain valuable insights into why young children behave the way they do, the importance of setting boundaries, and how to set them using positive approaches. For parents and carers of children aged 2 to 6 years. Scan the QR code or visit Council’s website to learn more and register.

9 Jul

Gardening using plants indigenous to Maroondah

Wednesday 9 July, 10am

Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon

Are you interested in creating an indigenous nature haven in your garden? Join Council’s Bushland Management team to learn more about how easy and fun it is to create a habitat stepping stone in your garden using indigenous plants.

Scan the QR code, visit the Your Library website www.yourlibrary.com.au or call Croydon Library on 9800 6448 to book or find out more.

20 Jun

Pop in and become Bin Besties

Friday 20 June, 10.30am to 12.30pm

Croydon Library, Croydon

Pop into Croydon Library to chat all things trash with Council’s Waste Education team. You can ask about your food organics and garden organics (FOGO) bin, what can go into your recycling bin, or even receive advice on how to dispose of tricky items in your home, such as paint, textiles and electronic waste. No bookings are required. Visit Council’s website to find out more.

Clare Bowditch

11 Jul

Friday 11 July, 7.30pm Karralyka, Ringwood East

Clare Bowditch is a musician, broadcaster, sometimes actor, speaker, entrepreneur, and author. She has won the coveted ARIA Award for Best Female for her music and the Rolling Stone Woman of the Year Award for her contribution to Australian culture.

Scan the QR code, visit the Karralyka website or call 9870 2888 for details and to book your tickets now for this spectacular performance.

Extended lighting is back!

5&6

Jul

Non Stop by Circus Oz

Saturday 5 July, 7pm or Sunday 6 July, 2pm

Karralyka, Ringwood East

Australian icons Circus Oz are here with a new hour of non-stop energy. A simply unmissable fresh and fun-filled extravaganza, it’s performed by a multi-generational ensemble for a multi-generational audience.

Scan the QR code, visit the Karralyka website or call 9870 2888 for details and to book.

Arts exhibitions

Until Saturday 12 July

Until 12 Jul

Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery, Ringwood

Experience Gugubarra by proud Wiradjuri artist Stacey Payten and Something there, I hear by Melbourne-based Hazara artist Zakiria Tahirian. Gugubarra pays homage to Stacey Payten’s grandmother, affectionately known as Dixie, while Something there, I hear engages with themes of beauty, grief and censorship.

Scan the QR code or visit Council’s website to learn more and view gallery opening hours.

To help keep you moving this winter, lights will be on at the Town Park athletics track in Croydon from 5. 30pm to 8.30pm every Thursday from now until October.

The athletics track is conveniently located behind Arndale Shops in Civic Square, with entry from Norton Road.

The track is flat and provides an ideal surface for walking and running, with access for a range of community members, including those using prams and wheelchairs.

Visit Council’s website to find out more about our extended lighting program.

Men’s Health Week in Maroondah

Council is proud to partner with Maroondah’s community centres and neighbourhood houses to recognise International Men’s Health Week this June, in support of the physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing of men and boys in the community. There’s a range of activities on offer, including workshops, social gatherings and health-focused sessions. Visit your local community centre or neighbourhood house to get involved! Visit www.stronger-together.com.au to view the full range of activities and programs.

Arrabri Community House

Grill and Grow

Spend the morning at Arrabri nursery getting your hands dirty in the garden, followed by a delicious barbecue lunch. It ’s the perfect way to enjoy the fresh air, meet new people and indulge in a tasty lunch!

When: Thursday 12 June, 10am to 12noon

Cost: Free

Contact: 9720 0877 or visit www.arrabri.org

Central Ringwood Community Centre

Men’s Wellbeing Lunch and Quiz

Games

Celebrate Men’s Health Week and enjoy a wellbeing lunch and quiz games. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, unwind, and focus on your wellbeing!

When: Thursday 12 June, 12noon to 1.30pm

Cost: Free

Contact: 9870 2602 or visit www.crccinc.org .au

Glen Park Community Centre

OM:NI Morning Tea

Connect with the Glen Park Community Centre Men’s Group for a special morning tea. OM:NI (Older Men New Ideas) meets on the second and fourth Friday of each month, and it’s always a good time! If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to meet new people and have some meaningful conversations, drop in and see what it’s all about.

When: Friday 13 June, 10am to 11am

Cost: Free Contact: 9720 5097 or office@glenparkcc.com.au

Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place (MMIGP)

Men’s Group

The Men’s Group is for Indigenous men, non-Indigenous male partners and their families. This program has been developed to support Indigenous men, strengthen their cultural identity and strengthen their families and community. The men gather together in an informal and relaxed environment to undertake social activities such as day trips, men’s cultural activities, or just to catch up, have a feed and have a yarn.

When: Weekly on Thursdays, 4pm to 6pm Contact: 9725 2166 or visit mmigp.org.au

North Ringwood Community House

an d BBQ

Get outside and join us for a Men’s Outdoor Meetup. We will kick things off with a relaxed walk and talk around the local area, then fire up the barbecue.

When: Saturday 14 June, 11am

Cost: Free

Contact: 9876 3421 or visit www.nrch.org .au

Yarrunga Community Centre

Morning Tea and Exercise Talk

Join us for a special men’s morning tea and talk by our exercise guru Alanna on men’s exercise and have a free blood pressure check.

When: Tuesday 10 June, 10.30am to 11.30am

Cost: Free

Contact: 9722 8942 or visit www.yarrunga.org.au

Men’s Outdoor Meetup: Walk, Talk

Plastic Free July is almost here!

Plastic Free July® is a global movement to help millions of people around the world reduce their plastic use and help combat plastic pollution.

This year, Maroondah residents are once again encouraged to take the Plastic Free July pledge!

The pledge is open to all residents, including those who have never participated before.

Sign-up is free, and you will receive tips and resources to help you during the challenge.

For the month of July, you can choose to:

• Avoid single-use plastic packaging

• Target a particular takeaway item (such as coffee cups or produce bags), or

• Go completely plastic-free!

Plastic Free July Discovery Day

Mark your calendars for Friday 11 July, 10am to 2pm, for Council’s highly successful Plastic Free July Discovery Day! Get ready to be inspired to make plastic-free choices.

This free event, at Realm in Ringwood Town Square, will include interactive displays, guest speakers, workshops with The Urban Nanna and Mademoiselle Organic, and activities for families, such as a kids’ treasure hunt!

There will also be a mini market with single-use plastic alternatives, and a chance to take home some reusable products.