Welcome to Sustainable Darebin — April 2026 |
Welcome to Sustainable Darebin — April 2026 |
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We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as Traditional Owners and custodians of the land and waters we now call Darebin. We affirm that Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people have lived on this land for millennia, practising their customs and ceremonies of celebration, initiation and renewal. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present, and future leaders. We pay respect to all other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Darebin. |
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as Traditional Owners and custodians of the land and waters we now call Darebin. We affirm that Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people have lived on this land for millennia, practising their customs and ceremonies of celebration, initiation and renewal. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present, and future leaders. We pay respect to all other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Darebin. |
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| Cool off and relax at SPAN Next time you are in the Clyde Street Thornbury neighbourhood, pop into SPAN Community House and try out the new cooling garden with added misting spray! It’s the first self-service misting garden in Australia (we think). Simply press the button and feel the relief of a spray of misty water that cools all the air around. Rest on benches in shade, enjoy the mural and the lovely garden whilst you are there. Funded by Darebin Council, and inspired by the Span community members, this simple solution will help keep our community safe, connected and supported during extreme heat. |
Cool off and relax at SPAN Next time you are in the Clyde Street Thornbury neighbourhood, pop into SPAN Community House and try out the new cooling garden with added misting spray! It’s the first self-service misting garden in Australia (we think). Simply press the button and feel the relief of a spray of misty water that cools all the air around. Rest on benches in shade, enjoy the mural and the lovely garden whilst you are there. Funded by Darebin Council, and inspired by the Span community members, this simple solution will help keep our community safe, connected and supported during extreme heat. |
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| Volunteer with Gardens for Wildlife Interested in helping local wildlife? We’re recruiting volunteers for Darebin’s Gardens for Wildlife program! Working alongside Council, Garden Guide volunteers support residents to create wildlife‑friendly gardens using indigenous plants. Garden Guides visit local properties, share practical tips, and inspire action to support wildlife in our own properties. Curious if this role is right for you? Join our online info session on Wednesday 22 April at 7pm to learn more, ask questions, and find out how to become a Garden Guide volunteer. |
Volunteer with Gardens for Wildlife Interested in helping local wildlife? We’re recruiting volunteers for Darebin’s Gardens for Wildlife program! Working alongside Council, Garden Guide volunteers support residents to create wildlife‑friendly gardens using indigenous plants. Garden Guides visit local properties, share practical tips, and inspire action to support wildlife in our own properties. Curious if this role is right for you? Join our online info session on Wednesday 22 April at 7pm to learn more, ask questions, and find out how to become a Garden Guide volunteer. |
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| Over 150 registrations for Darebin Energy Upgrades! Are you ready to make the switch? We can help you electrify your home or business – with free expert advice, and no obligation quotes from our recommended suppliers on: - Insulation and draught proofing
- Split systems
- Hot water systems
- Solar PV systems
- Batteries
- EV chargers
- Induction cooktops
Limited rebates of up to $3,500 for households and up to $4,500 for eligible home based businesses. |
Over 150 registrations for Darebin Energy Upgrades! Are you ready to make the switch? We can help you electrify your home or business – with free expert advice, and no obligation quotes from our recommended suppliers on: - Insulation and draught proofing
- Split systems
- Hot water systems
- Solar PV systems
- Batteries
- EV chargers
- Induction cooktops
Limited rebates of up to $3,500 for households and up to $4,500 for eligible home based businesses. |
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| Get your business off gas BIGBANG Studio in Northcote is our first business to upgrade and fully electrify through the Darebin Energy Upgrades Program. They replaced a gas hydronic heating system with split systems, a gas cooktop with induction and gas heating with a heat pump hot water system. In total they accessed over $2000 in government rebates and subsidies, including the $1,000 Darebin Business Energy$mart rebate. Rebates are also available to home-based businesses. |
Get your business off gas BIGBANG Studio in Northcote is our first business to upgrade and fully electrify through the Darebin Energy Upgrades Program. They replaced a gas hydronic heating system with split systems, a gas cooktop with induction and gas heating with a heat pump hot water system. In total they accessed over $2000 in government rebates and subsidies, including the $1,000 Darebin Business Energy$mart rebate. Rebates are also available to home-based businesses. |
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| Join the City Nature Challenge Be part of the City Nature Challenge 2026—an international citizen‑science event inviting people around the world to document nature in their local area. From 24–27 April, everyone in Darebin is invited to head outdoors, slow down, and record the plants, animals, fungi and insects that share our city. Looking for a hands‑on event? Join Darebin’s Natural Environment team for a guided nature discovery walk at Merri Park and learn how to use iNaturalist. Find out more below. |
Join the City Nature Challenge Be part of the City Nature Challenge 2026—an international citizen‑science event inviting people around the world to document nature in their local area. From 24–27 April, everyone in Darebin is invited to head outdoors, slow down, and record the plants, animals, fungi and insects that share our city. Looking for a hands‑on event? Join Darebin’s Natural Environment team for a guided nature discovery walk at Merri Park and learn how to use iNaturalist. Find out more below. |
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| Make your next event low waste Congratulations to Village Greening and The Fairfield Traders Association for making their event almost landfill free! Thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers and a community grant from the Council, they were able to demonstrate that even public events can be low waste with good planning, signage and education. They finished the day with just a tiny bag of landfill. Check out the video to see how they did it. |
Make your next event low waste Congratulations to Village Greening and The Fairfield Traders Association for making their event almost landfill free! Thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers and a community grant from the Council, they were able to demonstrate that even public events can be low waste with good planning, signage and education. They finished the day with just a tiny bag of landfill. Check out the video to see how they did it. |
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| Growing the food program at Jika Jika Jika Jika Community Centre in Northcote is expanding its Food Rescue Program. In partnership with Coles and SecondBite, the centre is now rescuing up to 300 kilos of fresh food each week from local supermarkets across Darebin, helping keep good food out of landfill. The rescued food helps support Jika Jika’s free food security program and weekly Community BBQ. Locals are invited to come along to the BBQ, share a meal and meet others in the community. It runs from 12.30 - 1.30pm every Thursday at 1B Plant Street, Northcote. |
Growing the food program at Jika Jika Jika Jika Community Centre in Northcote is expanding its Food Rescue Program. In partnership with Coles and SecondBite, the centre is now rescuing up to 300 kilos of fresh food each week from local supermarkets across Darebin, helping keep good food out of landfill. The rescued food helps support Jika Jika’s free food security program and weekly Community BBQ. Locals are invited to come along to the BBQ, share a meal and meet others in the community. It runs from 12.30 - 1.30pm every Thursday at 1B Plant Street, Northcote. |
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| International Bat Appreciation Day Every year on 17 April we celebrate International Bat Appreciation Day - and there’s so much to admire about bats! Australia has over 80 bat species, including flying‑foxes and tiny microbats, some of which you might spot flying across Darebin’s skies at dusk, keeping insect numbers in check and supporting pollination and seed dispersal. Sadly, 11 native species are threatened - but everyone can make a difference. You can help by creating habitat in your garden, using wildlife‑safe fruit netting, and keeping pets indoors at night. |
International Bat Appreciation Day Every year on 17 April we celebrate International Bat Appreciation Day - and there’s so much to admire about bats! Australia has over 80 bat species, including flying‑foxes and tiny microbats, some of which you might spot flying across Darebin’s skies at dusk, keeping insect numbers in check and supporting pollination and seed dispersal. Sadly, 11 native species are threatened - but everyone can make a difference. You can help by creating habitat in your garden, using wildlife‑safe fruit netting, and keeping pets indoors at night. |
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| Campaign for a new regional park The wallan wallan Regional Parkland Alliance has launched a campaign to establish the wallan wallan Regional Parkland in Melbourne's north. The 3,000-hectare Parkland in the upper reaches of the Merri Creek will provide habitat for waterbirds and wildlife, combine extensive wetlands and ancient volcanic cone, create a much-needed space for the local community to explore nature, and mitigate the impacts of flooding. You can find out more and support the campaign by signing the petition. |
Campaign for a new regional park The wallan wallan Regional Parkland Alliance has launched a campaign to establish the wallan wallan Regional Parkland in Melbourne's north. The 3,000-hectare Parkland in the upper reaches of the Merri Creek will provide habitat for waterbirds and wildlife, combine extensive wetlands and ancient volcanic cone, create a much-needed space for the local community to explore nature, and mitigate the impacts of flooding. You can find out more and support the campaign by signing the petition. |
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| Calling all local artists We’re looking for a creative mind to design a comic-style character who can take our community on a journey learning about energy efficiency, electrification, and smarter homes. Think storytelling, creativity, and real impact helping people reduce their bills and live more comfortably. Keen to get involved or know someone who would be perfect? 👉 Check out the guidelines and
📩 Submit your idea to energyupgrades@darebin.vic.gov.au |
Calling all local artists We’re looking for a creative mind to design a comic-style character who can take our community on a journey learning about energy efficiency, electrification, and smarter homes. Think storytelling, creativity, and real impact helping people reduce their bills and live more comfortably. Keen to get involved or know someone who would be perfect? 👉 Check out the guidelines and
📩 Submit your idea to energyupgrades@darebin.vic.gov.au |
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Special guest story - Issy’s stationery project Hello my name is Isabelle, I am 11 and in grade 6 at a local primary school. I am doing a community service project based on the themes Sustainability, Equity and Social Justice. The reason I have set up this Stationery Project is to help families who cannot afford new stationery for the upcoming school year. At the end of last year my family and I were putting together our book packs for the upcoming year. We had some left-over books from earlier years that I could use, and we also had to buy a lot of new books and pens. But I realised that we actually had a lot of new books and pens that we no longer needed because they were only used in the earlier school years. My friends at school also had this problem. These items were just sitting around our houses doing nothing. That’s when I got my idea to help our community and find a sustainable solution for all the stationary that we could no longer use. With this project I have chosen two local charities who accept donations of new stationary and put together book packs for families and children who need support. |
Special guest story - Issy’s stationery project Hello my name is Isabelle, I am 11 and in grade 6 at a local primary school. I am doing a community service project based on the themes Sustainability, Equity and Social Justice. The reason I have set up this Stationery Project is to help families who cannot afford new stationery for the upcoming school year. At the end of last year my family and I were putting together our book packs for the upcoming year. We had some left-over books from earlier years that I could use, and we also had to buy a lot of new books and pens. But I realised that we actually had a lot of new books and pens that we no longer needed because they were only used in the earlier school years. My friends at school also had this problem. These items were just sitting around our houses doing nothing. That’s when I got my idea to help our community and find a sustainable solution for all the stationary that we could no longer use. With this project I have chosen two local charities who accept donations of new stationary and put together book packs for families and children who need support. |
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| Electrify your Home and Life Ready to lower your bills and create a cosier, more energy efficient home? Come along to our Electrify Your Home and Life sessions! Learn how to switch to electric, hear from locals who’ve done it, and get all the details on our new Darebin Energy Upgrades program and installers. 📍 Northcote Library — Wednesday 1 April, 6–7.30pm 📍 Preston Library — Thursday 11 June, 6–7.30pm |
Electrify your Home and Life Ready to lower your bills and create a cosier, more energy efficient home? Come along to our Electrify Your Home and Life sessions! Learn how to switch to electric, hear from locals who’ve done it, and get all the details on our new Darebin Energy Upgrades program and installers. 📍 Northcote Library — Wednesday 1 April, 6–7.30pm 📍 Preston Library — Thursday 11 June, 6–7.30pm |
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| School holiday events for young people Know a young person who’s into sustainability and looking for something to do this school holidays? Check out one of these great events for young people: |
School holiday events for young people Know a young person who’s into sustainability and looking for something to do this school holidays? Check out one of these great events for young people: |
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| Youth Clothes Swap and Upcycling Workshop Give your clothes a second life and learn how to turn a t-shirt into a tote bag at The Hub these school holidays! If you’re aged 12 to 25 and want to get a new outfit that's environmentally friendly and doesn’t cost a fortune, come along to our Clothes Swap on Friday 10 April. Bring up to 5 items of clothing to exchange for tokens, which can then be exchanged for 5 other items of clothing. If you don’t have clothes to swap that’s ok, you can still participate! On the day you’ll also get the chance to learn how to upcycle your clothes to give them a second life with Remaki. Materials provided and no experience needed. Bring your own T-shirt or use one of ours. Snacks and drinks will be provided at the event. When: 2:30-5:30pm, Friday 10 April Location: The Hub Youth Space, ex01 Northland Shopping Centre Preston, 2-50 Murray Road, Preston |
Youth Clothes Swap and Upcycling Workshop Give your clothes a second life and learn how to turn a t-shirt into a tote bag at The Hub these school holidays! If you’re aged 12 to 25 and want to get a new outfit that's environmentally friendly and doesn’t cost a fortune, come along to our Clothes Swap on Friday 10 April. Bring up to 5 items of clothing to exchange for tokens, which can then be exchanged for 5 other items of clothing. If you don’t have clothes to swap that’s ok, you can still participate! On the day you’ll also get the chance to learn how to upcycle your clothes to give them a second life with Remaki. Materials provided and no experience needed. Bring your own T-shirt or use one of ours. Snacks and drinks will be provided at the event. When: 2:30-5:30pm, Friday 10 April Location: The Hub Youth Space, ex01 Northland Shopping Centre Preston, 2-50 Murray Road, Preston |
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| Meet Bell Stationeers Bell Stationeers is a group of passionate locals caring for the parklands around Bell Station. Get involved in monthly one hour working bees and jobs for all abilities—hold a hose, collect rubbish with a pick-up stick and of course there’s plenty of weeds to pull! Meet other locals and even have a coffee afterwards at a local cafe. When: 10am, Sunday 19 April and Sunday 17 May Where: Bell Train Station |
Meet Bell Stationeers Bell Stationeers is a group of passionate locals caring for the parklands around Bell Station. Get involved in monthly one hour working bees and jobs for all abilities—hold a hose, collect rubbish with a pick-up stick and of course there’s plenty of weeds to pull! Meet other locals and even have a coffee afterwards at a local cafe. When: 10am, Sunday 19 April and Sunday 17 May Where: Bell Train Station |
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| Fish habitat weaving & fish hotel building workshop Join DCMC, OzFish and Snakebird Designs for a relaxed, hands-on session on the Darebin Creek and learn to weave and build habitat for fish. When: 10:30am–1pm, Saturday 11 April Where:George Cct, Bundoora Park (NW of Bundoora Park Dam)Darebin Creek, Bundoora |
Fish habitat weaving & fish hotel building workshop Join DCMC, OzFish and Snakebird Designs for a relaxed, hands-on session on the Darebin Creek and learn to weave and build habitat for fish. When: 10:30am–1pm, Saturday 11 April Where:George Cct, Bundoora Park (NW of Bundoora Park Dam)Darebin Creek, Bundoora |
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| Get a FREE bike check Wheel up for a free 20-minute bike check at Northcote or Reservoir. The friendly mechanics from WeCycle and Dr Cranky’s will attend to your bike, sharing lots of great tips and tricks along the way.
When: 3rd Saturday of the month at Northcote and 4th Sunday of the month at Reservoir.
Where: Batman Park, Northcote or Reservoir Leisure Centre.
Bookings essential. |
Get a FREE bike check Wheel up for a free 20-minute bike check at Northcote or Reservoir. The friendly mechanics from WeCycle and Dr Cranky’s will attend to your bike, sharing lots of great tips and tricks along the way.
When: 3rd Saturday of the month at Northcote and 4th Sunday of the month at Reservoir.
Where: Batman Park, Northcote or Reservoir Leisure Centre.
Bookings essential. |
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| Nature Discovery Walk at Merri Park – Northcote Join Darebin's Natural Environment team for a nature discovery walk and hands‑on iNaturalist session as part of the City Nature Challenge! During the event, we’ll take a gentle walk through Merri Park, and we’ll pause to identify species, take photos, and upload observations to iNaturalist—no experience required! When: 10am–12pm, Sunday 26 April Where: Merri Park, Northcote |
Nature Discovery Walk at Merri Park – Northcote Join Darebin's Natural Environment team for a nature discovery walk and hands‑on iNaturalist session as part of the City Nature Challenge! During the event, we’ll take a gentle walk through Merri Park, and we’ll pause to identify species, take photos, and upload observations to iNaturalist—no experience required! When: 10am–12pm, Sunday 26 April Where: Merri Park, Northcote |
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| Waring Wombat Season April - July is the Waring Wombat Season according to the Eastern Kulin Seasonal Calendar from the Bunjilaka Cultural Heritage Centre. Cool, rainy days follow misty mornings. The time of highest rainfall and lowest temperatures. Waring (wombats) emerge to bask and graze in the sunshine. Bulen-bulen (Superb Lyrebird) males perform their courtship displays. Hearts of Kombadik (Soft Tree-ferns) are the major food when no fruits are available. Days are short and nights are long. The constellation of Sagittarius rises in the southeast after sunset, indicating the mid-point of cold weather. Source - Eastern Kulin Seasonal Calendar - Bunjilaka. |
Waring Wombat Season April - July is the Waring Wombat Season according to the Eastern Kulin Seasonal Calendar from the Bunjilaka Cultural Heritage Centre. Cool, rainy days follow misty mornings. The time of highest rainfall and lowest temperatures. Waring (wombats) emerge to bask and graze in the sunshine. Bulen-bulen (Superb Lyrebird) males perform their courtship displays. Hearts of Kombadik (Soft Tree-ferns) are the major food when no fruits are available. Days are short and nights are long. The constellation of Sagittarius rises in the southeast after sunset, indicating the mid-point of cold weather. Source - Eastern Kulin Seasonal Calendar - Bunjilaka. |
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Copyright © 2026 Darebin City Council, All rights reserved. |
Copyright © 2026 Darebin City Council, All rights reserved. |
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