Have your say on designs for boosting biodiversity in Stonnington AND grow your green thumb by getting involved!

Council is committed to protecting and enhancing biodiversity, increasing community connection and engagement with nature, and supporting community-led environmental and climate initiatives.

With funding from the Commonwealth of Australia’s Urban Rivers and Catchments grant program, and with strong strategic and on-the-ground support from Council, local community group Rewilding Stonnington will shortly be leading on-ground revegetation and minor landscaping works at three key pilot sites throughout Stonnington as part of their broader Regenerate! South Yarra to Windsor and Kooyong to Yarra River/Birrarung project:

• Pocket park at 46 Osborne Street, South Yarra
• Windsor Siding, Windsor (rear section near Alpha Place)
• WM Dane Park, Toorak (adjacent to Heyington station)

In line with Council’s strategic environmental and climate resilience objectives, work on the above sites as part of Rewilding Stonnington’s Regenerate! project will enhance the local biodiversity and resilience of currently under-utilised green spaces in Stonnington through planting indigenous flora; foster stronger connections between people and the environment by offering new spaces for community members to pause, reflect and engage with nature; and, facilitate partnerships with our Traditional Custodians to incorporate and share Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge.

To ensure outcomes for these pilot sites are ecologically sensitive, beautiful, and shaped by our community, Council and Rewilding Stonnington are partnering to collect community feedback on the draft designs.

Council is also supporting Rewilding Stonnington to recruit local volunteers join the efforts for each site. We’d love to encourage you to participate – by volunteering you can help to enhance and protect your local green space, deepen your knowledge of urban biodiversity, and connect with other like-minded environmental custodians. Express your interest by providing your email address in the survey below – we’ll ensure your details are passed along to Rewilding Stonnington.

Information sessions

Rewilding Stonnington will be hosting online information sessions on each of the sites.

Date: Saturday 30 August

3.00-3.30pm: 46 Osborne Street session. Register here.

3.45-4.15pm: Windsor Siding session. Register here.

4.30-5.00pm: WM Dane Park session. Register here.

Regenerating 46 Osborne Street, South Yarra

The design aims to soften the site by enhancing habitat and adding complexity, variety, and texture with a diverse planting palette, pathways, and seating. It will include a mix of hardy endemic plants suited to the local ecology, with a selection of mostly small and medium flowering plants, grasses, and groundcovers, and taller shrubs near the railway fence. Species selected will prioritise bird and pollinator-attracting plants. Additional informal pathways and tracks will facilitate movement between densely planted areas. Existing seating will be replaced by Rewilding Stonnington’s signature recycled timber semi-circle bench, designed to facilitate social connection. Logs and rocks will be strategically placed to add additional habitat. See draft concept design below.

Regenerating Windsor Siding, Windsor

The design emphasizes creating an undulating landscape through strategic selection of endemic plants that are sensitive to the local ecology. A mosaic of groundcovers, grasses, and mounding plants invites exploration, while taller shrubs and trees in the southwest corner create a welcoming space for contemplation. Pathways define the main routes, while others remain informal. Rewilding Stonnington’s signature recycled timber semi-circle bench will be installed, designed to facilitate social connection. Logs and rocks will be strategically placed to add additional habitat.

See draft concept design below.

Regenerating WM Dane Park, Toorak

The design aims to enhance the site’s ‘bush block’ feel by adding terracing, a mulched social space, and dense endemic plants that complement the existing native vegetation. Species will be selected for hardiness, variety, and longevity focusing on strappy plants and grasses in the open understory and adding sections of medium and high-density shrubs for habitat. Groundcover and other low plantings will be located along pathways and near seating, to soften the aesthetic and control erosion. Rewilding Stonnington’s signature recycled timber semi-circle benches will be installed, creating a new space for conversation nature connection. Logs and rocks will be strategically placed to add additional habitat, and nesting boxes will be considered.

See draft concept design below.

View the concept designs and complete the short survey below, by 3 September 2025.

At the close of consultation, your views will be considered as part of any changes and refinements to the concept designs before the project is delivered. Final planting palettes will be determined in consultation with Council’s Parks Unit and Traditional Custodians.

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