How we engaged

Community engagement for Stage 1 ran from January to March 2026. We heard from the community through the Connect Stonnington survey, a prioritisation activity, an ideas board, and a series of pop-up conversations across Stonnington.

  • 194 responses were received through Connect Stonnington.
  • More than 320 people took part in pop-up sessions at community centres, swimming pools and local shopping areas.
  • We also engaged directly with Traditional Custodians, Councillors, the Executive Team and key stakeholders including local community groups, regional networks, and state government departments and agencies.

This feedback directly shaped the draft Sustainable Stonnington 2040 strategy and five action plans. See how it's reflected in each document on the exhibition page.

  • Environment Strategy - Stage 2

    Our draft integrated Environment Strategy - Sustainable Stonnington 2040 - is now open for feedback along with five action plans. We're seeking your feedback before it's finalised.

    Review the drafts and have your say 

About the Environment Strategy

In early 2026, we set out to create a new Environment Strategy to guide our sustainability and climate action efforts to 2040 — building on the progress we've already made together, and aligned with our Community Vision:
This strategy will help bring sustainability into everything we do and prepare Stonnington for the environmental challenges we know lie ahead.

We are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pressure on our natural resources. To prepare for the future, we need a long-term plan that strengthens resilience and supports our community.

The new strategy will:

  • guide Council’s sustainability direction to 2040
  • align with our Community Vision
  • bring together all of our environmental priorities
  • embed Caring for Country into how we care for the local environment

The new Environment Strategy will bring together all of our environmental priorities in one place.

It will help us respond to the climate emergency, protect our natural environment and support our community to live more sustainably.

The new strategy will guide how we:

  • reduce emissions
  • build local climate resilience
  • protect and enhance biodiversity and connection to nature
  • become more water sensitive and flood ready
  • transition to a circular, sustainable, and resource-conscious economy

We will continue to work with First Peoples to ensure Caring for Country principles guide how we care for our environment.

The strategy will be supported by two-year rolling action plans. These plans will help us stay flexible, practical and responsive as conditions change.

Council’s existing environmental strategies include:

Rather than renewing each document separately, we’re bringing all priorities together into one overarching and long-term strategy supported by short-term action plans.
This aligns with Council’s decision to elevate Sustainable Environment as a key direction in the new Council Plan 2025–2029.

Retiring these strategies does not change Council’s climate emergency declaration, net zero target, or existing commitments.

We believe integrated challenges need integrated solutions, and one cohesive strategy will help streamline and strengthen our environmental action.

What your input can influence

Your feedback will help Council to:

  • decide which actions to focus on and how to prioritise investment across different environmental priorities
  • shape how we support the community to reduce environmental impact, care for nature in Stonnington, and adapt to climate change
  • inform Council’s advocacy on environmental issues

What your input can’t influence

Your feedback will not:

  • change Council’s legal and regulatory responsibilities
  • change the overall direction or scope of the Environment Strategy
  • lead to major changes to existing services in the short term

This process builds on engagement completed over the past 24 months, including engagement that informed:

It is also informed by past consultation we undertook on our existing environmental strategies and action plans.

Our progress so far

Since our last Sustainable Environment Strategy, we’ve made strong progress.

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Here are some of our biggest achievements from the last seven years:


This progress aligns with Council’s sustainability and climate commitments.
Find out more about our targets and ongoing actions on our Sustainability and Climate Commitments page.

What we asked the community

In early 2026, we asked the community to help us test five draft priority areas for the new Environment Strategy:

  • Resilient, adaptable and empowered

    A community with the skills, knowledge, tools, and access to infrastructure to respond to and bounce back from extreme weather events

  • Climate positive

    A climate positive community, where we reduce emissions through clean energy and green transport while also removing carbon from the air

  • Water sensitive and flood ready

    A water sensitive community with healthy waterways and flood-ready drains, roads, buildings and green spaces that can cope with heavy rain, and where we all make clever use of our water resources

  • Biodiverse, green and connected

    A greener community with cool, shady streets and thriving open spaces, that supports a diversity of plants and wildlife, and where everyone feels connected to nature

  • Circular and resource-conscious

    A community with smart waste and resource management, where everyone makes sustainable purchases, reduces waste, and shares, repairs, reuses and recycles as much as possible

This feedback helped shape the draft Sustainable Stonnington 2040 strategy and five action plans, now open for feedback on the exhibition page.

Engagement activities

  • Tell us your priorities

    Take two minutes to vote on where you think Council should focus its efforts and investment across emissions reduction, climate adaptation, biodiversity and greening, water and flooding, and sustainable resource use.

    Click here 

  • Take our community action survey

    Spend eight minutes completing our survey (and enter the draw to win a FREE home energy assessment) to share your concerns, tell us what actions you want to take and what gets in the way, and what would support you.

    This will guide how Council designs and prioritises initiatives to assist the community.

    Click here 

  • Share your ideas

    Add your suggestions, big or small, to help guide what environmental projects, programs, services, advocacy, and education Council should deliver. This can include priorities for Council’s own operations, or initiatives to help the community.

    Click here 

28 February, 2026

Col says:

H&S:Cleaner laneways,residential and behind shops cafes and restaurants'. Malvern Central lane,bays need a regular clean. rid vermin.

25 February, 2026

Corinna says:

Managing increasing waste (idea: in Korea wheely bins have built in compactors). Revisit recycling education, awareness has declined/lazy.

24 February, 2026

Minh Nguyen says:

All schools should collect free old uniform to sell to students,saving parents’ cost and protecting environment.Collect, reuse old folders

23 February, 2026

AGH says:

Better engage/educate renters/RE agents in Stonnington to increase participation in/use of environmental/health/social and waste initiatives

22 February, 2026

Alec.wilson says:

Create an educational program which inspires primary school children to get involved with democracy, and how they can contribute to council.

22 February, 2026

Alec.wilson says:

Reduce lighting glare for People & Animals by installing 2700k LED's

22 February, 2026

Alec says:

Reduce lighting glare for People & Animals by installing 2700k LED's

21 February, 2026

JMS says:

Provide information to residents about using native plants and provide incentives to remove plants that are pests like gazania & agapanthus

21 February, 2026

JMS says:

Have the free native plant giveaways and information more frequently and at more events and locations

21 February, 2026

JMS says:

Free textile recycling like e-waste service.

21 February, 2026

Kieran says:

Have more parks with information on plants and animals. Reduce high density living especially with no/limited garden space.

21 February, 2026

Nicole says:

FOGO bins should be free and not an additional cost especially in apartments when trading in a red bin.

Pop ups were held

Pop-ups are informal drop-in sessions where you can chat with Council staff and share your ideas. You can ask questions, share ideas and learn more about the Environment Strategy.

No registration needed.

When and where

Tuesday 10 February 2026 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Phoenix Park Neighbourhood House

22 Rob Roy Rd, Malvern East VIC 3145

Wednesday 11 February 2026 09:30 am to 11:30 am

Toy Library Malvern

1 Winter St, Malvern VIC 3144

28 February, 2026

Col says:

H&S:Cleaner laneways,residential and behind shops cafes and restaurants'. Malvern Central lane,bays need a regular clean. rid vermin.

25 February, 2026

Corinna says:

Managing increasing waste (idea: in Korea wheely bins have built in compactors). Revisit recycling education, awareness has declined/lazy.

24 February, 2026

Minh Nguyen says:

All schools should collect free old uniform to sell to students,saving parents’ cost and protecting environment.Collect, reuse old folders

23 February, 2026

AGH says:

Better engage/educate renters/RE agents in Stonnington to increase participation in/use of environmental/health/social and waste initiatives

22 February, 2026

Alec.wilson says:

Create an educational program which inspires primary school children to get involved with democracy, and how they can contribute to council.

22 February, 2026

Alec.wilson says:

Reduce lighting glare for People & Animals by installing 2700k LED's

22 February, 2026

Alec says:

Reduce lighting glare for People & Animals by installing 2700k LED's

21 February, 2026

JMS says:

Provide information to residents about using native plants and provide incentives to remove plants that are pests like gazania & agapanthus

21 February, 2026

JMS says:

Have the free native plant giveaways and information more frequently and at more events and locations

21 February, 2026

JMS says:

Free textile recycling like e-waste service.

21 February, 2026

Kieran says:

Have more parks with information on plants and animals. Reduce high density living especially with no/limited garden space.

21 February, 2026

Nicole says:

FOGO bins should be free and not an additional cost especially in apartments when trading in a red bin.

Ready to have your say?

The draft Sustainable Stonnington 2040 strategy and five action plans are open for feedback on the exhibition page.