Advocacy
Banyule’s review of the Darebin Creek and Parklands
The future of our beloved Darebin Creek and Parklands is at a crucial turning point, and your voice has never been more important. Following last October’s unexpected proposal by Banyule City Council (BCC) to defund the rangers, your strong community response helped secure funding until June 2025 and required BCC to undertake community engagement.
On 4 November, BCC launched its community engagement plan and a survey that will influence decisions about the future management and funding of our creek and parklands.
The key stages are:
1. Community survey asking for feedback on how to protect and improve these spaces (open until 2 December 2024)
2. Community engagement on the draft recommendations for the structure, delivery and funding contributions (March 2025)
3. Final review and recommendations presented to Council for endorsement (April – June 2025)
The survey represents one of just two opportunities for community input. Don’t wait until March – make sure you have your say on these special places now using the link below.
Why do the rangers matter?
Joint management by a dedicated team of rangers has enabled the realisation of the community’s vision to recreate a rich urban bushland, and continues to support its ongoing development and high levels of usage.
By having the parklands managed as a single entity, the planning and management of the entire park is undertaken holistically. This ensures that all visitors can enjoy the diversity of experiences the parklands have to offer, and that the ecological integrity of the park as a whole is fostered. The withdrawal of either Banyule or Darebin Council from this arrangement would potentially mean the loss of not only two highly-qualified park rangers, but of decades of organisational knowledge of the park flora, fauna and management held by DCMC.
With the challenges of climate change and the forecast growth of the immediate area’s population by 50% from 2021-2036, these pressures mean holistic stewardship is more important than ever.
By the numbers: DCMC and Banyule's Bushland Management Team
- In 2023-24 Banyule’s Bushland and Park Presentation budget was $5.7m¹.
- Banyule’s spending of $168k on the Parklands represents ~3% of its parks and bushland budget.
- Banyule’s spending of $250k on catchment management and the Parklands represents 4.5% of its parks and bushland budget.
- Ivanhoe, Bellfield and West Heidelberg communities represent more than 16% of Banyule’s population
- These communities are forecast to grow by 50% to 31,000 by 2041
- These communities will absorb 37% of Banyule’s total population growth and over 3,000 new homes
- Banyule’s budget in 2023-24 for Urban Forestry and Sporting Fields was a an additional $7.2m
- Banyule’s bushland management team are very capable, but they are a small team with a big job:
- 10 team members (9,360 hours/year)²
- Responsible for 280+ hectares²
- On average they can spend 33 hours per hectare annually
- Rockbeare Park and Napier Waller is 7-10 hectares
¹ Information provided by Banyule City Council in February 2024
² Information provided by Banyule City Council in March 2024
The Ranger Model
