Advocacy
Advocacy Platform
As Friends of Darebin Parklands, we stand for:
• Continued joint funding of the Darebin Parklands by Banyule City Council and Darebin City Council and governance in partnership with the community through the Darebin Creek Management Committee Inc (DCMC);
• Continued stewardship of the Darebin Parklands by an onsite full-time ranger team as the best way to deliver on the complex needs and roles that the Parkland plays for the community, flora and fauna;
• Promotion of the on-site rangers as a proven model of urban bushland site management for the community and the environment;
• Action by local and state governments to mitigate the negative impacts of urban development on our waterways’ health.
Council funding for Darebin Parklands rangers is at risk
Forty years ago, the predecessors to Banyule and Darebin Councils made the forward-thinking decision to jointly manage the task of re-establishing bushland at Darebin Parklands through a dedicated ranger team. Currently Banyule City Council funds approximately 40% and Darebin City Council 60% of the budget for the management of the Parklands, including the ranger unit.
Today, the key issue is ensuring the Councils’ continued commitment and funding of the onsite ranger team for Darebin Parklands, through the DCMC. The rangers are what make Darebin Parklands uniquely successful.
In October 2023, Banyule proposed to stop funding the Darebin Parklands ranger unit, threatening to dismantle a successful joint arrangement that has been in place for decades. At a meeting with residents on 30 October 2023, the Director Assets and City Services indicated that Banyule planned to in-house the management of Banyule’s share of the parklands under its bush management crew.
Strong community action convinced Banyule councillors to delay withdrawing funding for a year to allow for community engagement and a review of possible funding models. Council has until December 2025 to undertake community engagement and return to councillors with an updated proposal on the future funding options for Darebin Parklands.
Banyule is planning to conduct community engagement in November 2024 and March 2025. Darebin is due to consider an options paper on future management of the Parklands in December 2024.
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.
What we are doing
Friends of Darebin Parklands will be working in the coming months to:
• Raise community awareness of the uncertainty around future funding of the Darebin Parklands Rangers
• Survey candidates ahead of the upcoming 2024 local government election on their support for the FDP Advocacy Platform
• Make submissions to future Banyule and Darebin review processes
What can you do
• Let your friends, family and neighbours in Banyule and Darebin know about these issues
• Ask your ward candidates for their position on funding of the Parklands rangers and protection of our urban waterways
• Participate in Banyule’s community engagement process
• Stay up to date on advocacy issues by becoming a member of Friends of Darebin Parklands, and following us on Instagram and Facebook.
