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Spring 2026
Wattle Day - 1st September
It is fitting that the beginning of Spring, a time of renewal and transformation, coincides with Wattle Day on 1st September. As our national floral emblem, the Wattle flower is steeped in Australian history. With over 1000 native species, Wattles grow all across this great southern land from coastal ecosystems to the red center. Including right here in Frankston at many of our nature reserves, such as:
Sweetwater Creek Lower Nature Reserve which has a lot of Black Wattle, Blackwood Wattles along with Prickly Hedge Wattle and Prickly Moses all in bloom,
Casuarina Reserve has sweet Wattle, which smells as good as it sounds,
Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve has Wattle on bright xanthic display, and
Seaford Foreshore has Coastal Wattle in bloom and looking amazing.
Wattle is featured on the Commonwealth Coat of Arms and as a motif on the country’s highest honour the Australia Medal medallion, sprigs use to be tucked into letters sent to soldiers on the front lines and are now given out at citizenship ceremonies. And let’s not forget when the pinnacle of fashion was reached when Kath debuted her Wattle & wombat jumper on Kath & Kim, with Kel quickly following suit.
First Nations Peoples knew the wattle plant by many names, with the blooming flowers signalling the start of the next season. The Traditional Owners of the land in and around Frankston are the Bunurong people. The flowering wattle signalled a time of birds hatching and eels migrating through the region's waterways, another example of renewal and transformation.
There is plenty on offer at Frankston City this Spring with author talks, workshops, fruit-net swaps and community grants so we hope you find your purpose to regenerate and bloom. We are also keen to hear our readers feedback and have a short survey at the very end of this newsletter.
So, get outside this Spring and enjoy the Wattle! 🌿
Photo caption: Acacia dealbata (Silver Wattle) by Justin Herbert (above) and Kath Day-Knight & Kel Knight in Wattle haute couture from Kath & Kim, Courtesy ABC (below).
Avian influenza (H5N1) found in birds in Frankston City
BirdFlu has been detected in birds in Victoria and is now being managed by Agriculture Victoria and Health Victoria in a coordinated response.
Many wild birds, including waterfowl and seabirds, can carry strains of bird flu without showing signs of disease. The risk to people in Australia from H5 bird flu remains low however being informed and knowing the risks can help protect you, our community, local wildlife and pets.
Advice to residents:
- Do not feed wild birds and do not touch sick, injured or dead birds.
- Report sick or dead wild birds and wildlife, here: AgVic - Wildlife Disease Reports
- Keep dogs on a leash in parks, reserves and around waterways to prevent contact with sick or dead birds and bird droppings.
- Keep cats indoors or in enclosed outdoor runs, to protect wildlife and reduce potential disease exposure.
- Wash hands thoroughly after gardening, handling pet equipment, cleaning bird baths or coming into contact with bird droppings.
- If you have backyard chickens, review advice here from Agriculture Victoria
- To ensure community safety, Council asks visitors to respect any temporary closures or restrictions around affected areas, wetlands or parks if authorities put them in place.
For the latest information, go to the H5N1 avian influenza (H5 bird flu) page.
Reducing e-waste through reuse
More than 300 retired Council laptops have been diverted from landfill through a partnership that is reducing electronic waste while giving valuable technology a second life. Instead of being discarded, Council’s retired laptops are securely wiped, refurbished by This Is I-T! and redistributed to local students, extending the life of the devices and reducing demand for new electronic equipment and the valuable resources needed to produce it.
Mayor Baker recently joined representatives from This Is I-T! and participating schools at McClelland Secondary College to celebrate the latest milestone, with another round of refurbished laptops presented to students from government secondary schools across Frankston City. The initiative is a practical example of the circular economy in action, keeping valuable materials in use for longer while delivering environmental and social benefits.
Photo caption: Mayor Baker with students from Patterson River Secondary College.
September is Biodiversity Month
Frankston City Council is celebrating Biodiversity Month by joining forces with neighbouring councils for the Melbourne Biodiversity Blitz 2026
This September, Frankston is joining neighbouring councils in a friendly competition to see who can record the most species on iNaturalist! From 1–30 September 2026, head outdoors, snap photos of local plants, animals and fungi, and upload them. Your observations automatically count towards Frankston’s tally.
All uploads to iNaturalist contribute to the national biodiversity database the Atlas of Living Australia hosted by the CSIRO. So by joining the Blitz, you’ll discover local wildlife, contribute to real science and discover the amazing biodiversity in our city.
👉 Click here to join the project and let's put Frankston on the map!
Photo caption: Pair of rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanus) drinking water.
Buy Nothing New Month: Fix It, Don't Ditch It!
This October, join Frankston City in Buy Nothing New Month — a simple challenge to borrow, mend, or repair instead of buying new. It's about circularity: keeping what we already own in use for longer, cutting waste and easing the cost-of-living pressure on our wallets. Council has a whole toolkit of free programs to help you do exactly that.
Seven ways to get involved:
- Take stock of what you already own before reaching for something new.
- Pick up a practical repair skill at a free Back to Basics workshop.
- Borrow what you need, free of charge, from the Library of Things.
- Get a broken item fixed up at the free Roving Repair event this October.
- Track down a local fixer through Council's Repair Directory for anything else that needs mending.
- Print a replacement part instead of buying a whole new part with the library's 3D printing service.
- Get on the Garage Sale Trail waitlist and pencil in 7–8 and 14–15 November.
Upcoming Roving Repair Events
Got something broken? Bring it along to our free Roving Repair event, where volunteer local repairers will help you fix textiles, bikes, appliances, toys and more, while you learn a thing or two yourself.
📅 Saturday 19 September 2026
🕘 1pm - 4pm
📍 Seaford Community Centre
📅 Sunday 18 October 2026
🕘 1pm - 4pm
📍 Frankston South Community & Recreation Centre
Photo caption: Repaired toasters.
Back to Basics Repair Workshop
Learn to mend, not spend! Our free Back to Basics workshop series teaches everyday repair skills — from sewing on buttons and mending holes, to basic bike maintenance. No experience needed, all welcome.
Photo caption: Man repairing a bike.
Garage Sale Trail 2026 - Australia’s biggest second-hand treasure hunt!
Garage Sale Trail is returning to Frankston this November for two big weekends of bargain hunting and community fun.
Looking for a bargain? It’s the second-hand treasure hunt you won’t want to miss! Curate your own trail using the interactive sale map to discover unique vintage finds and pre-loved treasures near you. Or maybe you're decluttering? Why not make some cash doing it. Last year, the average household made $761 on the trail. It’s garage sales made easy with a free listing on the national map, expert selling tips and ready-made promotional materials.
Photo caption: Garage sale trail event.
Library Events: FrankTALK with Sean Dooley ‘The Birdman’
Enjoy a lively morning at Frankston Library with Sean Dooley, writer, comedian and one of Australia’s best-known bird lovers. Sean has written for shows like Full Frontal, Hamish and Andy and Spicks and Specks, and is the author of books including The Big Twitch. He is also editor of Australian Birdlife magazine and a record-holding former national birdwatching champion.
Sean grew up in Seaford, exploring the wetlands where he’s now spotted more than 180 bird species. Driven by the belief that people protect nature when they connect with it, he uses humour and insight to share his journey from law student to birdwatching comedian and conservation advocate. Frankston City Council’s Environment and Sustainability team and Frankston City Libraries are delighted to bring you this event, ahead of the October Aussie Bird Count. Bookings are essential.
📅 Saturday 12 September 2026
🕘 10.30am
📍 Frankston Library
Photo caption: Sean Dooley with books.
Community Grants
Are you a rural landowner with an environmental works idea? Or perhaps you are part of a Community Group with an idea for a sustainability project? Frankston City Council’s $1,000 Environmental Sustainability Grants open for 2026-2027 on 1 September.
Not sure if you’re eligible or need assistance with your application? The Community Grants Team are here to help!
Get in touch early by calling 03 9784 1035 or email communitygrants@frankston.vic.gov.au
Frankston Environmental Friends Network 30th Celebration
On Wednesday 12th August, the Frankston Environmental Friends Network (FEFN) celebrated 30 years of environmental stewardship and community impact. It was a wonderful opportunity to bring together volunteers, community groups, partners and supporters to reflect on FEFN’s achievements and recognise the many people who have contributed to its work over the past three decades. With more than 20 local community groups represented, the event was also a great reminder of the strength of our community’s commitment to protecting and enhancing Frankston City’s natural environment. A big thank you to everyone who has played a part in this journey, your passion, knowledge and ongoing commitment make a real difference to our local environment and the community we all share.
Photo caption: Attendees at the FEFN 30 year celebration event.
Fruit Net Swap Program
In 2025, the Victorian government ran a Net Swap pilot program that is now being extended to Frankston. We are now offering residents the opportunity to exchange illegal fruit tree netting for a legal alternative. Replacement nets are available while stock lasts and you will need to surrender an existing non-compliant net to receive a replacement net, all surrendered nets will be recycled.
Illegal household fruit netting can entangle birds, possums and flying-foxes, causing serious injury and death. Changes to regulations in 2021 require netting used to protect fruit trees, vegetable gardens or other fruiting plants to have a mesh size no greater than 5mm x 5mm at full stretch. Ensuring legal fruit nets are used in your backyard is the perfect way to begin your spring cleaning and help protect Frankston’s biodiversity.
Free legal alternative fruit nets will be available from September 1st 2026, please email environment@frankston.vic.gov.au to arrange a time to visit for a net swap.
Photo caption: person swapping an illegal fruit net & receiving a legal net.
The Frankston Flame - hot hits🔥
Volunteer opportunity: Garden Guide administrator
Are you organised, community-minded and passionate about helping nature thrive? Frankston City’s Gardens for Wildlife program is seeking a volunteer Garden Guide administrator to support our friendly team of volunteer Garden Guides. This important behind-the-scenes role helps keep the program running smoothly by coordinating rosters, communicating with volunteers, preparing meeting agendas and taking meeting minutes. The role requires approximately 10 hours per month, and all required volunteer compliance tasks must be completed before commencing. No formal qualifications are needed, and training is provided. We’re looking for someone with an interest in gardening, local plants, wildlife and conservation, and a willingness to learn, work as part of a team and connect with like-minded people. Some knowledge of environmental weeds, indigenous plants or local wildlife would be an advantage. If you’d like to contribute your skills to a meaningful community conservation program, we’d love to hear from you. To express your interest, email G4WFrankston@frankston.vic.gov.au.
National Ride2Work Day - Wednesday, October 14
Whether you’re a regular two-wheeled commuter or new to the habit, the great news is every day can be Ride2Work day. Join the commuter evolution to enjoy the many health, wellbeing and environmental benefits riding provides.
📅 Register your commute here.
Photo caption: cyclists riding along Kananook Creek.
Emergency Preparedness
October 13th is International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, this is a great opportunity for all Frankston City households to ensure they are prepared for a disaster. Preparing now will ensure safety for you and the broader community should a sudden disaster occur. An Emergency Preparedness booklet can be collected at the Civic Centre or viewed online here.
Tidy Towns & Cities - Sustainability Awards
We are thrilled to announce the Seaford Banksia Arboretum Project is a finalist for the 2026 Tidy Towns & Cities - Sustainability Awards in the Environment category. Congratulations to Seaford local Ross Shepard who has led this environmental stewardship project for a number of years, turning a vacant lot owned by VicRoads into a place of banksia beauty. Winners will be announced in October.
While Spring brings flowers into bloom it also means pollen levels are at their highest, if you suffer from allergies but still want to go outside the AirRater App has live air quality monitoring.
The Parliament of Victoria has tabled an Inquiry into renewable and affordable energy for apartments. The final report contains 52 findings detailing the unique governance, technical and financial barriers making it more difficult for apartment residents to get solar.
This is the biggest opportunity we’ve had in 10 years to boost marine sanctuary protection in Australia’s magnificent ocean, but we have less than 30 days left to make it happen. Sign at Australian Marine Conservation Society.
The results of Council’s 2026 Annual Community Satisfaction survey are out
The Frankston City Council has achieved outstanding results, improving on 2025’s scores and consistently outperforming the averages of Metropolitan Melbourne councils. Satisfaction with the performance of Council meeting its responsibilities towards the environment increased measurably this year, up to 7.9 out of 10. This was an “excellent”, up from last year's “very good” level of satisfaction and was higher than the long-term average satisfaction since 2021 of 7.4 out of 10 or “very good”.
The full results of Frankston City Council’s 2026 Annual Community Satisfaction Survey are available here.
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Frankston City Council acknowledges and pays respect to the Bunurong People, the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters. Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019, formally recognising that we need to work together to meet the lower target of the Paris Agreement, which is to keep global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably below 1.5 degrees Celsius. We are committed to working with our community to collectively reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and prepare and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
