Merri-bek Council is asking residents to vote for their three favourite projects in the Community Budget Ideas. Voting is open until March 2. Vote on Council’s Conversations Merri-bek website or at their pop-up sessions. Details below.

There are lots of great ideas to choose from. We have selected our favourite sustainability related projects. And there are lots more great projects apart from these. You can choose only three.

Walking and cycling projects: More public seating, more bike racks, better signage – all of these can help facilitate walking and cycling in Merri-bek. Here are some projects to choose from:

• Walk & rest in Merri-bek
• Bike Rack at Bowden Reserve
• More seating for the Sydney Road Coburg shopping strip
• Merri Creek crossing road signs on bridges
• Albion Street shared path signs

More drinking water fountains: This idea comes up every year, and we love it! We need lots more drinking fountains, including in our shopping strips. Here are some projects to choose from:

• Additional water fountains
• Merri Creek Trail water fountains

Public Transport seating: Yes please! More seating at bus stops makes it much easier to use public transport.

• Shade at major road bus stops in Fawkner
• More seats on bus stops in Glenroy

Better facilities in parks: Some great ideas here to encourage us to use our parks

• Picnic tables in neighbourhood parks
• Urgent need for shade cloth at Gilpin Park
• Cool playgrounds, safe kids: Sun-Smart shade for our parks
• Harmony Park landscaping
• Barkly Street Park revitalisation

Help for wildlife: Our urban areas are not friendly for wildlife. Here is an idea to help:

• Bird and possum boxes in Merri-bek

Gardens / Trees: Lots of ideas for more vegetation in Merri-bek

• Community gardens in Merri-bek
• Merri-bek Open Garden Scheme
• Woody meadows nature strip program
• Gardens of Merri-bek
• Tree plantation
• Community nature strip Indigenous planting pilot

There are also lots of other great projects to choose from. But you can only choose your favourite three. Let’s start voting!

in person pop-up sessions where you can vote

• Friday 13 February 2026, 9am-1pm, Brunswick Library
• Saturday 14 February 2026, 8am-1pm, Coburg Farmers Market
• Tuesday 17 February 2026, 9am-1pm, Fawkner Library
• Saturday 21 February 2026, 10am-1pm, Fawkner Leisure Centre
• Sunday 1 March 2026, 10am-5pm, Sydney Road Festival
• Wednesday 25 February 2026, 9am-1pm, Glenroy Library