Council decides to ask the community how best to manage parking in Gelen Eira 

Our three busiest shopping strips — Carnegie, Elsternwick and Bentleigh — continue to grow, and we want them to remain vibrant and welcoming to new and existing residents alike.  

Glen Eira is growing — and fast. By 2036, our population is expected to increase by almost 30,000 people. That means more people living, working and spending time in our centres — and more demand for parking. 

We heard, as part of the Our Priorities, Our Future community engagement in 2023, that the community would like us to review how parking is managed to support our long-term financial sustainability.   

We also know that cars will continue to be a way for people to get around, so now is the time to plan for a better balance — one that keeps our centres accessible and enjoyable for everyone, whether you walk, cycle, take public transport or drive. 

We’re looking for feedback on a mix of options: 

• Timed parking to encourage more turnover so more people can use the same space 
• Smart parking technology to help drivers find a spot more easily and support future planning 
• User-pays parking to promote fairness and help fund improvements to our local areas 

To learn more and join the conversation, visit our Have Your Say — Exploring parking together webpage.

Council notes the community grants approved for April to June 2025 

In this funding round, $31,221 was shared between local community groups and individuals in the form of Small Grants, Facility Hire Grants and Youth Excellence Awards. 

By granting funds to various not-for-profit organisations for projects and activities, we aim to encourage our community to support and connect with each other. The various groups that received funding included dance clubs, support groups, bands and choirs.  

We also provided support for several young people who are performing at a high level in areas like martial arts and performing arts. Funding will help them attend important championships and ceremonies that are located either interstate or internationally. 

Council endorses two motions to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State Council meeting to strengthen advocacy of local climate action and urban tree canopy expansion 

We actively participate in two MAV state meetings each year. These meetings offer an opportunity for us to advocate for certain issues that are important to us and our residents. 

A key part of our participation is in moving motions which, if carried, form part of the local government sector’s advocacy across the state. This is an important way for Glen Eira’s local priorities to become state or even national priorities.   

The first motion calls on the Victorian Government to partner with local government in responding to the climate emergency by: 

• Transitioning local infrastructure to use electricity 
• Upgrading infrastructure to improve its resilience to extreme weather events 
• Improving access to sustainable energy options for households and businesses with a focus on making them financially accessible to vulnerable groups across the state 

The second motion calls for reforms to better protect and grow urban tree canopy, including: 

• Recognising tree canopy as essential for climate resilience, public health and biodiversity 
• Reducing vegetation clearance in Low Bushfire Risk Areas  
• Creating statewide standards to help councils maintain and expand their tree canopy 

We will continue to collaborate with councils across the state and nation to amplify the impact of our advocacy efforts. 

For more information and all the reports from the meeting, visit our Council meeting page.