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The tiny forest at Teralba Public School, Lake Macquarie, on planting  in May 2024 (right) and November 2025 (left).

How forests the size of tennis courts transform Australian cities

You’ve heard of tiny homes, but what about tiny forests? It’s a growing movement in Australia, based on Japanese ideas.

  • Caitlin Fitzsimmons

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Hobsons Bay council chambers.

‘Not how a healthy democracy is meant to function’: council ‘gag order’ passes

Hobsons Bay councillors will no longer be allowed to speak to the media without it being signed off by their mayor under rules that passed on Tuesday night.

  • Rachael Dexter
Darebin City Council has flown the Palestinian flag on the Preston Town Hall since December 2023.

Palestinian flag to be lowered from city hall after fiery debate

Shouting erupted during a vote to remove a Palestinian flag from a northern suburbs council chamber where it has flown for more than two years.

  • Rachael Dexter and Rachael Ward
The completed first stage of the West Footscray data centre.

West Footscray data centre bids to double in size amid ‘nightmare’ construction

One of the biggest facilities in the city is eyeing a $750 million expansion, as the company seeks fast-track approval to meet booming demand.

  • Gemma Grant and Clay Lucas
Brighton Bathing Boxes.

‘We all whinge about the buses’: Tourist woes continue at Brighton bathing boxes

With more than a million visitors every year, parking around Brighton’s colourful boxes has become a major tension point among locals, visitors and tour companies.

  • Gemma Grant
Scott Morgan in his home suburb of Officer where residents are still waiting for a town centre development promised 17 years ago.

This suburb was promised a town centre 17 years ago. Residents are still waiting

The mayor has called for the state government to fast-track the project, which has been in the pipeline for more than a decade.

  • Gemma Grant
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Narelle Lawton and her sons at their Yallambie home.

These residents were told their road would reopen. Now it’s gone forever

Residents in Yallambie will be limited to just one road in and out of their suburb after the major project decided to permanently close a key section of road.

  • Gemma Grant
Merri-bek resident Joe Perri is unhappy with the council’s prposals to change rubbish collection to fortnightly.

Fortnightly rubbish collection ‘inevitable’ as waste costs mount

Daniel Andrews vowed it would never happen under Labor. But one in three councils have ditched weekly pick-ups, and a big inner-city council plans to follow suit.

  • Rachael Ward
Assemble’s new development on Victoria Street in Brunswick.

Developer quietly guts ‘affordable’ housing promise in northern suburbs

An “ethical” property developer favoured by the state government is seeking to slash affordable housing quotas after winning controversial height concessions.

  • Rachael Dexter
City of Port Phillip Mayor Alex Makin (left) and City of Yarra Mayor Stephen Jolly at Melbourne Town Hall.

State can’t wish away the financial problems of local councils

There are no easy fixes here, but the government should at least be willing to canvas solutions.

  • The Age's View