Swap your illegal fruit tree netting for wildlife-safe alternatives in Merri-bek to protect native animals this season.
Tuesday 20 October 2026
to Wednesday 31 March 2027
Glenroy Library 50 Wheatsheaf Road, Glenroy
Free
Protecting native wildlife while caring for your fruit trees has never been easier. The Fruit Net Swap campaign offers Merri-bek residents a chance to exchange unsafe fruit tree netting for wildlife-safe alternatives. This initiative helps prevent injury to birds, bats, and possums caused by large mesh netting.
You can bring your old netting to designated locations and receive a new net with a mesh size of 5mm x 5mm or smaller, which is the legal standard in Victoria. The swapped netting will be recycled into new products, supporting sustainability.
This is a fantastic opportunity for families to learn about wildlife safety and contribute to local conservation efforts.
The swap runs from October 20, 2026, through March 31, 2027, during Glenroy Library opening hours and at special pop-up events. Key pop-up sessions include:
- October 20, 2026, 16:00-18:00 at Coburg Library
- October 23, 2026, 14:00-16:00 at Brunswick Library
- October 25, 2026, 11:00-13:00 at Mulberry Community Garden during the Spring Party (registration required)
No registration is needed for library or pop-up sessions except for the Mulberry Community Garden event. This makes it easy to participate at your convenience.
The main swap location is Glenroy Library at 50 Wheatsheaf Road, Glenroy. The library is accessible by public transport and has parking nearby.
Pop-up events are held at Coburg Library, Brunswick Library, and Mulberry Community Garden beside Glenroy College at 120 Glenroy Road, Glenroy. These venues are community hubs, making them family-friendly and easy to reach.
Victoria law requires fruit tree netting to have a mesh size no larger than 5mm x 5mm to protect wildlife. You can test your netting by trying to poke a finger through the mesh; if it passes, the netting is too large and unsafe.
Illegal netting surrendered will be collected and recycled, so you’re helping the environment in two ways.
For the Mulberry Community Garden event, registration is required, so plan ahead to secure your spot.
Most swap sessions at libraries and pop-ups are free and do not require registration, making it easy for busy families to participate.
The Mulberry Community Garden Spring Party swap requires registration but is also free.
For more information or to register, contact Merri-bek City Council’s Conservation Programs Officer.
