Official City Notices: Easter Sunday Services and Daylight Saving Update

Daylight Saving Ends: Adjust Your Clocks

The City of Melbourne reminds all residents that Daylight Saving Time officially concludes this Sunday, 5 April 2026. At 3:00 am, clocks should be turned back one hour to 2:00 am. While most digital devices will update automatically, residents are encouraged to manually adjust analog clocks and take this opportunity to check the batteries in their household smoke alarms, as per annual fire safety recommendations.

Easter Sunday Public Transport and Free Travel

In a significant public service initiative, the Victorian Government has announced that all public transport across the state is free of charge from 31 March until 30 April 2026. On Easter Sunday, 5 April, services will operate according to a standard Sunday timetable. Commuters do not need to tap on with a myki card, and no fares will be deducted. Please note that Night Network services will not operate on Sunday night; however, they will resume their regular schedule on the following Friday. V/Line regional services will also follow a Sunday timetable for those traveling to regional areas for the holiday.

Public Health Advisory: Vaccination and Disease Prevention

The Department of Health has issued an updated advisory regarding Japanese encephalitis (JE). Due to a prolonged mosquito season following recent regional flooding, eligibility for the free JE vaccine has been expanded until 30 June 2026. This includes individuals planning outdoor recreation in 24 designated high-risk local government areas. Residents are also urged to remain vigilant regarding measles. Following recent detections, the public exposure site list has been updated, and the Department of Health strongly advises all residents to verify their vaccination records with a general practitioner. A local advisory also remains active for the Craigieburn area concerning recent Legionnaires' disease detections.

Waste Collection and Facility Operations

Due to the Easter long weekend, the City of Melbourne has implemented minor changes to essential services. While Sunday is not a standard collection day for most residential zones, residents whose waste, recycling, or FOGO (Food and Garden Organics) bins are typically collected on Fridays should note that the Good Friday collection was rescheduled to Saturday, 4 April. Regular service resumes on Monday. Additionally, the Queen Victoria Market will be closed on Easter Sunday. Major municipal facilities and libraries will operate on restricted holiday hours or remain closed; please consult the official council website for specific site availability.

Draft Budget 2026-27: Community Feedback Period

The City of Melbourne has officially released the Draft 2026-27 Budget for public consideration. Residents and business owners are invited to provide feedback on the proposed spending for infrastructure, greening projects, and community services. The submission period is currently open, and the council encourages active participation to ensure the budget reflects the priorities of the local community.