Council Welcomes Election Commitments for the Port Phillip EcoCentre
Sonya Semmens and Senators Hanson-Young and Hodgkins-May with volunteers at the Port Phillip EcoCentre
Josh Burns with volunteers at the Port Phillip EcoCentre
In a significant moment for the Port Phillip EcoCentre, both the Labor and Greens federal election candidates for Macnamara have pledged substantial funding commitments to support the EcoCentre's redevelopment and community programs, should they be the successful candidate.
During a site visit on 19 March, Josh Burns, the Labor candidate for Macnamara, made $400,000 commitment to the EcoCentre. This pledge aims to support the new building's fit-out and programs, contingent on the Labor winning the seat of Macnamara.
Similarly, on 24 March, Greens candidate Sonya Semmens along with Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Steph Hodgins-May, announced a matching $400,000 funding commitment.
These funds will equip the EcoCentre to deliver community programs that align with the sustainable design of the new building. The funding will be used for critical equipment like:
Microscopes in Australia’s first Citizen Science Lab
All-abilities gardening tools for onsite revegetation projects
Audio-visual technology for presentations and real-time connections to leading environmental scientists worldwide
The City of Port Phillip and the Victorian Government have each contributed half of the $6.7 million required for the redevelopment, covering planning, design, and construction phases. Additionally, the Port Phillip EcoCentre has made an in-kind contribution of $200,000, which includes furniture and 'soft' landscaping of the building surrounds.
Construction of the building is nearing completion, with the focus now shifting to landscaping works.
Congratulations to the EcoCentre on their effective advocacy in securing these commitments.
For further information on these commitments, visit Josh Burns' Media Release and Sonya Semmens campaign webpage.