• Sustainability
  • Sustainability

EcoCentre completion in sight

Published 11 December 2024

BayKeeper Neil Blake and Pam O’Neil, EcoCentre Management Committee inspect the EcoCentre redevelopment.

Last year, we commenced construction of the new Port Phillip EcoCentre. Once built, it will be a leading example of sustainable design and construction in Australia – producing more energy than it consumes. The building is set to be completed in March 2025.

The redevelopment will provide benefits to the EcoCentre and the thousands of community members who use its programs and spaces, including:

  • an improved look and feel that balances modern and heritage elements
  • a large collection of community spaces that together will be three times the size as the original building
  • improved visitor and worker experience, including a reception and separated office and community spaces
  • a building that meets modern accessibility standards, featuring a lift and accessible toilet
  • sustainable design features – the building is designed to produce at least as much energy as it consumes, while keeping water usage to a minimum, featuring:
    • a Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) structure with a highly insulated thermal envelope
    • fully electric-powered facilities, with solar panels and energy storage onsite for minimal reliance on the grid. 

This building will enable the EcoCentre to flourish and to continue its great work transforming our community’s understanding of wildlife, waterways and climate change.

Why redevelop the EcoCentre?

Over the past 25 years, the Port Phillip EcoCentre has grown to deliver education, programs and services to more than 19,000 participants annually. This growth has meant the much-loved building was no longer meeting demand or fit for purpose.

This is why we teamed up with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action to deliver an updated, functional and sustainable building. The finished project will improve visitor experience and access while providing a more visually appealing presence on an iconic corner of the St Kilda Botanical Gardens.

Timeline to completion  

The new building was originally planned for completion in May 2024. However, a combination of factors including shortages of materials and project complexity mean that it will now be completed by late March 2025.

  • After the building is finished, the EcoCentre will relocate from its temporary home at the Cora Graves Centre to the new location.
  • Landscape works will then commence, and this will complete the surrounds of the building.
  • A launch will then be arranged with our project partners in the Victorian Government to celebrate the opening of the new EcoCentre to the public.
  • We expect the building to be open to the public in late Autumn 2025.

We look forward to sharing this purpose-built, innovative and highly sustainable building with our community once it is finished.

For more information on the project, see the EcoCentre redevelopment project page. 

April Seymore (L), Executive Officer, EcoCentre on a recent tour of the new building with Pam O'Neil, EcoCentre Management Committee member and Beth Mclachlan, Head of Sustainability and Climate Change, City of Port Phillip.