EcoCentre redevelopment

Since 1999, the Port Phillip EcoCentre has delivered education, programs and services to more than 19,000 participants annually. The popularity of the EcoCentre over this time has seen it outgrow its current building which is no longer fit for purpose. A new building will increase the EcoCentre’s ability to deliver sustainability programs, meet compliance requirements, and provide a leading example of environmentally sustainable design. It offers a larger space for the community to book, and includes Australia’s first Citizen Science Lab.

The EcoCentre will be operating across the street from the St Kilda Botanic Gardens, at the Cora Graves Community Centre: 38 Blessington St, St Kilda VIC 3182. You can continue to get in touch with us using the same phone number (03) 9534 0670.

Affiliated groups may continue to meet in the temporary EcoCentre, which has a number of meeting rooms available, such as a large communal kitchen, outdoor sitting areas, disability access and toilets. The EcoCentre will continue to run a community gardening group at the temporary centre.

In 2020, City of Port Phillip engaged Bourke + Bouteloup Architects. View the latest EcoCentre Redevelopment designs (PDF).

A number of other sites were considered for the redevelopment. The Botanic Gardens site is most appropriate due to access to the bay and public transport, as well as being the site of the existing centre. 

The project is designed to operate with net zero energy and low water usage, the EcoCentre will achieve a 6 Star Green Star Design and As Built Rating and join an exclusive club of only 500 buildings worldwide, producing more clean energy than it consumes and offsetting all embodied carbon used during construction. The timber within the building has been specifically sourced to protect biodiversity. The structure, services and materials used in the build will aim to provide a ‘net positive’ effect for the local environment.

Showcasing state-of-the-art sustainable building practices and technology, the new EcoCentre will be a Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) structure with a highly-insulated thermal envelope. The new site will be fully electric, with PV and energy storage for minimal reliance on the grid. It will also have high levels of indoor environmental quality (IEQ), using Passive House principles with locally sourced and readily available technologies. The EcoCentre will continue its focus on the conservation of indigenous plants of the ‘Sandbelt’ region, growing onsite and by supporting propagation and replanting of local native plants.

Because the Botanic Gardens is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, this project requires a heritage permit to ensure that the new building does not impact the heritage significance of the gardens. Heritage Victoria has reviewed the plans for the redevelopment and, following a statutory advertised public consultation process in August / September 2020, have provided a Heritage permit for the construction works.The consultant team includes a heritage consultant who will be actively working with Heritage Victoria to ensure the permit requirements are met.

The new EcoCentre will be built on the site of the old EcoCentre. The old EcoCentre will be demolished by Council contractors adhering to Green Star standards, including the reuse or recycling of all construction materials, fittings and cabinetry. A range of materials will be re-used in the new building design.

The new building is now due for completion in March 2025.

The overall building works are nearing completion. Foundations and in-ground services are complete with structural walls, floors and roof erected. The interior fit-out is underway, and solar panels have been installed.

Officers are working closely with the contractor to complete the project as soon as possible.

The total budget for this project is approximately $6.7 million, across planning, design and construction phases. City of Port Phillip and the Victorian Government are partnering to each contribute half of this funding for this redevelopment.   

A number of activities and tools were used to reach the community and seek input and feedback. This included a drop-in session with approximately 30 participants, a survey with over 270 responses, postcards delivered to local residents, social media posts and newsletters.

City of Port Phillip offers communal food and garden waste (FOGO) recycling hubs as an opportunity to dispose of any food scraps and leftovers, find out more and view FOGO locations here.

St Kilda Adventure Playground (Neptune St, St Kilda VIC 3182). Refer to the linked website for open hours.

The St Kilda Botanical Gardens was first established in the 1800s. Exotic forest trees were planted during the 1870s and Australian species were included in 1932. Registered with Heritage Victoria, the gardens contain 810 mature tree specimens, eight of which are on the significant tree register. Visit the City of Port Phillip website for more on the St Kilda Botanical Gardens.

The glasshouse is run by Friends of St Kilda Botanical Gardens and is open from 3 pm to 5 pm on Saturdays. Visit the Friends of St Kilda Botanical Gardens.

The new EcoCentre facility is a public building that will be accessible all year round for a range of activities.

The EcoCentre Redevelopment project is an exciting initiative we are proud to have in the City of Port Phillip. It will house Australia’s first citizen science lab, a large space available for the community to book and provide the potential to expand education programs. This can help equip the community to tackle the range of environmental issues our community faces now and in the future. 

Following completion of the building works, the EcoCentre will relocate from its temporary home across the road at Cora Graves Centre.\

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.

Construction of the new EcoCentre facility commenced in May 2023 and was scheduled for completion in late 2024.

A combination of factors has resulted in delays to the project, including shipping and port delays, procurement of materials that meet high environmental standards, and the complexity and ambitious nature of the sustainable design and construction.

Completion of building works will now be in March 2025.

This initiative aligns with Action 22 in the Act and Adapt Sustainable Environment Strategy for community emissions reductions: ‘Lead the Port Phillip EcoCentre redevelopment and invest in EcoCentre programs that support an environmentally aware community’.