Tuesday, 16 May 2023

Port Phillip EcoCentre

Nina TAYLOR (Albert Park) (13:24): I was delighted to welcome the Minister for Environment to Albert Park to officially turn the sod on the new Port Phillip EcoCentre in the St Kilda Botanical Gardens.

A member: Hear, hear!

Nina TAYLOR: Yes! The EcoCentre has been transforming the way Melbourne and in particular Albert Park understand wildlife, waterways and climate change since 1999. To continue its critical work, such as educating youth about best caring for our planet and undertaking citizen science, the centre needs improved facilities. That is why this $6.7 million project, towards which the Victorian government has invested $3.35 million, is so important. With a new sustainable centre designed to operate – get this – with net zero energy and water usage, the EcoCentre will be one of only 500 buildings worldwide that produces more clean energy than it consumes, offsetting all carbon used during construction.

Community support for this project cannot be understated. To Pam O’Neil, Neil Blake and April Seymore, I want to thank you for your unwavering advocacy on an issue so important to our local community. A hearty thankyou to them, and we are very pleased to back them in.