EcoCentre – another Council Blowout in the making & funding brought forward during COVID-19.

We acknowledge that the EcoCentre does great work educating on environmental issues the community across Metropolitan Melbourne However we question the funding arrangements.

The Federal Labor party promised funding for redevelopment of the EcoCentre before the last federal election. Since they were not elected, this funding has not been forthcoming.

On 19 February 2020 the Council voted on “Continues to advocate for partnership funding to the Victorian and Australian governments for half the estimated project costs ($2.75m)”.

17 June 2020 the Council: “Continues to seek partnership funding of $2.75 million (50% of the project costs) from the Victorian and Australian governments to enable the redevelopment to proceed.”

At this same Council meeting, the minutes show ** an amendment to: ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE: PART 5: “AMENDMENT Moved Crs Simic/Copsey That the following be added:
3.12.2 Replaces the $50,000 budget allocations in 2020/21 in the draft budget document and $2,236,000 forecast allocation in 2021/22 for the Port Phillip EcoCentre Redevelopment Project with $926,000 in 2020-21 and $1,702,500 in 2021-22 subject to receiving partnership funding of $2.75 million for 50 per cent of the project costs, noting that bringing forward funding to the 2020-21 financial year, will require a drawdown on reserve in order to maintain a cash surplus of $0.993m and that Council’s budget provision for future financial years would need to be reduced to replenish any drawdown.

The vote was taken under DIVISION.
FOR: Crs Voss, Baxter, Brand, Copsey, Crawford, Gross and Simic
AGAINST: Crs Bond and Pearl
The AMENDMENT was CARRIED.“

Our Council has a $40 Million Blowout. Yet despite this, a majority of councillors voted to replace a $50,000 allocation to this centre by bringing forward $926,000 to this project for 2020-21.

How is the fiscally sound when we are in COVID-19? Council blames the $40 million blowout on COVID-19 but it is still planning to spend. Their out clause is “subject to receiving partnership funding of $2.75 million….” Is this a vote grabber in an election year?

The ratepayers and renters are expecting rate rises while council staff are enjoying a 2% pay increase. Council continues to plan on spending.

Residents and local traders are experiencing financial hardship.
Where is the leadership during COVID-19? Where is the trust and respect?

Will the Port Phillip ratepayers have to foot the whole bill in the absence of any other Government funding notwithstanding that the EcoCentre benefits many Melbournians, not just those from Port Phillip? No entry fee. No gold coin donation?

Rippon Lea gardens estate (located in the City of Glen Eira) charges an entry fee to all visitors except Port Phillip residents – our Council has made an agreement to pay the Estate an initial $20,000 payment with additional incentive-based bonuses of up to $30,000 for a maximum $50,000 up until 30 June 2020. What happens in the new financial year?

The Victorian and Australian governments are facing a catastrophic and challenging economic downturn due to COVID-19 and are not likely to fund any council to rebuild an existing 6 star rated building.

Given the recent fiasco with the South Melbourne lifesaving club’s redevelopment cost blowout, will the EcoCentre $5.5 million projected total cost likely to be only the beginning?