By Bonny Burrows
A generous donation has taken the Cardinia Environment Coalition one step closer to realising a long-time dream – a regional ecological centre.
The Andrews Foundation, a philanthropic trust for public charitable purposes, has awarded the local environment group with a $200,000 towards building the centre, at the under-construction $10.3 million Deep Creek Reserve in Pakenham.
The foundation has also vowed to increase the grant amount by a further $100,000 if the group can raise an additional $200,000 through its own efforts.
The nursery, which will have a variety of native and indigenous plants, will provide the CEC, which is operating out of Tynong, with a permanent home in a more centralised location.
CEC president Elizabeth Fraser said the group’s aim was to equip the community with the capacity to act in ways in which enhanced or protected the natural environment.
“The CEC recognises that there is no better way to bring people and especially children closer to nature and instil respect for the environment than to get their hands dirty and have fun at the same time,” Ms Fraser said.
“Our aim is to build a fully functional native plant nursery alongside the Deep Creek complex so that community volunteers and visiting classes of children can take part in seed collection, propagation of indigenous plants, and the complexities of choosing the right plants for native animals and planting in the right place to create habitat.”
She said the council and CEC were already in talks to create a science-based environmental education program reflective of primary and secondary school curriculum standards.
Noel Martin, the chairman of trustees at the Andrews Foundation, said the trust was pleased to support the CEC with this project.
“The nursery forms one of the major components of an expansive environmental development of the reserve involving Cardinia Shire Council, the Pakenham Golf Club and CEC,” Mr Martin said.
Once complete, Deep Creek Reserve will also be home to Cardinia Shire’s largest all-abilities playground – also one of the largest in the state- featuring a series of structures to cater to different mobility levels and play spaces with visual, fragrant and tactile learning displays.
Vast community gardens, an interactive maze, wetlands and walking trails are also planned for the reserve, while Pakenham Golf Club, which shares land with the site, will also co-locate its golf club house in the eco building.
At its 18 September council meeting, Cardinia Shire Council announced Kirchner Constructions PL had been appointed to build the shared-use complex.
Ms Fraser, on behalf of the CEC, thanked the Andrews Foundation for its generous donation.
“We are extremely grateful to the Andrews Foundation for also believing in this aim to build a community nursery with indigenous plants for native animals,” Ms Fraser said.
She said the group was looking to raise $700,000 to ensure the nursery had sustainable fencing, surfacing and draining along with other core components, and called on local businesses, individuals and community organisations to lend their support.
“The CEC is proud to be part of this council’s vision for Deep Creek Reserve and is determined to also make the nursey happen to complement the other magnificent opportunities here,” Ms Fraser said.
“We welcome this opportunity with the help of the community.”
