CLP, Labor promise $5m for St Savvas Greek Orthodox Community Hub

Both the CLP and Labor have promised to help build a new community hub slated for Darwin. SEE THE PLANS.

Both the major parties have committed $5m towards a new Greek Orthodox community hub in Northcrest, led by the St Savvas of Kalymnos Greek Orthodox Church NT. Picture: Supplied.

Both the CLP and Labor have promised $5m for a new Greek Orthodox community hub in Darwin if they win the federal election – welcomed by the church.

St Savvas of Kalymnos Greek Orthodox Church is planning to build a community centre in Northcrest, Berrimah, which will include a church, two event halls, education spaces, and parking.

Parish Priest Christos Tsoraklidis said the project was well underway, with the site confirmed, concept designed, $12.5m committed from the Archdiocese, and the foundation stone to be laid in less than a month’s time.

Parish Priest Christos Tsoraklidis and CLP candidate for Solomon Lisa Bayliss. Picture: Supplied.

Learning about the CLP’s $5m pledge from candidate Lisa Bayliss’ social media was a nice surprise, he said.

“I didn’t know it was coming, I saw it first on Facebook, and I rejoiced,” Father Christos said.

“Then I thought to myself, Labor will match it.

“I expected something pre-election time, there are a lot of Greek people in the NT. So it was a surprise, but it wasn’t a surprise.”

Sure enough, Labor’s Luke Gosling matched the $5m funding promise a week later.

Unusually, both Mr Gosling and Ms Bayliss only announced the election commitment through social media, and did not organise any press event or media release.

Labor Solomon MP Luke Gosling and Parish Priest Christos Tsoraklidis (centre of picture). Picture: Supplied.

Mr Gosling said the commonwealth investment would help deliver a “landmark facility for Northern Australia’s Greek Orthodox community”.

“This will be more than bricks and mortar — it will be a proud and lasting home for one of our Territory’s most vibrant communities,” he said.

“Labor backs community, culture, and connection. That’s why we’re supporting this project, which will serve generations of Territorians into the future.”

The commonwealth funding will go towards the community hub section of the build, not the church. Picture: Supplied.

According to 2021 census data, 4271 Territorians are of Greek descent.

Father Christos said the church community was much bigger – with 7000 passing through over the Greek Easter weekend – and that new facilities were long overdue.

“For decades the Greek community has been staled, nothing has been done. Now is the time to start activities and projects and serving the people,” he said.

“This community hub is very exciting. It will mean people can get together, spend their time happily, educating themselves.”

Both the major parties have committed $5m towards a new Greek Orthodox community hub in Northcrest, led by the St Savvas of Kalymnos Greek Orthodox Church NT. Picture: Supplied.

The facility is intended to be shared with other community groups, and has received support from organisations including the Darwin Malayalee Association, Non-Resident Nepali Association NT, and the Sri Lankan Friendship Association Darwin.

Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of Australia, Makarios Griniezakis, will visit Darwin to lay the foundation stone for the project on May 18.

Originally published as CLP, Labor promise $5m for St Savvas Greek Orthodox Community Hub