As Greece battles its economic woes, Canberra’s Hellenic community has stepped in to help safeguard the Greek embassy in Australia by launching a nationwide campaign to raise $200,000 for overdue renovations.

Funds raised will be used to install security fencing and improve the grounds of the embassy and residence complex. Constructed in 1983, the embassy, unlike others nearby its Turana Street location, has no perimeter fence and security gates.

Leading the campaign is Mr Constanitinos (Dinos) Nikias OAM, founder of the Nikias property group.

In a letter to Greek honorary consuls and prominent Australian business leaders of Greek heritage, Mr Nikias said that the decline of the embassy’s grounds in recent years had been “a source of sadness and regret”, and that it was prudent to install security fencing “in today’s uncertain world … even in a low risk society such as Australia”.

Mr Nikias stressed the condition of the grounds was “not a result of any wilful neglect but simply reflective other challenges”. The embassy’s gardens were severely affected by drought conditions that lasted more than a decade in the ACT from the late 1990s.

Mr Nikias told Neos Kosmos that through Greece’s Ambassador to Australia Mr Haris Dafaranos, the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Nikos Kotzias had approved the community’s offer.

“We’ve sent letters to every state and territory, and so far raised $55,000,” said Mr Nikias.

“This is just the beginning, The fencing is the priority and we hope to have that installed with three security gates before Christmas.”

Neos Kosmos understands that NSW businessman Nick Politis and ACT property entity and philanthropist Mrs Sotiria Liangis are early major backers of the project.

Ambassador Dafaranos said he was “very happy with the initiative of a number of Greeks of Canberra to assist the embassy with a fence. It shows deep sentiment of love for a historic building and an institution permanently representing Greece in Australia”.

The intention is to have all improvements made in time for the embassy to host Greek National Day celebrations in the gardens in 2016.