This consultation is closed. We used your feedback to make Victoria Street a safer, more attractive and welcoming place.
The Victoria Street Precinct in Richmond and Abbotsford is a vibrant dining, shopping and cultural destination. However, the area also faces challenges in relation to public safety, liveability, community connectedness and economic prosperity, often the result of drug-related activity.
What you told us
In February-March 2017, we undertook a major community consultation, asking you to share your experiences of living, working and visiting Victoria Street and the surrounding area and your ideas for making it a safer, more attractive and welcoming place. We heard from about 400 people, who contributed more than 2300 ideas.
View the community engagement summary infographic.
View the full Community Engagement Report..
What Council is doing
The Council considered a report on the outcomes of the community engagement and recommendations at its Council Meeting on 4 July 2017.
In summary, Council decided to convene an internal working group comprising Council staff from across a number of relevant departments. This group’s role will include mapping out which stakeholders play a part in addressing the issues raised, developing an action plan, engaging with key external stakeholders around how to best manage issues that are beyond Council’s jurisdiction, and strengthening advocacy around the implementation of a Supervised Injecting Facility and other harm reduction strategies.
This working group will report its progress and outcomes back to Council.
At this meeting, Council also noted the community’s desire for urgent action on the public health, safety and amenity issues in the Victoria Street precinct.
Other projects
Yarra’s Draft Budget 2017-18 includes funding for two new projects aimed at addressing some of the challenges in Victoria Street. These projects, which are part of the implementation of the Victoria Street Streetscape Masterplan, are:
Lennox and Nicholson Street upgrade ($400,000)
Improving the amenity, safety and public realm in Victoria Street, at the intersection of Lennox and Nicholson Streets, including repaving of footpaths, new street crossing points, street furniture and bicycle parking, lighting, public art and street tree planting. Council has received a $200K grant from the State Government to contribute this project.
Shopfront Improvement Grants pilot ($40,000)
Council plans to run a pilot program to improve the character, amenity and safety of Victoria Street via a grant co-funding scheme to assist shop owners to remove roller shutters and refurbish shopfronts.
More information
If you would like to discuss this project further, please contact us on 9205 5555 or email info@yarracity.vic.gov.au
