Yarra Council eyes Victoria St revival as area becomes a ‘crisis situation’

Richmond’s Victoria St precinct may be set for an overhaul by Yarra Council, which says it’s needs to “act now” after a major state agency was forced to move because of assaults on staff by drug users from the nearby safe injecting room.

The City of Yarra will consider a revival plan to provide a timely boost to the much-maligned Victoria St precinct.

Parts of the plan include delivering a graffiti blitz, considering whether to launch a small business security grant program and beautifying the street with climbing plants and vertical gardens.

The plan will also aim to analyse the commercial property market in the local area, along with considering extended trading hours, in efforts to attract and retain more businesses in the strip.

It comes after the Herald Sun in February revealed that the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission was moving its office out of Victoria St due to issues around staff being harassed and assaulted by drug users coming from the nearby safe injecting room.

Yarra mayor Stephen Jolly says the council will work to fast-track developments on Victoria St as part of the revival plan. Picture: Kris Reichl

Yarra mayor Stephen Jolly said the council would work to fast-track developments on Victoria St as part of the revival plan.

“We want to encourage businesses to set up and build (projects) there,” he said.

“Victoria St needs more attention than any other issue in Yarra – it is a crisis situation. Council doesn’t have all the solutions but we need to start acting right now.”

Residents are fed up with the fallout from the North Richmond injecting room. Picture: Ian Currie

Mr Jolly said council was working proactively to find solutions but warned the proposals would not solve all the issues experienced by residents and businesses.

“It’s admitting that something has gone wrong there and we need to act now to change it,” he said.

“What’s happening (on Victoria St) is not good for the residents, the business or the drug users and it needs to be fixed.

“We have stopped whingeing and we are actually doing something.”

Mr Jolly says Victoria St is ‘ground zero’ for heroin and ice use in Melbourne because of the safe injecting room. Picture: David Geraghty

The council’s report into the revival plan stated: “This approach aims to ensure that interventions are informed by expert analysis and aligned with both economic and social priorities”.

“Outcomes will be assessed through business retention rates, activation success metrics, community perception surveys, and funding secured for revitalisation initiatives.

“If successful, similar expert-led strategies could be applied to other commercial precincts in the municipality.”

The revival plan would add new greenery to the area.

Mr Jolly said Victoria St was “ground zero” for heroin and ice use in Melbourne due to the proximity of the North Richmond safe injecting room.

“The locals who live and work around Victoria St are totally fed up with the situation – and rightly so,” he said.

The council report states it is “vital” that the revival plan “is developed and implemented with the local residential and business community.”

It also states the opportunities for adding new greenery in the area could include “trellis-guided climbing plants ... as well as green facades and vertical gardens that provide low-maintenance greenery for businesses.”

Originally published as Yarra Council eyes Victoria St revival as area becomes a ‘crisis situation’