The Victoria Street Pledge
Victorian State Election — 28 November 2026 Draft
But our street is under pressure.
More than one in five shopfronts is vacant. In July, the deliberately lit fire at 409–421 Victoria Street destroyed or displaced around ten businesses in a single night. Safety concerns, drug-related activity, declining business confidence and a lack of investment continue to affect our traders, workers, residents and visitors.
Yarra City Council has adopted a four-year Victoria Street Revitalisation Plan and $1M, recognising that Council cannot revitalise the precinct alone. Strong partnership with the Victorian Government and Federal Government is essential.
Our pledge to Richmond candidates
Ahead of the Victorian State Election, the Victoria Street Business Association is asking every candidate for Richmond to tell our community which actions they support. Candidates do not need to support every proposal. They can support the individual actions that align with their policies. We will publish candidate responses so traders, residents and the wider community can compare their commitments.
1. Make Victoria Street safer — now
We are asking candidates to support:
- A Protective Services Officer (PSO) trial for Victoria Street and North Richmond.
- CCTV coverage on Victoria Street between Hoddle and Church Streets and Lennox Street between Victoria and Elizabeth Streets.
- An immediate expansion of coordinated outreach and intervention services on Lennox Street.
2. Act on drug harm and recovery
We are asking candidates to support:
- Relocating the North Richmond Medically Supervised Injecting Room away from its current location near the primary school, homes and businesses.
- Expanding rehabilitation, treatment and recovery services so people experiencing addiction have pathways beyond crisis management.
3. Stand with the traders burnt out in July
We are asking for:
- Direct Victorian Government financial assistance for businesses destroyed, displaced or made untenantable by the July fire at 409–421 Victoria Street.
- A support package committed and delivered before the caretaker period begins on 3 November 2026.
Around ten unrelated family businesses were affected by one criminal act. Traders lost premises, income, jobs and months of trade.
4. Bring people, investment and businesses back
We are asking candidates to support:
- A land-tax incentive or waiver for the first three major developments to commence in the Victoria Street precinct.
- State funding for the North Richmond Community Services Hub business case.
- A significant upgrade of North Richmond Station and its surrounding public realm.
Victoria Street needs more residents, workers, visitors and private investment if the precinct is to recover and grow.
5. Fund the precinct, its traders and cultural identity
We are asking candidates to support:
- Funding for a dedicated Victoria Street precinct coordinator.
- Ongoing Victorian Government funding for the Victoria Street Business Association to deliver the Lunar New Year Festival.
- A State-led Victoria Street Precinct Revitalisation Board, with direct representation from Victoria Street businesses and land owners.
Revitalisation cannot rely on volunteer traders alone. Victoria Street needs long-term coordination, accountability and investment.
Candidate responses
Candidates will be invited to indicate which individual actions they support and may provide their own alternative policies or additional comments. The Victoria Street Business Association Inc (VSBA) will publish responses ahead of early voting so our community can make an informed comparison.
Candidate response deadline: Friday 9 October 2026
Contact:hello@victoriastreet.org.au
