The need
Victoria Street needs one coordinated camera network from North Richmond Station (Hoddle St) to Church St, covering every side street and laneway.
- Arson: the July 2026 fire at 409–421 Victoria St destroyed about 10 businesses.
- Graffiti and amenity: VSBA has run clean-ups under the Multicultural Trader Grant, and graffiti keeps returning.
- Clean-up costs: Council has spent a large amount on clean-ups, and this money will run out.
- Traders: 200+ mostly small, multicultural businesses with no coordinated coverage of side streets and laneways.
- Events: the Lunar New Year Festival (run by VSBA since 1994), Moon Lantern and the Clock Tower Market need crowd numbers and live safety monitoring.
- Data: the precinct has no reliable visitor counts for marketing, sponsors or grant reporting.
The proposal
A trader-owned network of AI 360° cameras at 15–20 corner sites plus key hotspots, coordinated and part-funded by traders through VSBA over 3 years.
- One camera per intersection, mounted on a corner shop, covering Victoria St and the side street.
- Hotspots: Lennox St, North Richmond Station, The Hive Shopping Centre, Clock Tower carpark, Abbots Yard Lane, Post Office Lane, the 409–421 site and rear laneways.
- Smart features: people counting, graffiti and loitering alerts, clear footage for Police.
- Built to grow: traders can add cameras later on the same system.
How it works
Traders own the cameras and footage; Police get the footage; VSBA gets the numbers and event-day safety view only.
Party | Role | Access |
|---|---|---|
Traders | Can own and maintain the cameras | Own footage, kept 30 days |
Victoria Police | Investigate incidents | Footage on request, plus a coverage map |
VSBA | Coordinate and part-fund through grants and a special levy | Visitor counts (numbers only); view-only live access on event days |
Funding
VSBA will apply for grants, with traders contributing towards their own sites. Final costs will be set through installer quotes.
Safeguards
The network protects privacy and community trust.
- No facial recognition, number plate recognition or audio.
- Footage kept 30 days and released only to Victoria Police.
- No footage used in marketing or posted online.
- Clear signage across the precinct.
What we are asking for
VSBA will deliver the network with traders. We ask our partners to back it.
Partner | Ask |
|---|---|
Victorian Government | $250,000 from State safety funding for cameras, plus improved street lighting |
City of Yarra | Community funding, support for the network and privacy advice |
Victoria Police | A simple footage request process and advice on hotspots |
Traders | Join through the VSBA expression of interest |
Contact: Victoria Street Business Association · hello@victoriastreet.org.au · victoriastreet.org.au
