After an independent review in 2023, the North Richmond precinct revitalisation interdepartmental committee was established to provide enhanced outreach services. Rachel asked the government if the committee is appropriately addressing community concerns and ensuring facility improvements meet community needs.
Tuesday the 27th of May 2025
Victorian Legislative Council
Rachel questioned the government on improvement of services around North Richmond medically supervised injecting facility.
Rachel Payne (South-Eastern Metropolitan):
Substantive Question
My question is for the Minister for Mental Health, so I will direct it to Minister Symes. While the 2023 Ryan review recognised the life-saving work of the North Richmond medically supervised injecting room, it also identified issues with neighbourhood amenities, particularly in relation to people gathering around the facility. The government’s response included establishing the North Richmond precinct revitalisation interdepartmental committee to provide enhanced outreach services from September 2023 to address community concerns and support the community and MSIR clients. Can the minister provide an update on these initiatives and on any work to improve the facility’s surroundings to proactively and effectively eliminate the congregation of clients as per the review’s recommendation?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services):
Substantive Response
I thank Ms Payne for her question. The issues that you raise I know are a priority for Minister Stitt, and apologies that she is not here to give it herself. I am sure she would be delighted to, but I will make sure that her office get cracking on your answer.
Rachel Payne (South-Eastern Metropolitan):
Supplementary Question
Thank you to the minister for referring that on. By way of supplementary, can the minister update the house on how local residents and businesses are being engaged to ensure these amenity improvements are meeting community needs?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services):
Supplementary Response
I will pass Ms Payne’s supplementary question on to the minister.
Written Response, Received 28th of May 2025:
I thank the member for her question about the important work the Allan Labor Government is doing in North Richmond.
In Victoria, we deal with drug harms by giving people access to healthcare, support, and information – not stigma.
As one of only two safe injecting service in Australia, the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) is a key part of Victoria’s health system.
As a government, we have invested year on year in this important service and to improve safety and amenity for the precinct more broadly.
The 2022-23 State Budget allocated $14 million to the Investing in a Thriving North Richmond initiative which included $1.7 million for improvements to the grounds of NRCH and MSIR to provide better delineation between the community health and injecting room entrances and remove some of the seating around the facility that has been associated with people congregating. Construction is due to be completed in mid-2025.
This initiative also included funding for CCTV around the housing estate and improving coordination between security providers in the North Richmond precinct, as well as improvements to the drop off zone for West Richmond Primary School.
This work is in addition to the North Richmond Precinct Revitalisation Inter-Departmental Committee, which brings together government departments and agencies with a dedicated focus on revitalising the North Richmond Precinct.
In addition, the Allan Labor Government has strengthened community outreach and engagement, through the establishment of the AOD Outreach and Community Engagement Service following the Ryan Review. The service is available for community members and local businesses to raise issues, provide feedback or identify people who need support in the North Richmond area. The service operates 7 days a week from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm and can be contacted on 1800 841 051.
Further community engagement is occurring through the development of a comprehensive community engagement strategy, and a Safety and Social Amenity project aimed at improving public spaces around NRCH and identifying safe and appropriate alternatives for people who use drugs to socialise and connect.
The 2025-26 State Budget continues our government’s focus on trauma informed, assertive outreach initiatives to reduce drug harms and improve neighbourhood amenity in North Richmond as part of a $10.2 million investment over two years for Alcohol and other drug community support services.
Supplementary Response
We’ve also brought together key agencies and partners as part of the North Richmond Precinct Community Committee (the NRPCC) to ensure local community voices are heard and to inform local community priority projects.
Membership of the NRPCC includes representation from residents in public and private housing, community organisations and the Victoria Street Business Association. Department of Health, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Homes Victoria, Department of Education and Victoria Police also attend.
The NRPCC provides advice to government on community priorities and helps ensure that community views inform new government investment.
The NRPCC has recently completed the second of two workshops that will inform the next iteration of the North Richmond Precinct Action Plan. One of the committee’s prioritisations is reaching a wider group of local people in this year’s plan.
Jaclyn Symes MP
Treasurer
Related:
> Synthetic opioid contamination requires rapid response – Rachel Payne
> Restore Funding to Specialist Harm Reduction Service – Rachel Payne
> Pill Testing and Harm Reduction – Rachel Payne
> Pill testing bill passes second reading – Rachel Payne
