Grounds Renewal Project

The Grounds Renewal Project (GRP) is a capital works landscape program revitalising the outdoor area of the North Richmond Community Health West building forecourt and East building entry. It is one of several initiatives being undertaken to create a safer, more accessible and welcoming space for all at and around our service.

This project is a joint partnership between North Richmond Community Health, Homes Victoria, and the Victorian Department of Health.

There are six phases to the project.

Here is an overview of what’s happened so far

Master plan development

To inform the initial landscape design, we gathered input from community groups and stakeholders and incorporated this into insights gained from open forums in 2022.

Feasibility

Homes Victoria joined the project partnership to manage and oversee delivery of capital works – including procurement, site preparation and construction – to meet design requirements and budget.

Procure design consultant

Local landscape architecture practice, Urban Initiatives Landscape Architects, was appointed to complete the landscape design and documentation. The firm has extensive experience in similar community health sector projects, including recent landscape improvements on the North Richmond Housing Estate.

Design development

Consultation on the initial design was conducted between August 2023 – May 2024, resulting in over 70 points of feedback from the community, North Richmond Precinct Committee, MSIR Community Advisory Group, NRCH staff, NRCH clients, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, and Fire Rescue Victoria. Urban Initiatives Landscape Architects considered all feedback in their development and have now completed the final schematic designs and perspective sketches.

Design plan

NRCH East Building

NRCH West Building

We are in the tender phase

Homes Victoria is working through a formal process to select a contractor to create the new landscape. Five submissions have been received, and a tender evaluation panel consisting of members from Homes Victoria and North Richmond Community Health will review all tenders. A contractor will be appointed in January with construction due to commence in early 2025.

Community Briefing

Delivered by Yarra Drug Health Forum in partnership with NRCH, the event updated attendees about our ongoing efforts to create a safer, more accessible and welcoming space for all at and around our service.

A feedback survey was collected at the end of the event with 84% of respondents reporting that the Community Briefing helped to increase their knowledge about work being undertaken to improve safety and amenity, including the Grounds Renewal Project funded by the Victorian Government.

Attendees highlighted the event as a valuable opportunity to hear from and engage with NRCH and other local leaders. Many also appreciated the collaborative environment and the chance to share their perspectives.