North Richmond's redevelopment begins

Construction has started on the $24 million redevelopment of the North Richmond Community Health Centre.

The new 3,290 square metre state-of-the-art community health facility on Lennox Street will allow the centre to locate all its services on the one site and to expand and improve existing services.

The new facility includes sustainable design, incorporating energy and water efficient features.

Specific features of the new facility will include:

• a expanded dental clinic, including four extra public dental chairs
• an increase in community facilities including a large community room, a community group room (for use by smaller community groups) and a café and piazza
• an increase in medical facilities allowing the centre to offer expanded services such as physiotherapy, podiatry and occupational therapy
• the co-location of the Yarra City Council's Maternal and Child Health Centre
• an increase in community programs.

The new Richmond centre aims to respond to the increased demand for public health services and the changing needs of the community. It offers a range of services to the diverse communities who live and visit the area.

The centre mandates a philosophy of providing culturally appropriate primary and social services to disadvantaged individuals and groups, especially refugees and newly arrived communities.

The redevelopment is expected to be completed in late 2012. It will be built in two stages to ensure the health service can remain operational.

For more information

Further information about the redevelopment is available on the North Richmond Community Health website.