SHE has listened to their concerns outside petrol stations, shopping centres, milk bars and other local venues. At her first "listening post", held after she was first elected to the Bendigo Council, 30 people lined up to discuss local issues with Lisa Ruffell.
Fast forward four years and the queues might be even longer.
Cr Ruffell is no longer a freshly elected councillor learning the ropes of local government, she is the newly elected mayor of Bendigo and has declared that she will open the doors of the mayor's office to Bendigo residents once a month in the name of "community engagement".
No appointment is necessary. Though with a population of about 105,000, making an appointment to see the mayor might be wise. Appointments will be taken.
For one Monday a month, from 9am to 1pm, Cr Ruffell will sit down and meet people who want to discuss Bendigo issues. It could be big picture discussions about the city's future, or more day-to-day matters such as planning concerns, footpaths, drainage, managing local reserves - even rates.
Cr Ruffell is happy to discuss any matters affecting residents. She is willing to listen to criticism of council as well as (and she hopes to get) positive feedback. She expects robust points of view, but one thing she will not tolerate during the "mayor's office" meetings is abuse.
"If they get abusive I'll show them the door," she says.
Cr Ruffell anticipates that each meeting will last about 10 minutes, but pledges that she will not "rush" people out.
The first mayor's office meeting day will be held on Tuesday, November 27, just 22 days after her election as mayor, and the first appointment, for 9am on that day, has already been booked. From next January the meetings will be on Mondays.
While local councillors have always been accessible (many, but not all councils publish the mobile phone numbers and email addresses of councillors on their website), Cr Ruffell's move takes community engagement to a different level.
"It's always been there, that you could always talk to a mayor and councillors. I'm just taking that next step further, by saying 'we are approachable, we're not a closed book situation . . . you can come in and talk to us'," she says.
"I really want to be accessible to the community, I want to hear their thoughts. That's the main thing. If we're not listening to what the community is asking us or telling us, we can't really plan ahead," she says.
Cr Ruffell highlighted five key policy areas to focus on during her one-year term as mayor. She has called for a comprehensive transport study for Bendigo, an independent review to ensure that ratepayers' money is being spent efficiently, a focus on delivering basic amenities such as lighting and footpaths, a review of all council strategies and plans, and she wants the council to take a leadership role in resolving the huge problem councils face in terms of unfunded superannuation liabilities.
Cr Ruffell, who ran unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate in the 2002 state election, says she will step away from the family business, Ruffell Family Jewellers, during her term so that she can concentrate full time on the role of mayor.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
What is Bendigo Mayor Lisa Ruffell’s open-door policy and how often can residents meet her?
Mayor Lisa Ruffell has introduced a literal open-door policy: one day a month she will sit in the mayor’s office from 9am to 1pm to meet Bendigo residents for face-to-face community engagement. The meetings are intended to make the mayor more approachable and allow direct conversations about local concerns.
Do I need an appointment to meet the Bendigo mayor, and how should I plan given the city’s population?
No appointment is necessary — residents can simply turn up — but appointments will be taken. With Bendigo’s population of about 105,000, the article suggests making an appointment might be wise to avoid long waits; the first appointment (9am) for the initial meeting was already booked.
What types of local issues can I discuss at the mayor’s office meetings in Bendigo?
You can raise a wide range of Bendigo issues, from big-picture city planning and the city’s future to day-to-day matters like planning concerns, footpaths, drainage, lighting, managing local reserves and even rates. The mayor is open to criticism as well as positive feedback.
How long will meetings with the mayor last and what behaviour is expected during the sessions?
Each meeting is anticipated to last about 10 minutes, though Mayor Ruffell says she won’t rush people. She expects robust points of view but makes it clear abusive behaviour won’t be tolerated — she will show abusive visitors the door.
When will the mayor’s office meetings start and are there any schedule changes I should know about?
The first mayor’s office meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, November 27 (22 days after her election), with the first 9am appointment already booked. From the following January the monthly meetings will be held on Mondays.
What are the main policy priorities Mayor Lisa Ruffell plans to focus on during her term?
Mayor Ruffell has highlighted five key policy areas: a comprehensive transport study for Bendigo; an independent review to ensure ratepayers’ money is spent efficiently; delivering basic amenities such as lighting and footpaths; a review of all council strategies and plans; and council leadership on resolving unfunded superannuation liabilities.
How do the mayor’s plans for independent reviews and unfunded superannuation relate to ratepayers and local investors?
The mayor’s call for an independent review to ensure ratepayer money is spent efficiently and her push to address unfunded superannuation liabilities are focused on council finances and accountability. These topics are directly connected to how local government manages funds and can be important to ratepayers and everyday investors monitoring local fiscal health.
Will Mayor Ruffell continue working at her family business while serving as Bendigo mayor?
No — Mayor Ruffell says she will step away from the family business, Ruffell Family Jewellers, during her one-year mayoral term so she can concentrate full time on the role of mayor.
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