DAVID Jones lost sleep during his first term as mayor.
It was a crisis year for Bendigo and a steep learning curve for a man who had only been a councillor for 12 months.
“We had an incredibly challenging year,” he recalled.
 “We were really facing the situation where if it hadn’t rained and we hadn’t had the super pipe Bendigo would have run of water.
“We take it for granted now but the decisions we made around the super pipe were absolutely crucial.
“One of the things that occurred that year was that because I had as much information as probably Coliban Water, I used to actually lose sleep on a regular basis because there was a crisis situation.
“When you’re in that crisis situation and trying to be an advocate for the city and really rattling tins, well you’re going to upset people.”
It’s fair to say that during 2006, David Jones did just that.
He was mayor during one of the most controversial and divisive periods in the City of Greater Bendigo council’s history.
The council incensed its vocal opposition during the height of the Epsom
supermarket debate,
attracted criticism during the water crisis, came under fire for the city’s car parking woes and was attacked for the Hargreaves Mall redevelopment backflip.
But in his words, “there’s been a lot of progress in the last two years” and after a 12 month break between posts, David is ready to again tackle the challenge of leading our city.
“It’s an extremely complex role and until you’ve done it, it’s very hard to understand the issues and the responsibilities and the subtleties to it,” he said.
“I feel a lot more comfortable about it this time ... and we’re not faced with that level of crisis.”
According to the city’s 13th mayor, it’s time for the council to move on from crisis to consolidation... and get back to basics.
“The council has really reached a point where we are finishing off projects this year,” David said.
“We need to get to the point of implementing and completing.
“The mall is a classic example ... the mall was identified as a crucial element and we need to have it completed.
“I think this year I’m much more focused on representing the council, highlighting the positives, making sure we continue to get out and consult ... really a back to basics year.”
For David, getting back to basics means listening to the people, a lesson learned from former mayor Julie Rivendell.
“She was measured, appropriate and considered,” he says.
“She really highlighted there is more to council than big projects.
“I think the council does work well at those community basic services level – really important stuff like roads, rates, footpaths, aged care.
“Most of the feedback I get is about things that influence people at an immediate level.
“We’re the closest level of government to the people, they are really interested in being able to walk down the footpath without twisting an ankle.”
While David acknowledges the council has not been the most popular in the City of Greater Bendigo’s history, he believes community perception and satisfaction is improving as the council returns its focus to core business.
“Local government is always going to be attacked and challenged and we recognise that and in some ways that’s one of the things that makes us continually look at what we’re doing and seeing if we can do it better,” he says.
“Whilst the council still can improve, I think we are doing a much better job than we were in the past and we should be proud of that and not back away from the fact we have made improvements.”
David is quick to acknowledge former chief executive officer John McLean, who lost his battle with cancer in October, for his role in leading the council through challenging times.
However, he believes the appointment of a new CEO marks the start of a new era for the city.
“The choice of CEO is clearly vital and probably one of the most important roles of the council,” he says.
“We are extremely pleased we’ve got an exceptionally strong field of applicants ... it highlights the perception of Bendigo on the outside is very much that of a vibrant, growing regional city.”
A vibrant, growing regional city our 13th mayor is again proud to represent.