“Boy from the ‘burbs”: Mark Scott joins Melbourne council team

New councillor Mark Scott has been elected for the first time as part of Team Reece in the recent City of Melbourne election and is eager to bring his passion for learning and listening to the council.

While he has been “engaged with the political process” throughout his life, becoming a councillor wasn’t initially part of his plans.

“When it came time to put together a team, Nick Reece and Roshena Campbell engaged with me and asked if I would like to be a part of their team,” Cr Scott told CBD News.

“I was quite privileged and honoured to be asked, but I had to dig deep and ask myself whether I could really put in the commitment that’s required to do the job.”

With his experience as former manager of Queen Victoria Market (QVM) and owner of Ripe Cheese, Cr Scott has a first-hand understanding of the challenges small businesses face in the city.

“I used to visit the QVM as a kid, like every other kid from the ‘burbs – we used to come in every other week to do our shopping and buy our ugg boots and various other things,” he said.

“I have an incredible appreciation for the challenges of running a small business, because we had to live through COVID and, of course, survive.”

“I know how tough it is, especially coming out of COVID – things have changed a lot, I have huge empathy for how tough it is for small businesses. That was really a huge driver in me taking on this role, to champion small businesses, as well as residents.”

For Cr Scott, addressing safety and cleanliness will be top priorities in the council’s early efforts, as well as tackling the growing mental health crisis.

“A lot of the issues we have to tackle are not easy, but we’ve got to keep advocating for businesses and to government,” he said.

“Getting people back into the city is definitely a priority. If you want a vibrant city, it has to feel like it’s vibrant and alive.”

“Particularly when we talk about the issue of loneliness – if people are sitting at home and not engaging with anybody, those sorts of things do contribute to feeling alone. So, I think social interaction is really important, and a lot of small businesses rely on people coming back into the office.”

As the council’s new head of the tourism and events portfolio, Cr Scott hopes the City of Melbourne will collaborate further to reassess major events and their financial impact on the city.

For example, Cr Scott envisions a “winter solstice festival” that merges the best aspects of the city’s Firelight and Now or Never festivals.

“I’ve seen first-hand the summer night market at QVM and the popularity of that, and it’s only once a week,” he said.

“People will come out in winter, so I think if we can find something that helps to bridge the gap in the city, it would be a really great addition to our major events program.”

As a newcomer to the council, Cr Scott is committed to absorbing as much knowledge as possible over the next four years, both to improve the city and enhance his personal growth.

A highlight of his time so far? Delivering a keynote speech at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival.

“It was an opportunity to stand up in front of a few hundred people and deliver a speech that I wrote myself that really spoke from the heart about the importance of queer film and telling queer stories,” he said.

“I’m a gay man with a husband – 13 years ago I came out, so I believe in living your authentic life and truth-telling. So, to stand up and share a bit about that, and talk about the importance of inclusivity and diversity in the city, has definitely been one of my highlights.”

Though just a few months into his term, Cr Scott is already learning from his fellow councillors and City of Melbourne staff, eager to grow in the role.

“I’m here for one term, so I’m going to try and do the best job I possibly can in those four years,” he told CBD News.

“I want to make a difference and walk out of here feeling like I’m a better person.” •