VWeekend: Sally Capp reflects on her ‘wild ride’ as Lord Mayor of Melbourne
As Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp gets ready to step down from the city’s top job, she reveals she’s actually a shy introvert, but says her passion for Melbourne helped her step into the spotlight.
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Sally Capp might shock you one last time – she’s really a shy person.
That will come as a surprise to many who have seen the Lord Mayor beam unashamedly for the cameras at the launch of a festival, or unveiling a new library or the grand opening of a public toilet (yes, really).
That’s her – the loud and proud cheerleader for her city.
Capp announced in March she would not recontest the October election and has now stood aside, with her role to be filled by deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece from July.
As Capp reflects on her six years in the city’s top job, she concedes that the twin realities of the position’s demands and the pandemic’s hammer blow forced her out of her shell.
“I’m actually an introvert. But a big part of the role is being out in front, and having that energy and really sharing it as widely as I can, particularly during Covid.
“And it’s been one of the most surprising things for me personally.
“Actually, it was easier than I thought (being outgoing), because I am so passionate and committed to Melbourne and that is what drives me every day.
“If I genuinely care about something, then I am energised and enthused by that.’’
Indeed, while any politician will inevitably divide opinions, few would argue with Capp’s passion for the city.
Certainly she has street appeal. Take a walk down Swanston St with Capp and there are more selfies than sour comments.
Indeed, the Capp charm is seen by supporters as a force to bring people together. Critics see it as masking the realities and problems of the city.
Capp was elected to office in 2018 in the aftermath of the scandal that claimed her predecessor Robert Doyle. She was re-elected in 2020, finishing ahead of former deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood.
Now, in a Melbourne version of the Kirribilli agreement, Capp is signing off four months early, to usher in her loyal deputy Reece who will don the mayoral robes until the statewide council elections in October.
“Nick has been a fantastic member of my team of the City of Melbourne and he’s going to be a brilliant 105th Lord Mayor of Melbourne, which he will be from July. And yes, I will support him in his campaign.’’
Her first post-Town Hall engagement “when I’m a feather duster” will be to visit son Will in London with husband Andrew Sutherland. And then celebrate her 57th birthday in the sun in Greece in August. It doesn’t need to be said that, for this Collingwood diehard, September is reserved for footy finals.
For now, Capp is preparing to, well trying to at least, switch off.
“My family and friends would probably say that I have not done that very well. I have lived this role.’’
Indeed, Capp speaks with the enthusiasm of a kid on her first day on the job, not someone clearing their desk.
“The job has been life changing in many ways, and it’s been all consuming for me.
“I’ve been brought up in the Capp family with a strong work ethic. We’re all pretty much the same in terms of our willingness to work hard, but this role has been 24/7.
“It’s been exhilarating and exhausting all at the same time.’’
It’s not been without its challenges. And its share of criticism, although Capp prefers the word “feedback”.
The council’s introduction of more than 20km of bicycle lanes through the CBD during the Covid period – which Capp still strongly backs – and the launch of new parking technology were both cases of a failure to communicate, Capp says.
“We should have over-communicated those things. We should have made sure that there were no surprises.
“The city was really empty during those times. That’s why we took advantage of that opportunity to minimise disruption later as the city reopened to get on with some infrastructure projects.
“And while we thought that people could see what we were doing or understood what was happening in the city, it was very clear as people returned to the city that they were really taken by surprise by that new infrastructure.’’
There’s been plenty of debate too around the Greenline project along the north bank of the Yarra River. It’s invariably been described as Capp’s pet project or maybe her legacy landmark. But the Lord Mayor has her own description.
“Greenline is the most incredible project.’’
The complexity of the waterfront project, linking sections of parks and walkways 4km from Birrarung Marr to Docklands, has thrown plenty of curve balls.
“It’s enormous, but that’s the whole point. It’s city shaping, and it’s difficult. And the difficult things are really worthwhile.’’
Capp remains convinced it is right for Melbourne, despite concerns about where the $314m funding will come from, or when it will be completed, or how the green spaces will be “seamless” if that means crossing three main roads.
“I’ve received quite a lot of feedback (that word again) over the time on Greenline, that it’s all just about headlines, etc. It’s not that at all,” she says. “It is so widely supported across stakeholders and community. And I feel that it’s absolutely one of the amazing achievements for a person who came from outside this sector with a big vision in 2018.
“I’ve learnt a lot on the way, but shovels are in the ground, work is under way.
“It’s going to be a magnificent addition to Melbourne.’’
And Capp has no truck for any successive lord mayors or councillors who may seek to scupper Greenline.
“I think that’ll be a reflection on them,’’ she says directly.
“But the reflection on me is a leader who really came in with a vision of a city-shaping project that has multiple benefits for our city, from the health of the river through to attracting millions of people that can drive economic value and everything in between.’’
The redevelopment of the council-owned Queen Victoria Market has been another struggle, the most recent chapter being the $1.7bn Lendlease vision for a trio of towers on the southern edge of the market carpark.
Again, Capp is unerringly positive, and says the Gurrowa Place development – once unkindly compared to the unloved and now-demolished Gas & Fuel Towers – is “the vision of world-renowned architects, and I think architecture is very subjective’’.
“But when we look at the designs and the functionality of what’s going to be delivered, it’s a brilliant mixed-use site, which is exactly what global cities are doing more and more.
“It’s absolutely magnificent. And it’s a $1.7bn investment by a private developer into the city which shows incredible confidence about how they see the future.’’
The broader market revamp, which began under the Doyle administration, had stalled by 2018, she says.
“It was completely stagnant. And yet everybody, just about everybody, accepts that it’s deserving of significant infrastructure and investment. Since then, we did a lot of work at the start to do the listening and to just take the time, and we had the people’s panel (forums).’’
The renovation of ageing buildings and the heritage sheds has caused disruption for stallholders, some of who have traded at the site for generations.
“I appreciate that there is pain. We always contemplated there would be frustrations and difficult moments,” she says.
“And a trader asked me the other day why are we doing so many projects at the same time, and the decision … was that we were better to get on with it and shorten the disruption than have it go over decades.’’
Criticism in the media, especially social media, can strike a nerve, she says.
“Sometimes it’s really unfair and hurtful. But does it really change our capacity to make a difference? No.
“A lot of media these days releases haters and very nasty, very nasty people.
“The vitriol and the personal nature of some of those things – it does hurt but it’s actually strengthened my resolve.
“It’s one of the No.1 things that I feel coming out of this role is that my sense of resolve is so strong. And I do have an ability to be very resilient in the face of that opposition.’’
And then, referencing Monty Python, she shrugs: “They are just flesh wounds, and it’s important to really keep going.’’
One topic that Capp always prompts, ahem, feedback from residents, workers and visitors alike is the cleanliness, or otherwise, of the city’s heart.
The start, from April 1, of the around-the-clock graffiti removal and street cleaning program is sprucing up the city, she says. And the Make Room homeless shelter, opening soon, will provide accommodation and services for rough sleepers.
Capp, ever the ambassador, says she knows the city so well, that “I could do an entire show on what’s available free in the city.’’
She vows to become an “active citizen’’ after she leaves Town Hall, declaring she will be on the phone to the council if her bins aren’t collected or there’s rubbish strewn on the street.
“I encourage all of our residents and workers and visitors to do exactly that. Yes, I will be doing that (calling council).
“I also plan to still attend Participate Melbourne discussion evenings on topics that are relevant. Or I might pop into an urban forest workshop on a Saturday morning at Melbourne Museum.’’
Other than that, Capp says she has no work plans. “Nothing locked in,’’ she declares.
By her own description, she has zigzagged through her career – graduating and working in law, followed by senior business roles at KPMG and ANZ.
Capp was also chief executive for the Committee for Melbourne and before walking into Town Hall was Victorian head of the Property Council of Australia.
The Capp professional resume also boasts three unique firsts – the city’s first directly elected female Lord Mayor, the first woman to be appointed Agent-General for Victoria in the UK, Europe and Israel, and in 2004 she became Collingwood Football Club’s first female board member.
Now, looking back at the council section of her CV, are there any misgivings or regrets?
“I’ve had this question a bit and I’m one of those glass-all-the-way-full people,” she says.
“I’m one that really appreciates failures and the learnings from failures and lord knows we’ve tried a lot of things over these six years, particularly during those pandemic lockdowns and bounce-backs.
“Some of them worked brilliantly and some of them didn’t.’’
Capp also wants to correct the record, or at least give context to her comments that Covid was good for Melbourne.
“From the hardships of Covid there are lessons that make us better,” she says.
“For example, we found a way to get rough sleepers off the streets and into safe housing.
“We saw ordinary people undertake inspirational acts. And I still believe that today – otherwise there would be nothing to show for the trauma we experienced.’’
Capp then pauses to reflect on that decision six years ago to run for office, and what advice she might offer her 2018 self.
“Buckle up for a wild ride, I’d say. This will be more like a roller coaster than a ride on the tea cups, so it’s lucky you like roller coasters.”
Originally published as VWeekend: Sally Capp reflects on her ‘wild ride’ as Lord Mayor of Melbourne
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