And former councillor James Reade said Cr Chapman’s actions had embarrassed the city. 

Mr Reade said he didn’t think the hunger strike was about Fortuna at all. 

“It’s about an individual with an inflated ego craving the attention and using self-harm as a tool to get what you want is not the right message for the community,” he said. 

“It’s a disgrace and it’s embarrassing for Bendigo and it’s going to be a long and damaging three and a half years if she keeps up these antics. 

“There’s a democratic process you go through. 

“To bully other levels of government into action by self-harm is an absolute disgrace.”

Mr Sandner said the hunger strike would create little more than personal publicity. 

“It’s certainly not going to achieve anything except publicity for Elise Chapman,” he said. 

“In the four years I was on council, I never saw anything or anyone contemplate doing this.” 

Mr Sandner said the previous council had worked as a team together and expressed their views behind closed doors. 

“We came to a decision, and once that had been arrived at, we stood as one on the issue,” he said. 

Mr Reade said he believed Fortuna was a good community asset, but said he believed private ownership would be a positive step.

He said he wasn’t across the latest plan but selling the property would remove the financial burden from ratepayers. 

Mr Sandner said he’d also like to see Fortuna sold. 

“I’d like to see it sold privately and for it to be returned to a private home and the gardens returned to their original state so it can be opened on occasion as the owners see fit,” he said.