A Bendigo councillor says she will take the call for legal street art walls to her colleagues at the City of Greater Bendigo. 

But Whipstick Ward councillor Lisa Ruffell has also called on local businesses, property owners and artists to help push an idea she said would both empower young people and to give the Bendigo CBD a facelift. 

“Look at street art in Melbourne and what the council there is doing in the CBD and the way it draws people into laneways for coffee and food,” Cr Ruffell said. “Well, we’ve got the buildings and we’ve got the laneways – we say Bendigo is a tourist destination, so why aren’t we helping young people empower themselves?” 

The jewelry store owner was one of more than 35 people who commented via Facebook on a Bendigo Advertiser article in support of several street artists who are calling for a legal art wall.

“Great idea as there are plenty of outside walls,” she wrote. “But it’s not just up to council permission let’s hope some property owners see merit in this.”

Cr Ruffell said business could benefit by getting on board with artists. 

“If you own a building and have a walkway or a corner which is just a brick wall, instead of crappy advertising, what about something bright and unique that makes people remember your store?” she said. “If you think outside the square, it’s becomes a marketing tool for small business.” 

Cr Ruffell said she would raise legal street art walls at this Wednesday’s council forum. In the meantime, she called on artists, businesses, property owners and residents not to wait for someone else to take the lead. 

“If you’re an interested property owner have a talk to the mayor and to councillors to see how we can help you get the permits you’ll need,” she said. 

“And it would be great if we had artists come to us to present proposals so that we could go forward on their behalf to property owners with a proposal of how to make their building look great. 

“I’ll raise the issue at council – but it would be great to have a bunch of letters of support.”