Lola Mennitz's winning entry in the City of Hobart's Children's Mayor 2024 competition was an intergenerational approach.
The year-six Friends student was announced as the Children's Mayor in October for her entry about an interconnected, sustainable ferry service on the River Derwent that links in with Metro bus services.
Lola's grandfather is Andrew Tompson, a former City of Hobart engineer, who provided some assistance with "One side to the other, a matter of time before you decide."
The 12-year-old had a taste of council life, sitting in the Lord Mayor's chair for a mock council meeting with the other participants, including children's Deputy Mayor, Alice Plimpton, 12, from Lansdowne Crescent Primary School.
"It feels good (to be Children's Mayor) because my idea has been heard," Lola said.
"My granddad was a head engineer at the council for quite a while, so he helped me with my idea quite a bit, just getting all the logistics and the facts, making sure it was like the best I could make it and we heard you know the Lord now asking some questions around."
Lola was one of 16 applicants for this year's competition, which was held for the fourth time.
"I just thought 'why not?' because I wanted to see how many people would agree with my idea and I thought everyone deserves a better life so just try and make a change," she said.
Her motion at council for the introduction of her ferry service received unanimous support.
"Obviously a range of different voices and opinions is quite nice in a council," Lola said.
"It's good just to see all the different perspectives because like even though you might not agree with them you still have to listen to what they're saying."
Lola will have the chance to present her idea to the Hobart City Council's Annual General Meeting and discuss it with the City of Hobart staff.
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said this program opens the City's ears to ideas from a valuable part of the community that can struggle to be heard at times.
"I absolutely love this program because we always get fresh ideas and fresh perspectives," Cr Reynolds said.
"It's just so important to recognise that young people and children don't just live here but they are citizens of our city and their perspectives, their feedback, their ideas are just as valuable as the adults are."
All 16 submissions for this program will be on public display in the Hobart Town Hall foyer.