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Council urged to provide more funding to complement private investment in town

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Advocates of a Sunshine Coast town are pushing the local council to do more for the CBD amid rising private investment.

Business groups, the local councillor and a former councillor have called for more funding to support the revitalisation of the Nambour centre.

The council said it remained committed to the area, citing streetscape upgrades and improvements to a public building and square.

A range of private projects, estimated to be worth about $100 million, are slated for the middle of town.

Sandran Property Group is set to start work on the C-Square commercial precinct, while proposed developments include a 152-apartment block on Currie and Bury streets, and a five-storey childcare facility on Howard Street, among others.

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Rhonda Billett, chair of local activation group I Am Nambour, said the town showed promise but was “heavily overlooked and underfunded” in council’s budget and more backing was needed.

“We have not seen this much investment attraction and interest in Nambour since the 1980s and there is even more investor interest coming over the next 12 months,” she said.

“Now it is up to the government to support these significant investors whose developments will not only provide hundreds of employment opportunities, but also bring prosperity to the region.

“Nambour has great bones. We have all of the good stuff here, including heavy rail into our CBD, two hospitals, TAFE (and) lots of great schools. Families are moving into this region and we are also hosting an Olympic event (mountain biking) in 2032.”

The Nambour CBD.

Councillor David Law said the “unacceptable” shelving of council funding for more works to start on the Eddie De Vere building this year was a blow and he called for more support.

“This investment was to provide streetscaping of Bury Street, a new library and forecourt,” he said.

“Significant council funding now is essential to support the private sector investment that is about to occur, and I will continue to be a strong advocate for this.”

Nambour Chamber of Commerce chair Mark Bray said funding was needed “to revitalise the town and activate projects throughout the town”.

Nambour Tram Co chair Greg Rogerson said he looked forward to the completion of the private projects and called on local authorities to get behind Nambour.

“As a long-term local and someone who genuinely wants to see Nambour thrive and restore itself to its former bustling, vibrant and productive past, I am extremely excited and can’t wait for some of these proposed developments to come to fruition,” he said.

“With the private sector backing our great town and demonstrating their willingness to invest millions of dollars to ensure the success of their developments, all that is needed now is a council which is prepared to play their vital and responsible role in sprucing up the public domain in parallel, or preferably before, these proposed developments start taking shape.

“Without Sunshine Coast Council’s financial investment into reshaping the town’s centre, through revamped footpaths and tidying up the rather dilapidated public domain within the town, they jeopardise losing these ‘golden egg’ developments.

An impression of C-Square.

“Nambour must be appreciated by council as the true hinterland gateway for the vast number of hinterland residents and tourists alike, who rely on it through the businesses it supports and the services it provides.”

A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson a revamp of the Eddie De Vere complex – council’s old headquarters before it moved into a $100 million city hall in Maroochydore – was ongoing and council was committed to the town’s revitalisation.

“Proposed plans to repurpose council’s administration buildings in Nambour for the creation of an integrated library, community and corporate facility have advanced, with staging for improvements over multiple future financial years developed,” the spokesperson told Sunshine Coast News.

“These are considered through council’s annual budgetary processes.

“Early works on council’s Eddie De Vere Building were completed in January this year and delivered for $1.05 million.

“These works created the Namba Meeting Place: a new versatile and accessible venue suited for small events, meetings and workshops.

“The early works also included an improved community lounge in the foyer, a staff multi-purpose room and kitchen on level one and an enhanced Local Disaster Coordination Centre.

“Further essential building renewal works on glazing and roofing are scheduled in 2025-26, currently in procurement phase.

The Eddie De Vere building. Picture: Steele Taylor.

“Feasibility and design work to support the activation of surplus space within the building are also underway.”

The spokesperson said there were other initiatives planned for the town centre.

“Preparations are underway for the first stage of the Namba Place Plan, as part of the long-term Nambour Centre Activation Project,” they said.

“This stage focuses on upgrading streetscapes along Currie and Mill streets to create a safer, more vibrant town centre.

“Expect better lighting, improved pedestrian crossings, upgraded footpaths and new landscaping, furniture and street dining areas to bring life to the streets.

“Behind the scenes, we’ll also be upgrading stormwater drainage and underground services.

“Construction is expected to start in the first half of 2026, and this is just the beginning of a 10- to 15-year vision to renew Nambour’s heart.”

Meanwhile, the state government has supported the relocation of a low-cost supermarket and committed to upgraded CCTV and a Police Beat, amid efforts to tackle an escalating homelessness crisis that has raised safety concerns.

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