Leader calls for deeper commitment to hinterland as regional hub

Nambour community leaders have urged Sunshine Coast Council to step up its investment in the town’s CBD following an underwhelming budget outcome for the 2025–26 financial year.

I Am Nambour and Nambour Groups spokesperson Rhonda Billett said while she understood Council’s budget pressures, the town had earned greater backing.

“This latest Council budget was always going to be a lean one,” Ms Billett said. “The rising costs of capital works and infrastructure are a sore point for local governments everywhere and I do understand this.”

“But Nambour's CBD has a lot of plans in process. We’ve endured years of community consultation, seen plenty of pretty pictures, and that should have translated into more serious budget commitment.”

She said Council missed an opportunity to align its spending with multi-million dollars of private investment flowing into the C-Square precinct. “It could have been a major game changer for Nambour’s CBD, but Council expenditure was very underwhelming.”

Newcomers still getting up to speed

Ms Billett said she welcomed the appointment of Council’s new CEO, John Baker, but acknowledged many of the senior team were still getting up to speed with the town’s needs and history.

“After meeting with Council’s new CEO John Baker, its become apparent to myself and the Nambour group leaders, that we have a lot of new people in the organisation, a new CEO and new Executive leaders, who are highly experienced in their roles, but not all leaders are from this region. There are some benefits to this leadership change scenario, but there are some negatives I believe that come along with this also. 

“It will be up to us as a community and business leaders to heavily engage with them all in moving forward. 

“We also will need to all engage more with the Mayor and other divisional councillors if we are to get some positive investment outcomes for Nambour's CBD in the future.  

“We need the Sunshine Coast Council team to support this area like never before.  We certainly will be and are on a bit of a journey with it all.”

Ms Billett welcomed recent State Government support for Nambour, including millions in budget funding for CCTV and a new Police Beat, describing it as a much-needed boost.

“I do feel positive that Marty Hunt and his State Government team are providing a financial lifeline through their latest budget to support upcoming CBD improvement projects,” she said. “For Nambour to thrive, we need continued government support and private investment to pave the way for a stronger future.”

Rhonda Billett: “We’ve endured years of community consultation, seen plenty of pretty pictures, and that should have translated into more serious budget commitment.”