Budget snub sparks call to re-energise Nambour’s role as hinterland hub

By Cameron Outridge

Nambour Chamber of Commerce President Mark Bray has called for Nambour to be formally recognised and prioritised as a key hinterland centre amid rapid regional growth.

The call follows a disappointing outcome for the town in Sunshine Coast Council’s latest budget, with residents and business leaders expressing frustration over what they describe as a continued pattern of Nambour being treated as the “poor cousin” of the Coast.

Mr Bray said locals were dismayed that several budget items earmarked for Nambour were cut or scaled back, including a long-awaited library upgrade and the Nambour Place Plan, which received just $1 million – an amount some say will barely cover planning, let alone implementation.

While Maroochydore has firmly established itself as the region’s CBD, Mr Bray said Nambour’s existing “good bones” mean Council could achieve substantial improvements with relatively modest investment.

“They might have to spend $5 million on infrastructure in other areas on the Coast, but you could go to Nambour and spend $1 million or $1.5 million and it would just lift it and provide excellent value for money,” Mr Bray said.

The Chamber’s concerns follow recent budget decisions, including limited funding for the much-vaunted Nambour Place Plan. 

Chamber representatives met with Division 10 Councillor David Law on Monday (July 21) to discuss their concerns.

Mr Bray emphasised Nambour’s strategic location and existing infrastructure as major advantages compared to building new centres from scratch.

Infrastructure

“Nambour has the infrastructure already in place. Council doesn’t have to spend a lot of money on infrastructure in Nambour because it’s there – they just have to add to it. 

“I’ve been here since the ’80s and it was historically a commercial centre with regional offices for banks and insurance companies before many relocated to Maroochydore,” he said.

“As the coastal population grows and more people move inland due to housing affordability, Nambour is perfectly positioned to serve as a hinterland hub.”

With growth pushing further into the hinterland, Mr Bray said Nambour was uniquely placed to support inland communities without the need to travel to coastal centres.

“Look at how Beerwah and Glass House have come along in the last 10 years. They’re all inland. As you move up the line, the only other major place with the bones is Nambour – it’s sitting here in the hinterland ready to go.”

Chamber representatives are now working to build broader awareness of Nambour’s potential. “We need to get all our friends who live down on the Coast to realise that Nambour is a serious player.” 

Mr Bray said Nambour needed to thrive as a vital hinterland hub as Coast growth continued.

Traffic issues:

Mr Bray identified heavy traffic through Currie Street as a major impediment to Nambour’s development, suggesting long-awaited traffic-calming measures would make the town more pedestrian-friendly and attractive.

Regional context:

Mr Bray positioned Nambour as the natural service centre for hinterland communities like Mapleton, Montville, Woombye, Palmwoods and Yandina. While these towns have a strong village atmosphere, he said Nambour had the scale and capacity to become a true commercial hub.

Economic challenges:

Mr Bray said broader economic pressures facing small independent businesses were particularly relevant to Nambour’s traditional main street model. These included rising living costs, the shift to online shopping, and the pull of big-box retailers drawing customers away from town centres. 

Still, Mr Bray said Nambour had everything needed to serve the region’s growing inland population – and deserved far greater attention and investment from Council.

File photo. Mark Bray with Mayor Rosanna Natoli: “Nambour has the infrastructure already in place. Council doesn’t have to spend a lot of money on infrastructure in Nambour because it’s there – they just have to add to it.”