Cr Law slams six-year delay to Nambour investment

Cr Law: “It’s not okay to move that major investment by six years.”

By Cameron Outridge

Division 10 Councillor David Law has voiced his deep frustration at Sunshine Coast Council’s decision to delay the construction of a long-promised Nambour library and community administration centre, saying the six-year deferral sends the wrong message to the hinterland.

Speaking at Council’s budget meeting Monday (July 7), Cr Law made clear his disappointment with the project being postponed due to budget constraints following a recently revealed $20 million accounting shortfall.

“Here we are, budget day, and everyone is being asked to do a bit more for the benefit of the whole region,” he said. “But I don’t like this one at all. Not one bit.”

Cr Law said the Nambour library and administration facility was meant to be the third and final stage of Council’s long-running workplace strategy. The first two stages — Council’s main administration building in Maroochydore and the soon-to-be-completed Caloundra Library Plus — were both delivered with additional cash injections when needed.

“When [the Maroochydore building] needed an extra $20 million cash, it got it,” he said. “And I was assured the whole workplace strategy would happen.

“Part two, Caloundra Library Plus — we’ve already heard that will be completed very shortly. When it needed $10 million in cash, it got it. And I was assured again — it would be so with part three.”

Cr Law said the Nambour project had already absorbed about $1 million in preparatory work and was ready to begin construction this financial year — until the project was pushed to at least 2031. 

“Four years of blood, sweat and tears… but it’s not happening,” he said. “At the moment, maybe 2031 — but maybe not. I’m not sure.”

He said the decision to delay undermined confidence in the region’s commitment to the hinterland. “This major investment in Nambour… would signal to the hinterland community of Nambour and surrounds that ‘we believe in you’,” he said. “That investment would trigger more investment by other corporations, other organisations. “It’s not okay to move that major investment by six years — because in Nambour, we need that now.”

Cr Law also called for a serious rethink of how Council funds recovery from natural disasters and infrastructure damaged by climate-related events, saying residents should not be left to carry the cost.

“We need to seriously look at and consider the ‘polluter pays’ principle,” he said. “Those who are caused to clean up and clear up costs of these dramatic climate-impacted weather events shouldn’t have to bear the cost.”

He pointed to three major rain events that struck Nambour in just 46 days, damaging businesses, forcing the closure of a community kindergarten, and causing lasting disruption.

“There are businesses that have still not reopened since the 25th of April,” he said. “The polluter should pay — not the ratepayers, not the council — the polluter.”

Nambour Chamber of Commerce President Mark Bray and Nambour Groups spokesperson Rhonda Billett were disappointed by the news and joined Cr Law at a meeting with the CEO John Baker Tuesday morning (July 8) to discuss the issue.