Nambour streetscape works nearing start as councillor acknowledges rates anger

The first stage of Nambour’s long-awaited town centre revitalisation is moving closer to construction, with Sunshine Coast Council now assessing tenders for streetscape works around one of the CBD’s busiest intersections.

Division 10 Cr David Law told the Nambour Chamber of Commerce Coffee Catch Up on July 2 that tenders had closed for the first stage of the Nambour Place revitalisation project, covering the Howard Street, Mill Street and Currie Street intersection.

“The tender is being assessed. We should know the outcome within the next four to five weeks and once we’ve got that outcome, then we will start to be able to develop timelines,” Cr Law said.

He said council would work closely with affected businesses, while acknowledging construction would cause disruption.

“Yes, there’ll be disruption. Yes, we need to be honest about that, but the outcome will be tremendous,” he said.

The works are aimed at improving pedestrian access and connectivity in the centre of town, including changes to Mill Street between Currie Street and the roundabout near the mother and child sculpture at the Tramco terminus.

“The big change that you will notice is when it’s finished, that will be a one way street,” Cr Law said.

He said future stages would hopefully continue further along Currie Street and towards Bury Street.

Cr Law also confirmed the former proposal by Coast2Bay Housing Group for 60 units on the Sydney Street and Howard Street site would not proceed elsewhere in town, saying its funding was tied only to that site.

Cr Law said work on the Eddie De Vere and Fred Murray buildings was aimed at making the buildings waterproof after long-running leaks.

He also addressed the “elephant in the room” of council’s 9.7 per cent rate increase.

“Is it what I wanted to happen? No, of course not,” he said. “But it’s a reality of where we are.”

Cr Law said fuel costs, disaster recovery and extreme weather had placed major pressure on council finances, including $1.7 million in unbudgeted flood recovery spending last year.