Cancer patient’s wife fears loss of vital access as car park fight hits the streets

A long-term Nambour resident has warned the proposed sale of the Howard Street car park would have serious consequences for people with health needs, as a local business owner takes the fight directly to the streets.

Resident of 60 years, Roseanne, said she was “horrified” by the proposal, explaining her husband, who has cancer, relies on the car park to access a nearby pharmacy.

“My husband has cancer and he has to use this pharmacy here because no other pharmacies, here in Nambour, can actually handle the medications that he needs,” she said. “So we come to this car park all the time.”

She said the short distance from the car park to essential services made a critical difference.

“He can just walk there and back … that’s just across the road,” she said.

Roseanne said many others in similar situations depended on the space and she was appalled by Council’s proposal to sell the car park. “I think it’s absolutely terrible. There’s a lot of people in my position who got ill and needed medical assistance of all sorts,” she said.

While acknowledging the need for more housing she said the car park was the wrong location. “I’m appalled by their situation… please give these homeless people somewhere to live, but this is imperative for us. There’s no other parking around. We use it all the time and so do all these people,” she said pointing to other cars in the carpark.

Her story was captured by Queen Street business owner Ali Atkinson, who has filmed on-the-ground interviews with residents, patients and business owners to document how the car park is used and what its potential loss would mean.

The Rogues Gallery owner has been recording the conversations on her phone and sharing them online in an effort to raise awareness ahead of any council decision.

She said the interviews had revealed the extent to which the car park functions as a critical access point for nearby medical services.

The Howard Street car park sits within close walking distance of doctors, pharmacies and allied health providers, forming what some locals describe as an informal health hub.

“It’s not just about convenience,” she said. “It’s about access. It’s about people being able to get to essential services.”

She said the aim of the interviews was to present a clearer picture of how the space was used by the community.

“These are real people with real needs,” she said. “I just wanted to get their stories out there.  If you take that car park away, you’re not just removing spaces – you’re removing access for people who don’t have another option.”

Ms Atkinson is continuing to film in the lead-up to key decisions on the site and is encouraging others to share their experiences, with the footage expected to be compiled and presented alongside petitions opposing the sale. The video is on the Nambour Now Facebook page. 

• Council has deferred a decision on the proposed sale of the Howard Street/Sydney Street car park after widespread community blowback. Readers can view and sign a Nambour Now petition opposing the sale at www.change.org by searching “Hands off Howard Street car park” or via  https://c.org/BbTtMCWyYN

A frame from Ali Atkinson’s video showing Roseanne explaining her husband’s situation.