O’Brien backs Nambour’s resilience, promises continued united action on safety and homelessness

Federal Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien “When it comes to the longer term vision for Nambour, for the hinterland, I’m one who just remains absolutely optimistic.”

By Cameron Outridge

Federal Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien has praised Nambour’s strengths and called for continued cooperation across all levels of government to address rising community safety and homelessness concerns.

Speaking at the Nambour Chamber of Commerce Coffee Catchup on August 7, Mr O’Brien acknowledged the challenges facing the town, particularly around “law and order and people not feeling safe,” but stressed that the community’s natural advantages, social capital and leadership gave him nothing but confidence in its future.

“Previously, probably about five years ago when a lot of us put together a future plan for Nambour, I had a couple of people come in who had gone to so many different regions who had been struggling over the years and were looking to rebrand themselves,” he said.

Mr O’Brien recalled meeting a consultant who had worked with struggling towns for 25 years. “She spent one day [in Nambour]… and she was sort of looking at me gobsmacked, saying, ‘how has this place got any problems?’ And then she just started listing it off saying, ‘you’ve got the main road – the Bruce Highway connected. You’ve got the rail, you’ve got the most extraordinary natural environment’. Nambour has natural advantages, which are second to none, which you will not lose, which is a hell of a starting point.”

Citing Australian social researcher Hugh Mackay, Mr O’Brien said Nambour’s strong social fabric set it apart. “There’s something unique about these places because the communities rally, there’s a social capital. They always get through things because they actually work together. And I think even the way that the Chamber works is very much like that,” he said.

He credited local leadership as the third pillar of the town’s resilience. “I just want to pay tribute to those who are providing leadership to the community. Thank you for continuing to do so.”

Mr O’Brien said recent major infrastructure projects – including upgrades to the Bruce Highway and Nambour Connection Road, and the Beerburrum to Nambour rail project – were secured through collaboration between the community and all levels of government.

“All of that… came through this community working with me, with Nicklin MP Marty Hunt and others,” he said. “If you look what Marty’s doing with the police beat and the supermarket and Currie Street, all of this stuff ultimately is the community. And that’s the only way we can get things done.”

No silver bullet

Turning to current concerns, Mr O’Brien said there was “no silver bullet” to address safety, break-ins and the perception that the area was being “inundated with people coming from elsewhere.”

“I think there is a need for immediate action and I’ll be working with Marty and others on a particular meeting … to ensure that each of the three tiers of government are doing their bit working with the community,” he said.

Mr O’Brien closed by reaffirming his optimism. “When it comes to the longer term vision for Nambour, for the hinterland, I’m one who just remains absolutely optimistic. I really do. And the more we can work together, the better.”