Community leaders back Nambour Now chair over warning letter
Clockwise from top left: Helen Tagg, Greg Rogerson, Trevor Thompson, Marty Hunt, Brian Bugenhagen and Kerry Brown.
The warning letter sent to Nambour Now chair Helen Tagg has sparked concern among community leaders, with former Maroochy Shire deputy mayor Trevor Thompson saying Council should answer her questions instead of “talking around the point”.
The warning came in a formal letter dated April 30, after months of advocacy, meetings and correspondence from Mrs Tagg seeking clarity about how Council manages public safety, rough sleeping and the use of sensitive public spaces in Nambour, including parks, playgrounds and areas near schools.
The letter from Council warned that if further correspondence repeated matters Council believed had already been addressed, or placed an unreasonable burden on resources, Council “may consider managing future communication in accordance with its Unreasonable Conduct (by the public) Policy”.
Mr Thompson said Mrs Tagg had been asking reasonable questions on behalf of the community and deserved clear answers.
“If they’d just answer her questions there wouldn’t be an issue. Council are doing everything they can to talk around her – to talk around the point – instead of answering the questions. The community just needs direct answers. I’ve never come across someone of her age with such maturity and common sense. It’s just terrible what they’ve done. All she was trying to do is get clear answers and it’s not her fault if council can’t provide clear answers. Council needs to understand that until we get direct answers Nambour Now is not going away.”
Member for Nicklin Marty Hunt backed Mrs Tagg and Nambour Now as “great community advocates”, saying their work had helped drive state action on housing, policing and community safety in Nambour.
“I have found Helen Tagg and the Nambour Now group to be great community advocates and I maintain and enjoy regular contact,” Mr Hunt said.
“I will continue to do what we can at a State level to address local issues such as community safety and homelessness services. Their advocacy has assisted me in securing the recent housing projects in Nambour, the police beat and increased police powers in designated community and business districts. I want to thank them and encourage them to keep up the great work they are doing locally while we continue to work together for a better community.”
Nambour Chamber of Commerce vice president Brian Bugenhagen also publicly backed Mrs Tagg, saying her advocacy reflected deep concerns widely held across the town’s business and residential communities.
“Helen Tagg had played an important role in giving residents and local businesses a voice on public safety, parks, playgrounds and the broader future of Nambour,” he said.
“Helen has the respect and support of the Chamber. From my dealings with Helen, she has been measured, persistent and constructive. She has raised issues that the business community, visitors and many Nambour residents care deeply about, and she has done so because she wants the town to be safer and stronger.
“Helen has been a reliable and proactive voice for local businesses and has been advocating on behalf of a community that has been asking for clear answers and practical action.”
Former Hinterland Tourism president Kerry Brown, who has long championed community safety in Nambour, described Mrs Tagg as an outstanding advocate.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe in Nambour and Helen Tagg has been an outstanding advocate in her efforts to improve public safety in and around the town.
“Helen’s research and knowledge on a very complex matter is remarkable. I have been to meetings where she has outlined the issues then presented viable solutions with a detailed plan.
“She has done the heavy lifting on a very big problem and is highly regarded in the community for her tireless work to make Nambour a better place.
“In all the years I have worked in media and community projects I have never known of anyone being warned about placing unreasonable burden on council, it is definitely not the way to treat a lady who has volunteered endless hours to help council resolve a very serious issue.”
Former Div 10 Cr Greg Rogerson said Mrs Tagg had become a strong and visible voice for Nambour and deserved better treatment.
“In my personal view, instead of trying to stifle Helen’s community-based input, Council would be better perceived – and in fact perform much better – by addressing Mrs Tagg’s questions with straightforward answers. Without answers to pertinent questions being posed, educated decision-making will never prosper, pure and simple.”
The council letter has also triggered strong public support for Mrs Tagg, with residents using Facebook to thank her for pressing for accountability, transparency and practical answers.