100-strong crowd turns out to defend Howard Street car park

Critical infrastructure: About 100 people gathered at short notice to oppose the Howard Street car park sale.

About 100 people gathered at the Howard Street car park yesterday (April 13) for a community photo calling on council to abandon plans to sell the site.  

Locals, business owners, staff and community representatives converged on the central Nambour location, many leaving their workplaces or travelling into town specifically to be part of the show of unity.

The event was promoted by Rogues Gallery owner Ali Atkinson and Suzie King from LDL Boutique and backed by Nambour Now, with support from the Nambour Chamber of Commerce, Nambour Groups and other local advocates. "This is critical for the community of Nambour to be able to access businesses in the CBD,” said Ali. 

Locals said the turnout reflected growing concern about the potential loss of what many saw as critical CBD infrastructure.

"There must be a commonsense approach to development,” said Ali. "This is not an opportunity for a development feeding frenzy. The practical needs of the people must be prioritised over profits. When terminally ill cancer patients, our frail elderly and those in wheelchairs are at risk of losing the only genuinely accessible carpark in town, something is wrong."

Resident Diane Crosby voiced the frustrations of many, saying the proposal shouldn’t even be under consideration. “It’s just beyond belief that the car park sale is even being entertained as an option,” she said. “Surely anyone with any common sense can see it’s central to the CBD. Where are all these people going to go? Where are they going to park?”

Ms Crosby said the impact would be felt most by those needing easy access to nearby services. “We have all these medical facilities… and a lot of people are not very mobile,” she said. “The people need this. You guys (councillors) represent the people… and I think the people are speaking quite plainly to you that this is not an option.”

The proposed sale of the council-owned site for housing has triggered widespread backlash since details emerged, with the matter deferred for eight weeks following community pressure.

Business owner Steele Anderson said the loss of the car park would have serious consequences. “It’s going to destroy local businesses,” he said. “It’s going to harm vulnerable people trying to get to medical appointments every day.”

Nambour Now chair Helen Tagg has previously said the issue is about the viability of the CBD, not opposition to housing, while Chamber president Brian Bugenhagen has described the level of opposition as “extraordinary”.

Nambour Groups chair Rhonda Billett said the town supported growth, but not at the expense of essential infrastructure. Nambour Groups is due to meet tomorrow (April 15) with CEO John Baker to further discuss the matter. 

• The next Sunshine Coast Council ordinary meeting is scheduled for April 23 at 9am at City Hall. The car park sale decision was deferred to the May 21 meeting after widespread community blowback. The CEO is due to meet with Nambour Groups tomorrow (April 15) to discuss the proposed sale. 

Readers can view and sign a Nambour Now petition opposing the sale via https://c.org/BbTtMCWyY