Nambour ending 2025 on a high as business leaders set ambitious goals

Nambour Groups chair Rhonda Billett wants to work on attracting larger retail outlets to the CBD.

Nambour Groups chair Rhonda Billett says the town is heading into 2026 with its strongest business momentum in years, driven by rising private investment, new developments and a surge in public interest in the CBD.

“With 2026 just around the corner, we’re getting set for an even bigger year,” Ms Billett said. “It’s been a huge 2025 in the Nambour CBD. We are ending the 2025 year stronger than we have been in a very long time, with lots of new construction projects and investments underway and even more developments on the horizon for 2026.”

She said the town now had “around $150m in combined private investment and development applications” moving through the CBD, and she estimated that figure “could potentially surpass $200m by the end of 2026”.

Ms Billett said I Am Nambour’s marketing work had played an important role this year, with new videos and online content produced in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council and Redboss Productions gaining traction.

“2025 was a very intentional year for me with our I Am Nambour marketing team,” she said. “Our 50 cent train fares to Nambour concept was the stand-out promotion of the year… it became one of our viral hits of the year, with hundreds of enquiries coming through from consumers in South East Queensland choosing to explore Nambour.”

Looking ahead, retail attraction and foot traffic will be the major focus in 2026 as state and council construction begins to reshape the town centre from Bury Street through to Mill Street, Currie Street and Civic Way.

“By the end of 2026, Nambour will look and feel significantly different,” Ms Billett said. “We just hope that while construction is underway that locals continue to come into Nambour, have a look at the transformation taking place, and continue to support their favourite Nambour businesses.”

Empty shops

Ms Billett acknowledged the numerous empty shop fronts through the  CBD. “However many  are in development application stage or under construction. Such as the Every Day Living Supermarket in the old Auto Barn building and the C-Square redevelopments on Currie St.  Whilst we get all of the DAs sorted and  constructions complete, various areas of the Nambour CBD will appear tired and vacant.  But to deliver on new things for Nambour, we have to patiently go through this stage,  remembering that by the end of 2026, things will be looking amazing.”

Hunt on to attract brand retailers to town

Securing larger national retailers will be her personal priority. “I have seen the community very frustrated about this over the years, so we will explore the whys and why nots,” she said.

But she warned it would not be easy. “Early indications and conversations I’m having demonstrate to me that there are some big hurdles ahead in getting retail back into Nambour. I’m not going to sugar coat it for the community – this is going to be very challenging.”

Despite that, she said she would have the “tough conversations” and be transparent with the community as work progressed.

“There are no guarantees with this,” she said, “but it’s my hope we have a few wins along the way for Nambour.”