Meeting with reps cancelled, so organisers opt to go it alone & form community-led group

Trevor Thompson says a meeting will now be held on January 28 at 6.30pm at the Presynct in Ann Street Nambour   (File photo).

Details of community meeting
on safety and homelessness

Wednesday 28 January 2026, 6.30pm. Presynct Venue, 15 Ann Street, Nambour

Nambour is at a turning point and many of us are feeling the strain in different ways. This meeting is being held so local residents, businesses and community groups can come together and begin forming a Strategy Group focused on finding practical ways forward for our town.

Key issues to be discussed include homelessness, public safety, town amenity, business impacts and community wellbeing. The aim is to workshop solutions, identify shared concerns, and build a clear, united voice that can be taken to the relevant levels of government.

This is about constructive action, respectful discussion and putting Nambour first. Everyone who cares about the future of Nambour is welcome to attend. You do not need to be part of any organisation. Just bring your ideas, your experience, and your willingness to work together. 

– from Helen Tagg of Nambour Now

Former Maroochy Shire Deputy Mayor Trevor Thompson is helping to establish a community management committee on homelessness and public safety in Nambour, after a planned public meeting was cancelled when Mayor Rosanna Natoli and Division 10 Councillor David Law declined to attend.

The public meeting, scheduled for January 21 at the Nambour RSL, had been organised by Mr Thompson to allow residents to question decision-makers directly about homelessness, long-term camping in public spaces and council’s response to growing safety concerns.

Mr Thompson said it had been understood from the outset that the Mayor and Cr Law would attend if the State Housing Minister Sam O’Connor was also present. But the minister was unavailable so Cr Law and the mayor declined to attend. Mr Thompson said their decision was still deeply disappointing, given alternative arrangements had been offered.

“(Nicklin MP) Marty Hunt had confirmed from the beginning that he would attend, with no strings attached,” Mr Thompson said.

“When it became clear the minister was unavailable, Marty was more than willing – and more than capable – of answering questions and conveying the minister’s position. Despite that, council leadership chose not to attend.”

He said residents were frustrated that an opportunity for open discussion had been lost.

“Affordable housing is clearly a state responsibility,” he said. “But what people are asking about right now is the immediate situation in Nambour – the use of parks and public facilities, safety issues and what council is prepared to do. Those are matters council can and should front up on.”

Mr Thompson said the meeting was deliberately designed to be community-run, with questions from the floor, rather than a structured council forum.

“The whole point was to have everyone in the same room so responsibilities were clear and couldn’t be shifted elsewhere,” he said. “It would have been uncomfortable, but that’s part of public leadership.”

In response to the cancellation, Mr Thompson said plans were now under way to form an independent community committee to coordinate community input, maintain momentum and take pressure off safety advocate Helen Tagg. 

A meeting will be held on January 28 at 6.30pm at the Presynct.

The committee would aim to bring residents, advocates and other stakeholders together to develop practical strategies, support Mrs Tagg and ensure concerns raised with council were clearly documented.

“This is about taking the pressure off a few people and making sure the broader community is properly involved,” he said. “It will be non-political and focused on outcomes.”

‘The community isn’t going away’

Mr Thompson stressed the push was not about kicking people out of town. 

“We’re not talking about excluding people,” he said. “We’re talking about managing certain activities – like long-term camping or structures near playgrounds and public facilities – in a way that applies to everyone and keeps public spaces safe.”

He said council already had powers under local laws to regulate camping and occupation of public land but had so far failed to use them. “The community isn’t going away,” he said. “If anything, their voice is only going to get louder.”

 For more info about the meeting contact Mr Thompson on 0447 110 177. Keep up to date on the Nambour Now Facebook Page.