Almost 1000 sign Nambour petition after council moves to sell carpark

More than 970 people have backed a petition launched by Nambour resident Sarah Vortman opposing the sale of council-owned land on Howard Street to Coast2Bay Housing Group.

Sunshine Coast Council last Wednesday voted to defer a decision on the proposed sale of the car park on the corner of Howard and Sydney Streets for eight weeks following strong community backlash. The community response has underscored community concerns about parking shortages in Nambour, despite council maintaining it was not an issue.

"The response to the petition shows how strongly the community feels about this,” Ms Vortman said. "The deferral gives council an opportunity to listen and work with the community to find a solution that addresses housing needs without creating new barriers. I think people are really hoping this will be a genuine consultation process.

Ms Vortman told ABC Radio last week that Nambour could not afford to lose such a heavily used and accessible parking area. Her opinion has also attracted a lot of support on local Facebook social comments. 

“A lot of locals rely on that car park, particularly people with disabilities and the elderly,” Ms Vortman  told ABC Radio. “It’s close to health services, chemists and community facilities, and there are very few disability parks in that area.”

She said the car park was frequently full and essential for families like hers.

“We use it all the time. I live with elderly parents and have family members with disabilities, so access is really important,” she said.

Ms Vortman said alternative parking options were limited and often unsuitable. “That area is quite hilly, and side street parking is scarce. For people with reduced mobility, it’s not just inconvenient — it can be unsafe,” she said.

She warned the loss of parking would also impact nearby businesses.

“There’s a flow-on effect. If people can’t access the area, businesses will feel it,” she said.

Ms Vortman  said the response from the community had been overwhelming, with support from residents, businesses and service providers.

The  proposal recommends selling the site directly to Coast2Bay Housing Group, rather than through a public tender process, to facilitate affordable housing delivery.

While acknowledging the need for more housing, Ms Vortman  said better consultation was needed.

“We all agree affordable housing is important, but we need to make sure we’re making the right decision and understanding the impacts,” she said.

She is calling on council to use the deferral period to engage with the community and consider alternative locations.

• Council will revisit the proposal following the eight-week deferral. Residents can sign the petition at https://www.change.org/p/save-howard-street-car-park-nambour-deserves-better