Private investment in Nambour tops $100m: ‘now government must step up’

I Am Nambour chair Rhonda Billett.

Nambour is undergoing a wave of private investment worth more than $100 million, sparking calls for government to match the momentum with overdue support for the town’s CBD.

I Am Nambour chair Rhonda Billett said the town had not seen this scale of investment attraction in decades.

“We have not seen this much investment and interest in Nambour since the 1980s and there is even more investor interest coming over the next 12 months for Nambour, it’s exciting times ahead,” Ms Billett said.

She said community groups including I Am Nambour, Nambour Chamber of Commerce and Nambour Tram Co had worked hard in recent years to promote the town’s strengths and appeal to visitors and investors.

“We have curated content specifically to attract visitors as well as investors to the region and give them a reason to visit and invest here, whilst also promoting the fresh, new vibes in Nambour,” she said. “We are achieving some great outcomes as a result and there is still more investment to come for the Nambour CBD.”

Ms Billett then reminded the audience that Sunshine Coast Council’s most recent budget overlooked Nambour’s CBD, leaving the region short-changed.

“Division 10 is the largest of all Sunshine Coast Council divisions and constantly misses out on solid budget commitment. Nambour’s CBD was heavily overlooked and under-funded recently in the latest Sunshine Coast Council budget in particular,” she said.

“With this type of private investment now coming into Nambour, with a value exceeding over $100 million dollars, the past attitudes to government expenditure in this part of the region is going to need to change. The new Sunshine Coast Council CEO, Mayor, sitting councillors and the executive leadership team now need to do their bit, quickly and without fuss for the future of Nambour’s CBD.”

Projects currently approved or underway include the $21.5 million C-Square redevelopment, a multi-million-dollar luxury cinema fit-out, a $50 million CBD dwellings and retail proposal, and a revitalisation project for the heritage-listed Mill House precinct.

Other projects include a multi-storey Howard Street childcare and education facility with a food garden, cooking school and studios for yoga and music.

Ms Billett said the investments came at a crucial time.

“Nambour has great bones, we have all of the good stuff here… We are also hosting an Olympic Event here in Nambour in 2032, being mountain biking, so these types of private investments and interest in the CBD could not have come at a better time for the town.”

Significant Approved Applications

Significant Approved Applications and Current Development Applications Lodged for Nambour’s CBD at a glance:

• C Square Nambour, Currently under construction.

• Million dollar luxury cinema fitout undertaken by Sandran completed.

• Iron Chef Pty Ltd (Dirk Long, Matt Evans, owners of Mooloolaba Wharf Precinct and Tony Kelly) - Application Lodged. Multi million-dollar development application and revitalisation project for Nambour’s heritage listed Mill House precinct in Mill Street, Mill Lane and Bury Streets Nambour. 

• ARM Property Investment Group - Application Lodged: Approx. $50 million proposed development application for CBD dwellings and adjoining retail space Corner of Currie and Bury St Nambour. 

• Mariara Property Group Pty Ltd - Application Approved, Evolution Child Care: Five-storey, multi-million dollar child care facility approved including food garden, cooking school, yoga and music studios in Howard St.