One venue, zero support: Lack of SEP backup leaves Presynct hanging
Cherry and Rusty Nyman at The Presynct: “Two years on, we’re still the only new venue. What does that say?”
Rusty Nyman says Nambour’s Special Entertainment Precinct was “a stamp on paper and nothing else”, leaving her venue carrying the load while the town’s promised night-time economy stalls.
Miss Nyman, who co-owns The Presynct with her daughter Cherry, said the SEP designation was meant to make Nambour a hub for live music and arts. It introduced council oversight of amplified-music levels and clearer rules for new development. But the follow-through support never came.
“It’s really disappointing,” she said. “Council declared the SEP, ticked the boxes and then stopped. Investors look at the fees and the risks and walk away. Two years on, we’re still the only new venue. What does that say?”
She said “material change of use” charges remained a major barrier. “One space we looked at worked out around $54,000 just to change the use. Why would anyone drop that kind of money on a building they don’t own?” Council has offered a 50 percent reduction at times, but Miss Nyman said it barely dented the start-up costs once building-code triggers kick in.
Late-night transport is the other handbrake. “After 10pm people can’t get in or out. We were told maybe a local bus around Nambour and Burnside. But our crowd comes from Caloundra, Noosa, Buderim. We need services that get people safely to hubs like surf clubs, stations or major taxi zones. Otherwise they just go to Ocean Street.”
Perception of safety is compounding the problem. “It’s got markedly worse in the last few months. People read about it on Facebook, drive through and see the tents and the BMW on the side of the road and decide not to come. Our venue is safe, cameras everywhere, strict rules. But that doesn’t matter if patrons won’t risk the trip or can’t get a ride home.”
Miss Nyman said The Presynct had survived “only because we own the space”. “If we were leasing, we wouldn’t have made it. And if we’d set up on Ocean Street or in Maroochydore, I honestly believe we’d be thriving.”
She stressed that her criticism was about delivering what was promised, not attacking the concept. “An SEP will work. It protects venues from the constant threat of noise complaints through liquor licensing and puts that regulation with council. But the badge means nothing without transport, investor incentives and visible action on safety.”
Nambour, she said, has the ingredients for success. “This town has soul – a gritty, real vibe. It could be a rich arts and music hub that the Coast is proud of. People tell me in our venue they feel like they’re in New York or inner-Melbourne. Take what we’ve built and drop it in Maroochydore and we’d be packed every night.”
What she wants now is clarity and urgency. “Why make it a Special Entertainment Precinct if you’re not going to support it to grow? Give investors reductions on fees, make venues accepted development without a material change of use, fix late-night transport to regional hubs, and tackle the street-level issues that are scaring people off. Don’t let us be the only ones holding the fort.”
Queensland’s Night-Life Economy Commissioner, John “JC” Collins, has been tasked with strengthening the state’s night-time sector. Miss Nyman said she had recently met with him and hopes his office can help align delivery with the original promise in Nambour.
“Council has the power to turn this around,” she said. “Back the precinct properly – or be honest with the community about why it hasn’t happened.”
