‘Back to the Future’ proposal to fix Currie Street traffic and parking woes

Photo shows centre parking and double lanes on the right, as well as footpath parking. 

Some things were just better in the old days. One of them was Nambour’s parking and traffic layout. That’s according to former Maroochy Shire Council Deputy Mayor Trevor Thompson. 

And he seems to have a lot of support.

Mr Thompson, who is also raising the prospect of forming a hinterland shire (see separate story), says the authorities only have to look to the past to fix decades-long parking and traffic flow issues in the town’s struggling main street, Currie Street. 

Mr Thompson posted a picture, above, on Facebook, which received rave reviews for its ample parking and bustling streets.  

“That picture shows what it was like back in the days when I was a young fellow,” he said. “Nambour was the place to be and it was the place to shop.

“I know they’ll probably grab the 2022 handbook and say ‘it can’t be done’.  They always say that. They’ll be trying to impose 2022 standards on a town that’s over 100 years old.  

“What I learned in Council was they always say no on the first ask, but you have to keep going back to them. There’s always a way to get around the guys reading out of manuals rather than looking at it logically.” 

The photo  was taken when the Bruce Highway went through town, so traffic flow would have been significant. 

Mr Thompson said he had great sympathy for the traders in Currie Street competing with satellite shopping centres. 

“Sadly, satellite shopping centres are detrimental to CBDs. So we have to entice people back into the main street. And if people are able to park in town then that certainly helps the shopkeepers.”

Mr Thompson said centre-parking would also help to calm traffic flow. “If we have to take a little bit longer to get through town then so be it.”

But he admitted the issue was complicated by Currie Street being a state-controlled road. “And the Council can’t do a thing unless they get State Government approval,” he said

Transport Minister Mark Bailey told the Gazette earlier this year his Department would investigate parking and traffic flow issues in Currie Street. The issue was raised by local businesswoman Deb Lawson who also organised a 1000-strong petition to Council on the matter.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said recently: “We are in the early stages of investigating improvements to Currie Street in Nambour, including consideration for car parking and pedestrian connectivity options.

“We are continuing to work with Sunshine Coast Council while undertaking these investigations, as part of Council’s longer-term Nambour place revitalisation project.”