"Nambour can’t afford to lose any more workers," says new Div 10 rep
The proposed $60-$80 million dollar City Hall planned for Maroochydore.
New Division 10 Councillor David Law is under no illusions about the challenges the new council will face when it leads the community recovery in the wake of COVID-19.
Div 10 Cr David Law wants to understand why council wants to move “all those workers out of Nambour”.
“Before COVID-19 I had a bit of a picture of what things might look like if I was successful and I was starting out in the role,” Cr Law said. “But that picture has changed completely as we all get used to the day-by-day restrictions and what might be coming next.”
Cr Law said council would have to re-evaluate many issues currently on the table, including the $60-$80 million Sunshine Coast City Hall at Maroochydore city centre.
“Some of those major projects will have to be looked at,” he said. “At this stage I don’t have the level of detail to know whether it’s even possible (to cancel the project), in terms of what point things have got to contractually.”
Cr Law said the new building represented a financial burden to the Coast and a major blow to Nambour in particular.
“Throughout my campaign I was certainly wanting to understand why council was building new chambers and why it wanted to move all those employees out of Nambour. ... the locals who work here, between 350 and 400 people. That’s not a part of Nambour life that we want to change or can afford to change. And even more so now as the economy is likely to decline. When we start to emerge from this crisis having those 300 or 400 people there is going to be a vital part of the local recovery.”
Cr Law said it would be wise to save the money especially since the facilities in Nambour and Caloundra seemed to be able to perform the role in their current form.
“I would certainly be looking to review them. From a Nambour perspective it’s going to be incredibly bad timing if we’re looking to reinvigorate and revitalise the Nambour community and economy again and you take away a significant part of the local workforce.”
Cr Law has lived in Nambour for 19 years. He was the first manager of the Children’s Therapy Centre and has run disability services across Australia in the not-for-profit sector. “I stand for strong communities, environmentally and socially responsible development, the re-creation of Nambour town centre, mental and physical health and wellbeing, the creative arts and equity for our hinterland towns.
“We bought a block of land and built a house in Nambour 19 years ago and we still live in the same house, 15 minutes walk from town. I’ve seen the town in much better, more vibrant times and it is sad to see how it is at the moment. We need to support our business es to be able to continue with the COVID crisis.”
Cr Law said a bright spot on the horizon was Nambour’s recent designation as a Special Entertainment Precinct. “That is one of the most significant things to happen in Nambour in recent times,” he said. It will be a critical part of Nambour’s rejuvenation.
“There are people who have plans ready to go and I hope they will be able to continue with those plans and help Nambour really take advantage of this entertainment zoning.”
Cr Law said the zoning could potentially bring new opportunities connected with the Nambour Heritage Tramway project which he also saw as an essential part of Nambour’s future.
“It may represent an opportunity for the tram to run in the evenings and include the tram as part of the entertainment concept of what Nambour can become. I don’t know if it’s possible but I’d be wanting to connect with the special project officer and obviously the Reimagine Nambour team. They will be some of the first people that I will be connecting with to see where things are up to and how best we can continue with that work, bearing in mind that we now live with COVID-19.”
Cr Law thanked the voters for trusting him. “I will make sure I am always contactable and will make sure I follow up with all questions and enquiries. I’m very aware that Division 10 covers a large, diverse area and is more than just Nambour.
“I will be out in the whole of the region and making sure that projects currently under way in the rural areas can continue. Each town has its unique appeal and each is a unique community.”
— Cameron Outridge