Nambour CBD Plan pushes on despite funding blocks

How Council would like to see the Howard / Mill / Currie Street intersection. 

Cr David Law says Council is proposing a raised pedestrian crossing to calm Currie St traffic. 

by Cameron Outridge

Council’s much-anticipated Nambour Place Plan is gaining some traction, despite receiving no funding from the Department of Transport and Main Roads. 

Division 10 Councillor David Law told a recent Nambour Chamber of Commerce Coffee Catchup event at Small Change Espresso about the next steps for the project, which would particularly target improvements to the busy Currie Street, Mill Street, and Howard Street intersection. The focus will be on revitalising the town’s core and addressing pressing pedestrian safety concerns.

The intersection was identified as the community’s top priority, and construction is expected to begin next year.

“We are getting very close to the first stage of construction,” Cr Law said, acknowledging the community’s involvement in the plan over the past three years. 

A key part of the Nambour Place Plan involved calming traffic and improving pedestrian access at the heart of the CBD, which has long been a challenge for the town. Cr Law highlighted the council’s efforts to engage the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) in this process. 

“We’ve been trying to get TMR to come on board with us because that road (Currie St) is their road,” he said. Despite the challenges  Cr Law emphasised the council’s commitment to making the area safer for pedestrians. “Stage one of the project is about doing the most essential parts first, and that will be providing a pedestrian crossing so people can cross this four-lane highway safely and confidently all of the time,” Cr Law said.

The proposed raised pedestrian crossing aims to not only improve safety but also encourage more foot traffic to the area. “It will also see the speed of vehicles slowing down because what will happen there starting next year will be the first raised pedestrian crossing on a four-lane road anywhere in Queensland.”

However, he expressed frustration that TMR had yet to commit funding for the project, saying, “They’re not helping us.”

Cr Law also mentioned ongoing discussions with newly elected Nicklin MP Marty Hunt to advocate for further support from the state government. “I’ll be chatting with Marty Hunt about this because I found out this morning that the Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg is just up the road at Buderim. So I’m feeling hopeful,” he said.

In addition to council funding of $1.4 million, the Queensland Government has contributed $300,000 through the South East Queensland Community Stimulus Program, but Cr Law pointed out that more was needed to fully realise the project’s potential.

“That really won’t do what we need to do on Currie Street,” Cr Law said, but added that it will help create “that pedestrian crossing across the state government’s TMR road” and improve connectivity across the CBD. 

“You’ll be able to feel far more comfortable to get across the town, and I believe that’s very important to increase the foot traffic to all the current businesses and the new businesses that are on their way,” he said.

The upgrades are part of a broader effort to revitalise Nambour and attract investment to the area. 

Cr Law highlighted significant investments, including a major  upgrade to the C Square building, which will house a new state government mental health unit, and the reopening of the Nambour Cinema & Event Centre. “There are a number of exciting investments in Nambour,” he said, encouraging local businesses to remain optimistic about the future.

With construction expected to begin next year, Cr Law urged the community to remain engaged and hopeful. “Every small step adds up,” he said. “If you can get the small things right, that’s a really great start.”