Shopkeeper calls for action on Currie St vandalism, neglect

A business owner on Currie Street, Nambour, has voiced their frustration over the ongoing issues of graffiti, vandalism and general neglect in the town’s main street.

The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous is disheartened by the deteriorating conditions which also included shopping carts, clothes & underwear left strewn along the main street and overflowing rubbish bins.

They described the dismal state of vacant sections of Currie Street, highlighting broken windows, graffiti, empty shop-fronts, urine odour and stains, rubbish, peeling posters, debris and an overall mess.

“Today as I walked back from a wonderful local place, Nambour Social (Cafe), my heart sank looking at the view our locals and visitors are greeted with,” the owner said on Facebook.

They said the unsightly conditions were demoralising and detrimental to the businesses that remained, especially as so many had moved on, leaving vacant shop-fronts.

“Our neighbours had to remove huge graffiti from all their windows recently,” they said.

The owner called on the Sunshine Coast Council, and property owners to take action and address the issues plaguing Currie Street and its empty shop-fronts.

“We need the Sunshine Coast Council to step up and see how ugly this small strip has become,” she said. “Sometimes it’s the building owners that need a reminder too, as empty spaces shouldn’t mean dishevelled or perhaps the Real Estate agents need to realise their brand and message is in the midst of this grime.”

They said while shopkeepers did their best to maintain their properties, the broader upkeep of the street required a coordinated effort. “Surely our streets need to have a level of upkeep and ongoing cleanliness.”

The community, the local council, property owners, real estate agents and others are being called upon to address these pressing concerns to restore the appeal of Currie Street for both locals and visitors.

A Nambour shopkeeper says problems associated with empty shops is having a demoralising effect on the main street.