After 23 years in business and painstaking campaigning to bring a new lease of life to Nambour, local businesswoman Rhonda Billett is filled with optimism about the direction the town is taking. 

The owner of Uptown Hair Studio and Tram Co Director has been working behind the scenes for the past three months to help bring four organisations to the table for monthly meetings with Sunshine Coast Council aimed at growing the local economy.   

Ms Billett said Nambour Chamber of Commerce, Reimagine Nambour, Tram Co and Nambour Retailers Group were working alongside Div 10 Cr David Law, Mayor Mark Jamieson and key council staff. The aim is to help ensure everything they do aligns with Council’s  vision for Nambour with a particular focus on the Nambour CBD revitalisation.

It’s not about reinventing the wheel but working with the plans, groups and resources that were already in place, such as the recently-announced Nambour Activation Plan.   

As well, Ms Billett said Nambour had been identified in Council’s 2024 Planning Scheme Draft as one of only three key Economic Hubs on the Sunshine Coast.

“Our organisations want to move forward with these projects for Nambour, taking into account Sunshine Coast Council’s Draft 2024 Planning Scheme for Nambour and Surrounds whilst working with Sunshine Coast Council’s Corporate Plan for 2022-26 and the Nambour Activation Plan.  

“We, as a collective, want to live up to those expectations and deliver some positive results to our community, as our region grows. This is our opportunity to show the world what Nambour has, with so much to offer.

“We are incredibly lucky in Nambour to not only have a proactive community but also, community groups committed to delivering new Nambour concepts and events for Nambour to be proud of and enjoy.” 

The groups will leverage off the established IAmNambour brand, developed in 2021 by Reimagine Nambour.  

Top three priorities

The top three priorities include the following:

1.Nambour Web site including: 

• What’s On In Nambour 

• What’s Here in Nambour eg Parks, Public Spaces

• Development / Investor pathways to enable better economic connection for growth and Sustainability for Nambour business

• Parking in Nambour 

• Special Entertainment Precinct Activation 

• Information pack to attract future businesses 

2.Nambour Lowe St Activation

• Town Square activation - encomasing IAmNambour Safe

• Community Activities /Events in the Town Square 

• Street and Building Beautification

• Activation of the old Jaxons Cafe site

3. Nambour Events 

• More Nambour Showgrounds Events 

• Nambour Library Forecourt Events

• Sunday Rummager’s Markets 

• Various Pop-up Music Events 

• Skate Park Events & Food Truck Fest

• Nambour CBD Sunday Markets 

“With our plans starting to take shape, the future of Nambour is going to be full of vibrancy for current and future generations to enjoy,” said Ms Billett.

“I’ve done community work on and off in Nambour over the years of having a business here and I was so thrilled on this occasion for all of our groups to be able to get together and create a plan that lives up to council’s expectation as a economical hub in the Sunshine Coast region and to be able to instigate some changes that the community want to see. 

“Nambour is a large catchment area and we want to focus on events that stimulate the economy and support business and make Nambour a vibrant place to live, work and play.”

Visit iamnambour.com.au or reimaginenambour.com.au