New City Hall full steam ahead despite Nambour job concerns

The $59.6 million City Hall building will be completed in 2022 but will pull much-needed permanent Council employees from Nambour.

Sunshine Coast Council’s City Hall project is going ahead despite concerns before the recent election that it was not the right time to be moving services and employees out of Nambour. 

Construction will start next month and will be completed in the second half of 2022.

“Having had the debate and seeing the reports presented it seems impossible to reverse the decision made by the last Council so now it’s about making the best that we can from it,” said Division 10 Cr David Law.

“It’s about mitigating the impact of the future loss of staff in Nambour and making sure that over the next few years we are able to have some sort of future use for the building to ensure similar levels of employment.

“In the past there was talk that all Council employees would be leaving Nambour, but I am reassured that there will be around 200 council employees staying and working in Nambour as their base.

“That’s certainly a better situation than I was expecting. I’m pleased with that outcome and now I have two years to propose a good use out of the Council owned building in the middle of town.”

Council anticipates some of its operations will start from the new City Hall by July 2022.

“This includes council retaining a significant presence in Nambour. As the City Hall development continues and logistical decisions are made, Council will consider uses for the operational footprint in Nambour, noting the services to the community will remain.

“The Nambour Activation Plan provides a framework to activate the streets and places of Nambour and in February a planning scheme amendment designated the CBD area a special entertainment precinct.”

Council says the building will be a signature civic building in the Maroochydore city centre. 

“It will be a major catalyst for the development of the city centre’s commercial core and will play a significant role in activating the area.”

Sunshine Coast Council Project Director Frances Cayley said local construction company McNab was named the preferred supplier to design and construct the $59.6 million building.

Ms Cayley said Sunshine Coast City Hall would be home to about 600 council employees and was part of a region-wide workplace strategy to service the community by providing the right people, delivering the right services at the right location.

“Consistent with council’s previous decisions, council will retain staff and facilities at both Nambour and Caloundra,” she said.