A former Deputy Mayor of Maroochy Shire Council is calling for a breakaway shire, west of the Bruce, so hinterland residents can run their own local government.

Mr Thompson, who was known as a practical “Mr Fix-it”, during his time in council, said many hinterland ratepayers were annoyed at the attention given to coastal projects like the $100m-plus City Hall and $22.5 million multi-storey car park in Maroochydore CBD at the expense of the hinterland.

“Considering all the continuing criticism of ratepayers in the hinterland about all the funds being spent on the coastal strip, I think it would be a good idea to gauge interest about forming a ‘Hinterland Shire’, west of the Bruce Highway,” he said. “It would  encompass around 14 towns with Nambour holding the Shire Chambers. 

“These super councils are a huge thing to manage, and rural always misses out because the votes aren’t here. The people in the hinterland, they just feel hard done by. You’ve only got to read the social media all the time. Taking the shire chambers out of Nambour, that was a big mistake. That building in Nambour has the capacity to go higher and they could have stayed here. But, no, they went down and built that great Taj Mahal at Maroochydore. Well, they can have their Taj Mahal and we’ll have the existing chambers in Nambour.

“We’ve got to just take it back to the basics, the roads rates and rubbish – don’t worry about the warm and fuzzy stuff at this stage. You’ve got to get the fundamentals right. After a while, super councils like Sunshine Coast Council, they just leave all the little communities behind. 

“The hinterland is sort of a poor cousin. It’s not getting its equal share of money.”

Mr Thompson said the hinterland would have a sufficient ratepayer base to support a council.  A shire west of the Bruce Highway would include 14 towns of about 55,000 people. 

This compared to Noosa Council’s 58,000 people, Gympie City Council’s 53,000, and Somerset Council’s 25,000. “So the numbers are there.

“It could be called Maroochy Shire, as the hinterland is the birthplace of the Maroochy River.”

Nambour would be the biggest town with 11,000 people followed by Yandina with 8500. Other towns included  Woombye, Palmwoods, Eudlo, Mooloolah, Landsborough, Beerwah, Glass House Mountains, Beerburrum, Maleny,  Montville, Mapleton and Kenilworth.

“It would be a much smaller council but the communities would share the same interests and that’s what makes a community,” said Mr Thompson. “Where is the community of interest between Mooloolaba and Kenilworth?”

Born in Nambour, Mr Thompson was on Council from 1997-2004 as Div 6 Cr and then as Deputy Mayor but said he was not looking to make a comeback. 

“I’m just looking to start the conversation. Happy to help the people, but no, I’ve done my time. It’s time for someone younger with new ideas to pass on.”

$22.5 million car park gets green light in Maroochydore

Council has agreed for Walker Maroochydore Developments Pty Ltd to appoint Hutchinson Builders to design and construct an eight-storey multi-deck car park in the Maroochydore City Centre.

The public car park, to be located on Lightning Lane, adjacent to Foundation Place, will provide paid parking spaces for 294 cars, including accessible parking and electric vehicle charging spaces, 39 motorcycle and 28 bicycle spaces, as well as end-of-trip facilities.

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said ParknGo Lightning Lane car park will be a welcome and essential addition to the new city centre.

“The emerging city centre is rapidly becoming a bustling hub with offices, residents, restaurants and a hotel, and this multi-deck car park will further support the growing activity in the area,” Mayor Jamieson said.

Council approved the total project cost to be in the order of $22.5 million.

Construction is scheduled to start in late 2022 with the project anticipated to be completed by December 2023 (weather permitting).

Council is required to progressively deliver approximately 2000 public car parks in the Maroochydore City Centre Priority Development Area in line with the timing of surrounding development.

Parking fees will be considered by council.

The Maroochydore City Centre is being delivered through a partnership between Council, SunCentral Maroochydore Pty Ltd and Walker Maroochydore Developments. 

The agreement will see up to $2.5 billion of private sector investment flow into the project.