Ambitious CBD plan stirs debate over priorities, parking

Artist’s impression of the Ann Street hub.

by Janine Hill

THE Nambour (Namba) Place Plan has arrived on most local business operators like a surprise birthday present: unexpected, not what they really wanted, but better than nothing.

The plan, released on 23 August, focuses on the Howard and Currie Street intersection, and Bury, Mill and Ann Streets.

The council media release which announced it spoke about greener streets, shade, art installations and wider pathways. But there was no mention of what businesses in Nambour have repeatedly asked for – more parking.

Trees in the concept drawings make it difficult to see how much will remain of existing street-side parking spaces.

The Gazette approached a number of small business operators in the centre of Nambour to seek their opinions on the plan.

None of them had been aware the plan had been in the making and some did not know it existed while others were disillusioned after years of wheel-spinning by authorities to care.

“I’ve been here for 20 years and there’s been so much talk and (yet) nothing but it’s good to see young ones getting in there and giving their opinion,” said one business owner.

Another preferred not to get involved after having seen lofty council ideas achieve little for business elsewhere.

However, he did suggest that “given the way some of them come around corners,” traffic calming would be in order if the council wanted to proceed with planting trees, as per the plan.

Lee Hillman, of Backbeat Records in Howard Street, was pleased to see some move towards reviving Nambour but queried the council’s priorities.

“I think anything’s good at the moment but if they’ve got money for that, surely they’ve got the money for parking,” he said.

Mr Hillman questioned the provision of street seating and outdoor dining when Nambour lacked shows and restaurants to attract people.

“I’m for it but it’s probably putting the cart before the horse. There’s got to be a reason for people to sit around,” he said.

Vicki Arthur, of Mr Beesley’s vintage clothing store in Howard Street, learned of the plan when council officers dropped off some flyers the day after its release.

Ms Arthur was disappointed the plan did not include centre or extra parking on Currie Street and was confused about the attention paid to Bury Street given the council had relocated its headquarters to Maroochydore, pulling workers out of town.

She was also bemused by the forecourt upgrade. “Haven’t they already done up there?”

Ms Arthur said Nambour had a theme when the old sugar mill was in town but there was confusion about whether it should make the most of its heritage or imitate Melbourne’s street scene and the plan did nothing to cement a direction.

“We need to have a conversation. We need to have a vote,” she said.

Paul Vicary, of Queen Street Meats, who traded through an upgrade of that street some years ago, did not feel that losing a number of parking spaces for trees and a wider footpath had achieved very much.

“Do we really need a 4 metre wide footpath? You go to the city, the CBD, and they don’t have footpaths that wide,” he said.

Paul felt centre parking in Currie Street would be of more benefit to local businesses than wider footpaths and more trees.

Paul warned other businesses to beware of the disruption that was likely to occur while work was carried out.

He said Queen Street business owners had not known from one day to the next if the street would be open or closed for work and what was supposed to have been three months’ work had dragged on for about a year.

Nambour Plan key changes:

• Bury Street will be one-way between Mill Lane and Currie Streets and will become a “shared zone”;

• Left and right hand turning lanes at Mill and Currie Streets will be removed;

• A new raised and signalised pedestrian crossing on Currie Street just north of Mill Street;

• A raised and signalised “scramble crossing” to replace the three separate crossings at the Ann and Low Street intersection;

• A raised crossing from the corner of Sydney and Howard Streets to Ann Street;

• The Ann Street roadway will be narrowed to allow for a wider footpath, al fresco dining, extra seating, raised planters, a water feature and art work;

• An upgrade to the council building forecourt.