Sunshine Valley Gazette

Mick Hughes, left, is pleased to receive news from Rob Skelton of the $2million funding for Nambour PCYC. THE Police Citizens Youth Club at Nambour is in line for an upgrade thanks to a $2 million funding boost. The $2 million is part of $56 million in funding for infrastructure and program delivery at PCYCs throughout Queensland The announcement of the funding allocation, which was part of the state budget, comes at a time when the Palaszczuk government is under pressure from frustrated Queenslanders to act on youth crime. A media release from ALP Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton’s office said $50 million would go into construction of new PCYC facilities and upgrades at existing centres and $6 million towards the delivery of programs such as after dark basketball and boxing in high need areas. “Part of the investment is aimed at delivering programs that have been proven to work in helping at-risk young people turn away from involvement in the criminal justice system,” the statement said. Mr Skelton said he was delighted to be part of a government delivering important upgrades for the community. “Our local PCYC Sunshine Coast has been in need of a facelift for some time,

The school that was founded on reclaimed farming land in 1979 as the Suncoast Christian Academy has come a long way since its early days. Its first building was an old pineapple packing shed. Now Suncoast Christian College has a brand new, state-of-the-art campus. Teachers and students from the Woombye school descended into the brand new primary campus at the official first day of use on Monday (4th September). The new layout provides flexible environments. The new campus offers the most advanced facilities on the Sunshine Coast, replacing classrooms with flexible environments designed to support the school’s ‘teamteaching’ pedagogy and aligning with its move towards a more collaborative style of teaching. The classrooms offer a range of functional design features, such as bleachers, breakout rooms, curtain and acoustic treatments throughout to facilitate a wide variety of learning modes and allowing teachers to modify and tailor lessons to the abilities and needs of students across varying group sizes. Teachers and teacher’s assistants will work together over two levels with students in groups of five up to 75, in years 1 through 6. With an approach focused on stage rather than age, the new layout will provide flexible and collaborative environments where

by Janine Hill The Nambour Place Plan has been described as a good starting point by the president of the local chamber of commerce. Nambour Chamber of Commerce President Mark Bray said the draft concept plans released by the Sunshine Coast Council last month were a step towards a better future for Nambour. The plans for Currie Street, Mill Street, Bury Street, Ann Street and Howard Street involve tree planting, wider footpaths, increased seating, and the installation of some art and water features. The plans show Bury Street between Mill Street and Currie Street one-way and a shared zone for vehicles and pedestrians, a raised signalised crossing will be on Currie Street north of Mill Street, and the three crossing points at the Low and Ann Street junction rolled into one. Mr Bray said Nambour was a town split by a busy four-lane road and creating a cohesive centre was a challenge. “I think there’s a bit of confusion at the moment about where the town centre is. There’s probably a bit of activity around Coles but there’s a number of businesses down Currie, Low, Howard and Ann Streets,” he said. He acknowledged it was difficult for the council to

by Janine Hill FEEDBACK is flowing in to the Sunshine Coast Council on its draft concept plans for revitalising Nambour’s heart. Division 10 Cr David Law said 250 survey responses had been received in the fortnight since the Nambour Place Plan had been released for comment. Cr Law said feedback could be provided online or at the last of five pop-up information sessions which will be held at Nambour Plaza on Thursday 14 September from 9.30am-12.30pm. “I’ve been to two out of three pop-ups so far and the interest from the community has been great. I’ve had some great conversations,” he said. “I guess the overall theme coming through is that people are very positive about the concepts, are very positive that work is being planned and developed for Nambour, and they are positive about the pathway connections for people getting around town and more easily across Currie Street, in particular. “They are the same things that I’m hearing and from some of the conversations with other staff and what they are seeing on the surveys. Overall, the feedback is positive.” Cr Law said improvements to the Howard, Currie and Mill Street crossings would improve connectivity between the east and

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

Radio and TV personality Dan Anstey, above, will be joined by fellow Nambourians Hollywood producer Dan Munday and Powderfinger drummer Jon Coghill, below, for a national Nambour & hinterland Weekend Today Show promotion. by Cameron Outridge An Aussie rock drummer, a Hollywood heavyweight and a TV and radio personality are coming back to their hometown this weekend to give Nambour national coverage on Channel Nine.  In a major coup for the town, organised by I Am Nambour ambassador Rhonda Billett, Powderfinger drummer Jon Coghill and Hollywood producer Dan Munday (Survivor, The Apprentice and Real Housewives producer and 4-times Emmy nominee) will join Weekend Today Show weather host Dan Anstey live from Nambour on Saturday September 2.   Everyone is invited to the Nambour Forecourt (Council’s Eddie de Vere Building in Currie Street) for the Saturday special featuring the three former Nambour High students.  The local coverage continues on September 3 with a Weekend Today Father’s Day Special from Sixty6 Acres Woombye. “I can’t believe how well this has come together,” said Rhonda who has worked around the clock for weeks to help bring the showcase together. “The glitz of the Today Show cameras and lights will promote all things Nambour

Andrew Pitcher and Rhonda Billett are glad to host Dan Anstey, inset, and the Today Show at Andrew’s Sixty6 Acres homestay for Father’s Day.  by Janine Hill THE Today Show’s weekend weatherman Dan Anstey will combine forecasts with Father’s Day to put his old stomping ground in the national spotlight. The former Nambour High dux will present the program’s weekend weather reports from Nambour and Woombye on September 1 and 2. Dan lives in Brisbane where he hosts the Triple M breakfast show during the week but tries to get up to the Sunshine Coast, where his parents and a younger brother live, about 12 times a year. His father, Doctor Chris Anstey, and mother, Janeen, a physiotherapist, still live in the family home at Nambour Heights. Dan has fond memories of growing up a Nambour kid. “We’d ride our bikes around with the neighbourhood kids. In those days, there were still some vacant blocks around Burnside and tracks and jumps would be made.” There were family trips to the Big Pineapple and the neighbouring macadamia plantation, and movies and maths tournaments at the Nambour Civic Centre, which has now become the Majestic cinema at C-Square. By the end of

Nambour Forecourt Live celebrated its two year anniversary in style on Friday August 25. Originally launched as a Council initiative to activate the Nambour Special Entertainment Precinct the event has grown into a much-loved monthly gathering for Nambour.  “Nambour Forecourt Live has been a fantastic monthly event that showcases not only the world-class local talent we have here on the Coast, but also highlights the great local support for live music within our community,” said event programmer and promoter Andrea Kirwin from Peace Run Records.  “The social events calendar in Nambour continues to grow with new venues opening including a revamped Small Change now located on the corner of Bury and Currie St extending their trading hours to include Friday and Saturday nights and featuring live music,” she said.  “Also Dance, Art Etc have been hosting some fantastic events since their recent opening (next door to Small Change). And of course the Old Ambulance Station and Black Box Theatre have been a cultural hot spot with Bad Habit records opening up next door.”  Andrea admitted it had been a slow burn over the past two years “but the Nambour Special Entertainment Precinct is definitely reaching a new level of excitement

Horizon Festival promises to celebrate the art, culture and creativity that reflects the vibrant spirit of Nambour. Nambour’s Old Ambo will be buzzing with creativity during the much-anticipated Horizon Festival from 25 August to 3 September right across the Sunshine Coast. The arts and culture celebration showcases a range of events that celebrate the essence of Nambour and its thriving art scene. • Kicking things off is the dazzling Glambour launch party, on Saturday, August 26, from 6pm to 9pm. The Old Ambo will be transformed into a glitzy hub of glamour and music. Guests are encouraged to dress up and join in the lip-sync battle for an evening of fun and extravagance. Hosted by a talented lineup, including Andrea Kirwin, Jess Harlen, and Ketakii Jewson-Brown, Glambour guarantees to be a night to remember. And what are they launching? Unapologetically Dressed and Nonsensual, two exciting free exhibitions that on show throughout the festival from August 26 – September 3. • For the fashion enthusiasts, the Unapologetically Dressed exhibition showcases the unique street style of Nambour. The exhibition captures the eclectic and unapologetic fashion offerings found in Nambour’s streets and celebrates the Coast’s self-proclaimed “fashion capital” with the same flair as