A community petition supported by the Nambour Now advocacy group

Why we're petitioning again: In March 2026, almost 1000 community members signed a petition over just a few days opposing the proposed sale of the Howard Street car park. The Sunshine Coast Council deferred its decision and committed to community consultation. This new petition will make sure the community's voice is heard — and that Council's deferral leads to real action, not just delay.

To the Sunshine Coast Mayor, CEO, and Councillors,

We, the undersigned, respectfully petition Council to retain the Howard Street car park in Nambour as a valued public asset and rule this site out for development.

Reasons:

The Howard Street car park is essential public infrastructure supporting Nambour's town centre, local businesses, workers, and visitors.

Its central location makes it one of the most accessible and heavily used parking areas in the CBD, and loss of this facility would directly reduce foot traffic and undermine the viability of local businesses. And for residents with disability or limited mobility, central accessible parking is not just a convenience — it is a condition of being able to participate in town life at all.

There are no reliable equivalent alternatives. Nearby options such as the plaza car park are privately owned and cannot be depended upon — particularly during flooding or severe weather events when access elsewhere is disrupted.

Loss of this car park would reduce accessibility and undermine local economic activity.

Retaining central, accessible public parking is fundamental to Nambour's future as a thriving regional town centre. 

We therefore request that Council:

• Retain the Howard Street car park as vital public parking
• Protect accessible, central parking in Nambour's CBD
• Prioritise alternative locations when considering future development                  

Lead Petitioner: Sarah Vortman on behalf of the Nambour Now advocacy group
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How you can help

Signing this petition is just the first step.

You can also contact Sunshine Coast councillors directly to let them know your views. Personal emails from community members have a real impact on decision-making. Council decisions are determined by a vote of councillors, so hearing directly from community members can make a real difference.

Suggested email template:

Subject: Protect Howard Street Car Park – Nambour CBD

Dear Councillors,

I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed development of the Howard Street car park in Nambour.

This car park is essential public infrastructure supporting access to the town centre for local businesses, workers, residents, and visitors. Its central location makes it one of the most important and practical parking areas in the CBD.

There are no reliable equivalent alternatives. Nearby options such as the plaza are privately owned and cannot be relied upon, particularly during flooding or severe weather.

The loss of this car park would have real impacts across the community, including for people with disability, carers, older residents, and those who rely on convenient access to services. It would also place additional pressure on local businesses and reduce accessibility to the town centre.

I support the need for well-planned housing in our region. However, this location is not suitable for redevelopment given its importance to accessibility, local economic activity, and the functioning of the CBD.

I respectfully ask that Council:

Retain the Howard Street car park as public parking
Rule out this site for development
Prioritise more suitable locations for future projects
I would appreciate your response outlining your position on this matter.

Kind regards,
[Full name]
[Suburb]

How to send your email

To ensure councillors are aware of community concerns, you can send your email to multiple councillors at once.

Simply copy the addresses below into the “To" field of your email:

mayor@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
jenny.broderick@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
terry.landsberg@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
tim.burns@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
joe.natoli@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
winston.johnston@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
christian.dickson@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
ted.hungerford@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
taylor.bunnag@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
maria.suarez@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
david.law@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au