Nambour CBD Creative Renewal Program

Process

We proposed a range of creative ideas in the public realm which met the terms of the grant, including three pieces of public art and identified five locations for the installation of artistic lighting. In total eight interventions were planned.

POMO commenced by writing a community engagement plan that brought locals into the decision making process and allowed them to have a say in what outcomes they wanted to see in their town. This engagement program exceeded expectations and gathered nearly 50% more responses than anticipated.

We then worked closely with a lighting designer and a digital light artist to co-design creative lighting works at five locations spanning private land, council owned land and State Government owned land.

POMO facilitated a rigorous process for the creation of three items of public art which was backed by council and saw artists invited to pitch for the work. A stakeholder voting panel chose the final artists and the community were given a say in the final works via an engagement portal and face to face pop ups run by volunteers.

POMO worked with the visual artists through the design process and helped manage requirements such as the integration of lighting, structural engineering and accessibility compliance.

During delivery we managed hold points, provided advice and assistance and co-ordinated a range of complex issues spanning private/public partnerships and leasing agreements, maintenance, access, stakeholder management, WH&S, site constraints and utility access.

In regards to the electrical and lighting works, we created and ran a public tender process and managed the contractual appointment of the winning tenderer.

Project Outcomes

The completed works were handed over to council in December 2022 and included:

Lighting

• The Old Ambo Arts Centre in Howard Street Nambour features a custom made light installation artwork which is facade mounted, invisible by day, made from recessed LED lights which run in 15 different programmed movement sequences each night and feature a programmable interface for custom interactivity and a manual “party mode” for opening nights and events.
   
• The Petrie Creek Bridge on Currie Street that has custom made steel rails on each side that contain colour changing flood-proof LED lights that are connected to street lighting and run each night according to a colour changing sequence providing enhanced safety outcomes and a entry statement to the town.
   
• A pre existing mural on Clarks Centre on Howard Street now has lighting to the facade.
   
• A pre existing mural on Civic Way at the Train Station now has lighting to the facade.
   
• Colour changing lights have been installed in the Lions Park on Currie Street which highlight the natural assets of the existing fig trees.
   

Public Art

• A sculpture on Howard St called Bunya Nut by Finn Cossar and Miles Allen made from railway pins which tells the story of the local sugar cane history and speaks to a indigenous local food source. POMO helped coordinate consultation with local First Nations representatives for this work with assistance from council.
   
• A sculpture on Currie St called Fire in the Heart by Simone Eisler that contains a first of its kind lighting installation that enables the heart to “beat” coloured light at night when someone walks past it or pauses.
   
• A two part metal sculpture on Currie St called Field of Vision by Petalia Humphreys which cleverly interacts with the viewer through an optical effect made visible as the viewer moves around the work.

POMO navigated all complexities around installation including working with council to manage site constraints, services identification, installation management and making good each site with rectification works.

This was a highly complex project with a wide range of stakeholders and interface with state, local and federal authorities. The project was successfully completed and handed over to council in December 2022.

Sustainability Outcomes

Social Sustainability Outcomes

• Enhanced Public Safety and Night-time Economy: The primary goal of using creative lighting is to make the CBD feel safer and more welcoming after dark. This encourages more people to visit in the evening, increasing foot traffic for local businesses and fostering a more vibrant night-time economy.
• Deep Community Ownership and Engagement: The project’s success was built on a robust community engagement plan that exceeded participation targets. By involving locals in decision-making and having a stakeholder panel with community members vote on the final artists, the program ensures the outcomes are genuinely desired by and reflect the values of the residents, leading to a strong sense of ownership.
• Celebration of Local Identity and Culture: The commissioned artworks are deeply rooted in Nambour’s identity. The “Bunya Nut” sculpture, for example, tells stories of local sugar cane history and Indigenous food sources, while other pieces are interactive and playful. This public art reinforces the unique character of the town and celebrates its heritage.
• Supports the Local Creative Economy: The program provided significant opportunities for local and regional artists through a formal commissioning process. This directly invests in the local creative sector, providing income and a high-profile platform for artists to showcase their talents, which helps to retain creative professionals in the region.
• Cultural Inclusivity: The specific consultation with local First Nations representatives for the “Bunya Nut” sculpture demonstrates a commitment to cultural sustainability. It ensures that Indigenous stories are told accurately and respectfully, contributing to a more inclusive and culturally aware public space.

Environmental Sustainability Outcomes

• Energy-Efficient Technology: The use of modern, programmable LED lighting for the artistic installations is an inherently sustainable choice. LEDs consume significantly less energy than traditional lighting technologies, reducing the overall operational carbon footprint of the CBD’s public lighting.
• Highlighting Natural Assets: The project in Lions Park uses coloured lights to illuminate existing fig trees. This approach enhances the urban environment by integrating technology with natural assets, celebrating the town’s green spaces and potentially increasing appreciation for the urban canopy without requiring new construction.
• Use of Reclaimed Materials: The “Bunya Nut” sculpture is a clear example of upcycling, as it was fabricated from reclaimed railway pins. This practice diverts industrial waste from landfill, avoids the environmental impact of producing new steel, and creatively embeds a piece of local industrial history into the artwork itself.