Strategic Urban Renewal: Nambour 20/20 Vision

The Context

Nambour, once a thriving agricultural hub, faced significant economic and social stagnation following the closure of the Moreton Sugar Mill and the Bruce Highway bypass. The town suffered from a fractured identity, underutilised commercial real estate, and a CBD disconnected from its residents. With population growth predicted to exceed 50% over two decades, Nambour required more than aesthetic upgrades; it needed a rigorous 20-year structural master plan to transition from a transit town to a self-sustaining residential and creative precinct.

The Collaboration

POMO spearheaded this initiative as a pro-bono strategic intervention, designed to unify the community and provide a clear roadmap for the Sunshine Coast Council. We operated as lead urban strategists, synthesising data from government reports, economic modelling, and community feedback to produce a document that bridged the gap between high-level planning policy and on-the-ground urban design reality. The project was supported by two interns from the Urban Design and Planning department at the University of the Sunshine Coast, thanks goes to Mitch and Amy for their hard work and thanks to Nicholas Stevens Program Leader.

Delivering Nambour 20/20: The Strategic Planning Process

We moved beyond standard master planning to deliver a commercially viable “Implementation Matrix” that incentivised private investment while securing public benefit. Our process translated complex urban challenges into five actionable pillars.

Economic Diversification & Zoning: We developed a strategy to transition the local economy by establishing an “Education and Creative Industries Hub.” This involved specific recommendations for amending the Nambour Local Plan Code to allow for “Knowledge Precincts” that utilise existing rail connectivity and commercial floor space.
Built Form & Density Strategy: To revitalise the dead town centre, we engineered a “Mixed-Use Infill” framework. We identified underutilised two-storey commercial assets along Currie Street suitable for conversion into “shop-top” residential living. This strategy targeted the “missing middle” of housing density to bring a permanent population back into the CBD without destroying local character.
Mobility & Infrastructure Planning: We designed a “Pedestrian Prioritised Street Network” to disrupt the vehicle-dominant hierarchy of the town. This included the technical plotting of a recreational pathway network linking Petrie Park, Quota Park, and the CBD, effectively turning the neglected Petrie Creek corridor into a primary active transport artery.
Environmental & Green Infrastructure: The plan detailed specific “Urban Greening” interventions for major thoroughfares. We specified the removal of inappropriate mature palms on Currie Street and their replacement with canopy trees that provide genuine shade, reduce the urban heat island effect, and improve pedestrian thermal comfort.

The Impact

Nambour 20/20 serves as a blueprint for the town’s future. By identifying specific catalytic projects such as the creation of a Nambour Botanic Gardens and the adaptive reuse of brownfield sites the strategy provides a clear pathway for sustainable growth. It balances the immediate need for economic activation with long-term social infrastructure, positioning Nambour as a resilient, self-reliant regional centre.

Sustainability Outcomes

Environmentally Sustainable Outcomes

Urban Greening of Major Streets: The vision proposes a strategic urban greening program for major thoroughfares like Currie Street and Howard Street. This includes replacing existing palm trees with more appropriate species that provide shade, visual amenity, and a natural sound barrier. The benefits of this green infrastructure include improved air quality, reduced urban heat, better stormwater management, and increased local ecological diversity.
Creation and Connection of Green Spaces: A core goal is to connect Nambour’s currently underutilised and disconnected green spaces, such as Petrie Park and Quota Park. This will be achieved by creating a Petrie Creek recreational pathway for walking and cycling. This initiative aims to increase the health of the creek itself and re-orient the town’s focus from vehicle arteries toward its natural assets.
Culturally Significant Planting: The vision recommends planting the red-flowering tea tree (Callistemon Viminalis) throughout the revitalised streetscapes. The word Nambour is derived from the Aboriginal word “Naamba,” which refers to this tree, making its reintroduction a way to honour the area’s Indigenous heritage and natural history.
Emphasis on Sustainable Development: The plan calls for a policy framework that encourages and enforces best practice in environmentally responsible design for all new and retrofitted buildings in the CBD. This includes promoting infill development to reduce urban sprawl, decrease pressure on infrastructure, and make more efficient use of existing land.
Reduced Reliance on Vehicles: By creating a downtown residential population and a network of pedestrian-prioritised streets and dedicated bike lanes, the plan aims to reduce reliance on vehicle transport. This leads to less traffic congestion and a lower carbon footprint for the community.

Socially Sustainable Outcomes

Economic Revitalisation and Job Creation: A central aim is to create a more economically sustainable and socially connected community by revitalising the struggling CBD. This includes creating a diverse local economy with profitable daytime and nighttime economies, which in turn provides more local employment opportunities.
Creation of an Education and Creative Industries Hub: The plan proposes establishing a hub for tertiary education and creative industries, leveraging Nambour’s existing infrastructure (TAFE, transport hub) and its reputation as a creative centre. This aims to drive economic diversification, improve educational access, and increase social capital.
Improved Public Spaces and Community Interaction: The vision focuses on creating vibrant, desirable public spaces that encourage social connectivity and interaction. This includes developing a pedestrian-prioritised street network, revitalising the town square, retaining alleyways for creative use, and developing a new Nambour Botanic Gardens.
Increased Housing Diversity and Social Inclusion: A key goal is to create a diverse and inclusive CBD residential population. The plan calls for a policy framework for socially inclusive development, providing a mix of housing options for different needs, including affordable housing, accessible housing for people with disabilities, and seniors’ housing.
Enhanced Safety and Accessibility: The plan incorporates Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to make the town centre feel safer, especially after dark. It also promotes Universal Design principles to improve accessibility throughout Nambour by removing physical barriers, creating clear signage, and ensuring buildings and public spaces are accessible to all.
Community-Led Development: The report recommends establishing a community-led development review committee. This ensures that local residents are not excluded from decisions that affect them and that new developments provide clear community benefits.