Culture shift: Entertainment shake-up set to inject life

A CBD’s live-music scene will dance to a new beat after its designation as a special entertainment precinct, making it the second of its kind in Queensland..

Nambour's new designation as a special entertainment precinct aims to create a more lively day and night-time atmosphere. Pictured is a Horizon Festival event held in the hinterland town.

THE Nambour CBD live-music scene will dance to a new beat after its designation as a special entertainment precinct, making it the second of its kind in Queensland behind Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.

The designation came after a strong push from Division 10 councillor Greg Rogerson, public consultation and a suite of successful events such as Currie Street Crawl, NamJam, Tramfest and Horizon Festival.

Sunshine Coast Council advise entertainment venues within the precinct are exempt from the Queensland Government’s amplified music noise requirements under their liquor licensing laws, as the regulation responsibility is now transferred to council.

Cr Rogerson said the designation required a Planning Scheme amendment, and aimed to “nurture” the live music industry by promoting a vibrant day and night atmosphere.

“My vision is to see Nambour CBD alive and kicking is fast becoming a reality,” Cr Rogerson said.

“With live music, excellent restaurants, cafes and the like, we can have a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere in the heart of the hinterland, where community and businesses can thrive.”

Cr Rogerson they wanted to create a place for locals and visitors to enjoy live music.

“An initiative like this, has the potential to breathe life into Nambour – making it a real drawcard.”

The Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 (Major Amendment) – Special Entertainment Precincts was subject to public consultation from October 15 to November 9, 2018.

Council stated it also included a range of other changes which sought to support the Sunshine Coast’s live music industry, increase vibrancy in major centres and tourist areas, and protect residential amenity.

Among the changes is the removal of the existing hospitality areas in Maroochydore, Nambour, Caloundra and Mooloolaba activity centres to reduce potential overlap and confusion with the proposed new special entertainment precinct.

It also amended the tables of assessment, development codes, zone codes and relevant local plan codes to make it easier for entertainment uses to establish in centre zones, key tourist areas and the Ocean Street Food and Music Sub-Precinct.

Other changes include:

• Providing for microbreweries in the Principal centre zone, Major centre zone, Tourism zone and (where within the Mooloolaba/Alexandra Headland local plan area) the District centre zone and the Tourist accommodation zone;
• Amending the assessment benchmarks relating to noise criteria for venues, surrounding residential development and key mixed use areas; and
• Amending the planning scheme policy for the nuisance code to include requirements for noise impact assessments.

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