Do you seriously think that a rates cut (of a few hundred dollars a year?) is going to make the difference when people decide whether they can afford to buy a home or not?

And who will pay for the necessary council services when the rebates reduce council income?

The best thing to do for most councils is to cut costs in the upper management levels, (employ less chiefs and more indians). Stopping population growth would also allow you to concentrate on raising people out of poverty through employment rather than simply adding to the problem.

Tim, when an isolated mine closes, the town that services that mine often turns into a ghost town, as it has no longer a reason to exist.

When the sugar mill closed, Nambour lost most of it's reason to exist. It was placed into its coffin. Then the greenie promoted prevention of subdivision of cane farms for acreage living by that fool Beattie drove in the nails.

The thought that low grade land could provide a decent living from other crops on the small farms used for cane production was an indication of the stupidity of those demanding it.

Now as Michale has said, what possible reason is there for the rest of the district, or state to pour money into what is doing what it aught, becoming a ghost town. Yes that's tough on those who didn't get out quickly enough, but I suppose it does offer cheep rent for some.

My suggestion would be to sit on the greenies heads, develop that cane land into 10 acre lifestyle blocks, [10 acre lots are getting hard to find], & turn the place into the pony club capital of Queensland.

It should work, but you'll get nowhere holding your hand out for a gimme. Just one more hand, in a whole sea of the lazy, & undeserving hands will be lost in the pack.

Tim - you seem to have grabbed the wrong end of the stick in your discussion. You say as the Final Comment that there must be political will to execute a Nambour rejuvenation program. This I believe needs to the first consideration but unfortunately the Sunshine Coast Council (SCC) as directed by its 'elected representatives' has no interest in really rejuvenating Nambour. They are, as you correctly identify, more concerned for the champagne sippers on the coast, but also with the green and christian fundamentalists in the Hinterland and the networked business owners than the Joe Average who lives in Nambour. All regions across the globe need to have the 'poor relative' so that 'ugly' services can be dumped there. The Mooloolaba boaties would not want the detox clinic in their backyard, neither would the Cooroy and Eumundi fundies! So it is politically expedient to place all those unsightly welfare services in the major railway town so that the pristine locations remain just that.

Financial incentives simply poor good money after bad unless the community at large takes ownership of (and pride in) its community. Some years ago SCC attempted to revitalise the heart of Nambour with the new 'town square' and lots of lovely and expensive landscaping but they failed to consult with, and listen to, the community to see how the community wanted the square used, the types of shops that fronted onto the square and even if a town square is what the community wanted. Some vocal and well positioned council staff obviously wanted the town sqaure so as to to ease their collective consciences as a token gesture to equity with the 'haves on the coast' but was the community really consulted and were those wishes acted upon, or was it just a cosmetic and political cover up?

To continue Tim, you also say that the SCC has the chance to take bold action in 2012. SCC has had this opportunity for a very, very long time - a whole lot longer than just this year. It could have done something special when the councils amalgamated but missed / avoided that opportunity because of north / south factions, self interest and in-fighting. It could have done it many years before, well before the growth got out of control but it has never had the guts to take the action to encourage something special that the coast could have been. It has sqandered many opportunities and now it bleats poor Nambour. What has happened to Nambour is not new on this planet. It has been happening for a long time in many western countries such as Canada and the US as well as here in Australia but the SCC failed to look objectively at the issue, look at overseas experiences, consult with its communities, and get the locals on board. No it just wanted to win votes!

Beleive it or not Nambour is well positioned as a commuter suburb for Brisbane and would benefit from taking this position. It will take a while to establish community ownership but it can happen if there is a good lifestyle to grasp hold of! If the town was to offer support services (as distinct from funded services) (facilitated by SCC) for young professional families - a fast commuter express train to Briz for work (SCC and the state gov should talk about this for 2012 not for 2022 or later) and locally based services and cultural and social activities for the stay at home parent with the kids and they will come to love Nambour and the kids will be proud to call it home.

But it needs strong leadership with a big picture agenda that listens the community ...