June 15, 2016
Kingaroy’s newly upgraded Glendon Street car park will be renamed “Roger Nunn Place” in honour of former Kingaroy Mayor Roger Nunn.
At Wednesday’s Council meeting, Councillors voted unanimously for the name change.
They also decided to invite Mr Nunn back to Kingaroy at a time of his own choosing for an official naming ceremony.
Mr Nunn, a surveyor and farmer, was first appointed to the former Kingaroy Shire Council in 1990 to fill a casual vacancy.
He retained the position at the 1991 election, was appointed Deputy Mayor in 1994 when he was re-elected, then went on to become Mayor at the following election in 1997.
After this, he remained Mayor until 2008 when the Shire was merged into the newly-formed South Burnett Regional Council, along with Nanango, Wondai and Murgon.
During his 18 years in office – and particularly during the 11 years he was Mayor – Mr Nunn’s main interests were economic development and tourism.
He was responsible for the creation of the Kingaroy Visitor Information Centre and the redevelopment of O’Neill Square; helped Shoppingworld to expand; developed the Rogers Drive area into a retail park; built the South Burnett Enterprise Centre; and persuaded Kingaroy Shire Council to purchase St Aubyn’s Private Hospital – now the Lady Bjelke-Petersen Community Hospital – when its former owners closed it.
He encouraged new housing developments in the town and was also a great believer in the potential of Kingaroy Airport, which he hoped one day could become an aircraft manufacturing centre.
Mr Nunn’s farm was purchased by Tarong Energy for its planned Kunioon Mine towards the end of his final term, and he left the South Burnett to retire soon afterwards.
He now lives on a property near Bribie Island with his wife Julie, but still retains many connections with the region.
Mayor Keith Campbell said renaming the refurbished CBD parking area after Mr Nunn was appropriate.
Mr Nunn had left a positive and lasting mark on the region, and the benefits of many of his initiatives were still being enjoyed by residents today.
