A series of road safety improvements is set to begin in Pomona on the Sunshine Coast, with new pedestrian crossings, improved lighting and a lower speed limit planned for the town centre.

The Queensland Government is expected to begin the first stage of the project in late September 2026. The work is focused on improving pedestrian safety while maintaining the character of Pomona as a hinterland community.

The first stage will concentrate on Factory Street, which is an important route through the town and is used by commuters, local traffic and freight vehicles.

The project will include two raised township entry treatments, designed to encourage drivers to reduce their speed as they enter the built-up area. A new raised pedestrian crossing will also be installed, together with additional street lighting.

Once the first stage is completed, the speed limit through the relevant section of the town will be reduced from 50km/h to 40km/h.

The changes are intended to make it safer for pedestrians to move between different parts of the town centre. Pomona attracts residents, visitors and people attending local businesses and community activities, creating regular pedestrian movements around the central streets.

The safety improvements follow several years of community advocacy for better pedestrian infrastructure. Local residents have raised concerns about traffic travelling through the town centre, including heavy vehicles using Factory Street.

The design has been developed by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads in consultation with Noosa Shire Council. The project also reflects objectives identified in the council's Pomona Place Plan, which identified community support for safer walking routes, slower traffic and protection of the town's village character.

The raised crossings have been designed with relatively low profiles and long platforms. This approach is intended to slow vehicles while allowing traffic to pass over the crossings more smoothly and with less noise than some conventional traffic-calming treatments.

A second stage of the project is also planned for the wider town centre. Detailed design is continuing, with further pedestrian safety treatments expected to include two additional raised crossings.

One of the proposed crossings would be located on Memorial Avenue, while another would upgrade the existing crossing on Station Street. A raised township entry treatment is also expected on Reserve Street, along with minor improvements to the existing crossing in that area.

The works are expected to be carried out generally during daytime hours from Monday to Friday.

The project is intended to improve pedestrian safety without significantly changing the overall village character of Pomona. The upgrades will also provide clearer crossing points for pedestrians and encourage lower vehicle speeds through the centre.

The cost of the project had not been confirmed in the report, with further information about funding and expenditure still being sought.