Noosa Hinterland Villages by Pomona & District Chamber of Commerce

22/09/2024

HINTERLAND TO BE PART OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT STRATEGY PLANNING
A concerted campaign by Northern Hinterland residents to have the boundary extended for a study into the future public transport needs of areas north of Cooroy have paid off, with a Transport and Main Roads spokesperson confirming that the rail and bus services connecting Pomona, Cooran and surrounding areas will be examined as part of consideration around a draft strategy to be released in February 2025 and a final report to follow in June next year.
Service planning activities are undertaken to assist network planners in the development of a three-five year rolling program of network improvements. The service planning focusses on opportunities to expand, improve, or optimise the existing public transport network to meet incremental changes in community travel needs.
Residents expressed their frustration at the arbitrary cut-off point for the study area being the northern urban boundary of Cooroy and told the department so on an interactive map made available as part of the consultation process:
https://www.yoursay-projects.tmr.qld.gov.au/northern-sunshine-coast-public-transport-strategy/northern-sunshine-coast-public-transport-strategy-interactive-map
Consultation opened on 1 November 2023 and closed on 21 January 2024. The TMR spokesperson said that, following complaints and representations from Noosa Council and the State Member for Noosa, Sandy Bolton, the study area now would be widened.
Ms Bolton had urged her constituents thus: “Please do not limit your feedback to the area covered in the interactive map on the consultation website as the Northern Strategy is complementary to the Southern Sunshine Coast Strategy, which focuses on areas to the south of us that are instrumental to our commutes to Brisbane and beyond.”
Those conducting the study were cooperating with Noosa Council and the TMR North Coast Region office to gather information relevant to the strategy preparation, the spokesperson said. Members of the public wanting to have their say can submit ideas to TMR via [email protected].
A further round of consultation will be sought in February-March next year once the interim draft report is released.
The Northern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Strategy will set out TMR's vision for a future public transport system for the northern Sunshine Coast area that all levels of government can work towards.
There is strong public support for more trains running between Nambour and Gympie North and better coordination of the Nos. 630, 631 and 632 buses with improved rail services. The sentiment was reinforced during the recent Pomona Placemaking Plan consultation. Noosa Council has been in discussion with TMR about a bus/rail interchange at Cooroy.
Until now, TMR had ignored pleas, arguing on its website: “The northern Sunshine Coast, between the Maroochy River and Noosa River, is not expected to accommodate the very high levels of population, employment, and other transformational land use changes that we will see in the southern Sunshine Coast over the next 20 years. The northern Sunshine Coast is not likely to require substantial structural change to the current network or its infrastructure.”
It caved in to examining the transport needs of the Northern Noosa Hinterland after locals demanded to be heard.
More information: https://www.yoursay-projects.tmr.qld.gov.au/northern-sunshine-coast-public-transport-strategy

13/09/2024

PUMPED HYDRO POWER EIS TERMS SETTLED
The proposed $14.2 billion Lake Borumba pumped hydro electricity project will need to pass a set of strict environmental impact and assessment evaluations before it is given the green light for construction to begin. If given approval, the project will employ 2360 people and will generate its first green energy in 2030. It will be located near Imbil in the Mary Valley.
On Friday 16 August, Queensland Hydro was advised by the Office of the Coordinator-General that the Terms of Reference for the Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) had been finalised. The Terms of Reference (TOR) is a project-specific document that outlines what needs to be assessed and evaluated as part of the regulatory approvals process. Queensland Hydro will now undertake detailed studies to meet the TOR. A copy of the TOR can be found by clicking here.
In June 2023, the Queensland Government announced funding worth $6 billion to progress the Borumba Pumped Hydro Project.
Meanwhile, progress is being made on Seqwater’s Lake Macdonald upgrade. The dam improvement project involves building a new split-level concrete spillway and upper labyrinth and reconstructing the existing earth embankments.
The work was required following a comprehensive technical review undertaken in 2021 and 2022. The new optimised design will increase the dam’s capacity to withstand extreme weather events while also ensuring the dam remains operational during construction for water security and some recreation activities. This will be the first major upgrade of Lake Macdonald Dam since its original construction in 1965. Importantly, more than 150 local jobs are expected to be created over the life of the project.
Lake Borumba in the Mary Valley will be transformed into a pumped hydro power storage facility with the addition of a new dam wall on the main impoundment and another dam in the hills, allowing water to race through a spinning turbine, generating on-demand electricity.

12/09/2024

POMONA CHRISTMAS FAIR UPDATE
Progress continues on organisation of the Pomona Street Fair and night time markets to be held in December. A small sub-group of the Pomona and District Chamber of Commerce has been busy and invitations opened for stallholders wishing to take part.. See: https://pomonadistrictchamber.com.au/pomona-christmas-street-fair
This year, a ‘tradie alley’ is planned, where local tradespeople can promote themselves. There will be cooking demonstrations also, headed by chef Matt Golinski.
Live music performances again will be a feature of the night and Noosa District State High School has been contacted to see whether musical students would want to busk for a few dollar donations. Santa has the event in his diary too.

12/09/2024

SUPPORT COORAN’S TALL TREES FESTIVAL
Cooran’s annual art extravaganza – the Tall Trees Art Exhibition – is on again on the weekend of 21 and 22 September 2024, showcasing the diverse talents of Cooran and surrounding Sunshine Coast artists. It has been a fixture in the greater Sunshine Coast arts scene since 2011. This year’s Tall Trees Art Exhibition will take place at 12 venues all along King Street, the main street in Cooran, and will be a real collaboration between local businesses, artists and the community.
- Opening ceremony, 10am, 21 September, Cooran Memorial Hall
- Evening event, 5pm to 8pm, 21 September at hall and surrounds
The exhibition is proudly presented by Tall Trees Art Inc. More information here:
www.talltreesart.com or contact [email protected]

A collective of Artists that come together to exhibit their creative expression. Annual Art Exhibtion is held, life drawing, workshops are offered by memebrs locally to Noosa Hinterland.

11/09/2024

MENS SHED PLANS EXPANSION
Following a long and sometimes frustrating delay while tenure of the land on which Mens Shed Pomona was sorted, the group is set to advance plans for expansion, thank to a Noosa Council Community Grant. The money will be used to prepare a masterplan for the site in School Street.
“This grant allows us to address space limitations and plan for the future,” said Mens Shed grants officer, Ross Muller. “We can now expand our workshops and create dedicated quiet spaces where members can sit and talk. It’s an exciting step forward for our community.”
The mens shed has 31 members, with more eager to join, and is financially stable.

11/09/2024

POMONA PLACE PLAN NEARS COMPLETION
The Pomona Place Plan – now 18 months in the making – is expected to be considered by Noosa councillors at their October meeting, but not before it is presented to the local community in draft form for a final round of feedback.
The place plan is a first for Noosa Shire, a pilot that will guide how Noosa Council will engage with other communities about the ‘look and feel’ of their towns and suburbs. Place planning is separate from town planning in that it focuses on paths, trees, parks, street frontages and how residents interact with the public spaces they share. Kin Kin will be the next ‘place town’, the council has decided.
While formulation of the Pomona Place Plan has taken longer than expected, the extra time expended was due in part to an extended public engagement process in two stages and consideration around how the place plan implementation will occur. The council explains this will be a ‘co-led’ process over 10 years or more, meaning the council and local groups will work under a partnership model to bring it to fruition.
It can now be revealed that the means whereby this will happen is a so-called ‘town teams’ outlook adopted in more than 150 towns around the world.
https://www.townteammovement.com/town-teams
The people of Pomona participated enthusiastically in the place planning interaction at a level higher than the mean average for a community our size, the council says. In total, more than 500 people joined in across a range of engagement events including an online and hard copy survey, five ‘pop-ups’ around Pomona village, two ‘walkabout’ sessions with planners, three urban sketching workshops, ‘love letters’ from the community to Pomona, email submissions and targeted stakeholder and community organisation workshops.
You can stay updated about the Pomona Place Plan through this link:
https://yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au/pomona-placemaking-pilot
Here is how the people of Ipswich, Queensland, are cooperating to make their unique place plan come alive using the town teams model:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Ipswich-Central-Partnership/100075544197976

10/09/2024

MORE FUNDING FOR BIOSPHERE TRAILS UPGRADE
In news that strengthens further the Noosa Northern Hinterland district’s credentials as a sustainable, nature-based tourist destination, the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts has announced Growing Regions Program funding for upgrades to the Noosa Biosphere Trails.
The Growing Regions Program supports local government entities and incorporated not-for-profit organisations to deliver capital works projects in regional and rural Australia that support community socio-economic outcomes and regional priorities.
The Noosa Trails latest allocation is $1.6 million.
The project is a continuation of the Masterplan delivery and includes upgrades to 46km of existing trail network linking Cooran, Kin Kin and Lake Macdonald, primarily Trail 3 (Woondum) and Trail 4 (Wahpunga). Works will include new trail sections; improved drainage; surface repairs and rehabilitation; and new wayfinding signage, fencing, gates and shelters.
The Noosa Biosphere Trails are located in the Noosa hinterland and are a popular destination for horse-riders, walkers, runners and bike riders. The trails pass through forests, mountains and rural landscapes offering a diversity of experiences for users. Development of the new trail maps and field guides are currently underway.

22/08/2024

𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐋 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐅𝐅 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐀𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐘

A majority of Noosa councillors has voted to overturn a staff recommendation to reject a development application for a car wash and food and drink outlet on a 2013 sq m site in Elm Street Cooroy – between two existing service stations – with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor making pleas that the complex was contrary to long-term planning for the town centre.

Five councillors felt that the community benefit the eco-friendly car wash would deliver outweighed reasons staff gave for recommending rejection, on the basis that the proposal was inconsistent with the planning scheme. It was more suited to an industrial zone, staff said.

They raised traffic concerns to and from the site, and had reservations about the building of a wall 19.4-metres long and seven metres – or two storeys – high behind the facility.

The developer, Kings Group Pty Ltd, has strong community backing for the carwash, which will be a ‘first’ for the hinterland. Five hundred submissions to the council favoured the development. Nineteen people objected. The site is vacant, having been the location of an old motel, since demolished.

Mayor Frank Wilkie attempted to delay the council’s consideration of the application while council staff negotiated with town planners for the applicant to resolve outstanding traffic management issues. His procedural motion was rejected.

Cr Amelia Lorentson told her fellow councillors: “Despite presenting a zoning conflict and non-compliance with the planning scheme, the proposed car wash warrants approval if it can be demonstrated that the public interest is better served by approving the application.”

A majority of councillors were of the view that:

• There is a strong level of economic, community and planning need for the development in this location.
• There currently is no car wash provided within Cooroy and the Noosa Hinterland.
• The proposed development will provide community benefit.
• The proposed development accords with reasonable community expectations, given the significant number of submissions in support that have been received.
• There will be significant environmental benefits for a car wash to be provided in the location.

14/08/2024

PREPARE FOR THE BUSHFIRE SEASON
Prepare for the bushfire season!
Local councils are the first point of call Queenslanders should turn to for information and direction at the time of a natural disaster. They will assist you with up-to-date information on everything you need to know including evacuation centre openings and locations, river heights, road conditions and closures, power and phone outages. Go to the Noosa Council Disaster Dashboard for more information. Visit the website: https://disaster.noosa.qld.gov.au

13/08/2024

NOOSA SHOW HOLIDAY
Don’t forget, in one short month, Friday 13 September is a public holiday in Noosa Shire, for the Noosa Country Show. The show will be held over two days, 13 and 14 September, with the theme being ‘cartoon’. Show attendees can look forward to a variety of cartoon-themed attractions. One of the main highlights will be the Grand Parade, showcasing an array of creatively designed cartoon-themed floats. These
floats are being crafted with care and imagination by members of the hinterland’s talented community, ensuring a unique and engaging experience for everyone.

11/08/2024

OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE HINTERLAND’S DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE CAPABILITY
Training for disaster preparedness on offer – for free. ‘Plan C’ – a not-for-profit group based in the Northern Rivers District of NSW that supports crisis management skills embedded in community, as well as prevention and preparedness for disaster – is
looking to extend its services to areas within the Mary River Catchment, including Maryborough, Gympie and Noosa. So far the group has trained 300 Community Carers and Responders in the local government areas of Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed. Volunteers undergo training over five days to then form a connected network of leaders dedicated to community cohesion
and resilience. Nicole Harper, the CCR project manager, explained that those taking part received training that addressed self-care, disaster resilience, community building, emergency communications as well as food, water, and energy security. Also included are a day of first aid instruction and another day of psychological first aid. “Upon graduation, participants receive a CCR cap, T-shirt and solid first-aid kit, and are then mentored to lead a project that builds the resilience of their own community,” Ms Harper said. “They are regularly invited to additional workshops, community events, and field visits in order to to deepen their knowledge, but also connections with each other.”
Ms Harper said Plan C had opened applications to the CCR program locally, funded by Country to Coast Queensland with support from the Australian Government’s Primary Health Network Program. Apply at https://www.planc.org.au/ccr-apply

10/08/2024

Responses to the community survey seeking views about the proposed expansion of the IGA Pomona store exceeded those for the Pomona Placemaking Plan and revealed that many of the 736 participants frequent the store out of a strong desire to ‘support the local economy’, those attending the July general meeting of the PDCC were told.
Guest speaker was Russell Green of RG Strategies, town planners working with the Zipf family on the proposed redevelopment, which is yet to be submitted formally to Noosa Council for consideration. The placemaking consultation revealed strong loyalty to Pomona’s family-style businesses. The IGA expansion onto the adjacent block towards the fire station will create an extra 35 parking spaces in town, while its design will be in keeping with Pomona’s colonial character architecture. No other retail spaces would be provided, just IGA, Russell Green said. While the store would be bigger, it would not be
as big as the Cooroy ‘Supa-IGA’. In effect, an additional two aisles for grocery lines would be created, but this would allow for more specialty goods to be provided.
The Pomona and District Chamber of Commerce supports the project, as do 81 per cent of those who took part in the survey. Only 11.65 per cent said ‘no’. Strong feedback focused on the need for a sensitive design, which will now be refined. The plans include a mural. Mr Green said a stronger, more diverse IGA would encourage more community members to shop locally, thereby benefiting the entire Pomona economy. “This project aligns with the community’s desires expressed in the Pomona Place Plan, preserving our town’s unique character while providing modern conveniences,” he said. The survey sought to target the under-30 cohort, although there was a higher response from those
above this age (e.g. 312 responses from those aged 65 plus). The home town of those who took part is interesting – 51.23 per cent were from Pomona, just over 16 per cent were from Cooran, seven per cent from Kin Kin and five per cent from Cootharaba. A further 1.5 per cent were from Boreen Point. This shows the drawing power of the Pomona IGA. The survey participants said they took advantage of their grocery shop visits (usually 2-3 days per week) to do business with other retailers in Pomona. The
IGA is the linchpin of the local economy, the survey confirmed. The survey also revealed that 88 per cent of shoppers came to the Pomona IGA for its ‘convenience of location", while almost 60 per cent said they wished to "support local businesses".

09/08/2024

HOUSE REMOVAL APPROVED
The impact of proposed amendments to the Noosa Plan (town plan) as they relate to the number of dwellings that will be permitted in the median density zone of
Pomona are being contested by some residents. Under proposals likely to pass, developers can buy up and remove Queenslander vernacular-style houses in ‘old Pomona’ to make way for unit-style accommodation similar to that occurring at 11C Church Street. The latest council minutes reveal that approval has been given for removal of the lowset timber house at 11 Station Street, adjacent to the heritage-listed former Masonic Lodge. The council acknowledges it as a ‘dwelling house in a Character Area’.

08/08/2024

FAMILY FUN DAY SUCCESS
The King of the Mountain Race may be no more, but that didn’t stop people supporting its replacement – a Family Fun Day, which now is a firm favourite on the local calendar. People of all ages flocked to Stan Topper Park to enjoy the rides, eats and other activities. The day shows how Stan Topper Park is a ‘people place’ – something those conducting the Pomona Place Plan noticed in their work. A draft place plan is due at the end of the month, to be followed by a final round of consultation. On 28 July, a group of runners set off up Mount Cooroora for an unofficial version of the race, which
would have been held for the 45th time this year. About 20 people presented at the starting line and another dozen or so started earlier. Among the runners was a representative of the ‘Save Our Summits’ group, which campaigns for continued public access to mountains.

08/08/2024

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE FOR RESPONSES TO TOWN PLAN AMENDMENTS
Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie has thanked the community for making submissions during extended consultation on proposed planning scheme amendments. The amendments propose more smaller dwellings close to existing centres to manage state population growth pressures while avoiding urban sprawl and preserving Noosa’s urban boundaries. Cr Wilkie said the amendments were a local response to help address the nationwide housing availability and affordability crisis and meet state-imposed dwelling targets. “There’s very strong community expectation that all levels of government need to work together to address this crisis and these proposals respect that,” he said.
“We received an extra 100 submissions during the 10 day-extension, on top of more than 350 received during the original six-week consultation.’’ Cr Wilkie said attempts to keep new housing within set urban boundaries (a process that town planners call ‘densification’) had created challenges. “It’s a difficult balance, but we will continue to take a conservative approach to growth while accommodating pressure to house more of the SEQ population and deliver what our community needs,” he said. The Mayor said extending the consultation for the extra 10 days meant that Noosa Council may no
longer be able to submit the amendments to the Queensland Government for sign-off before the October state election. “The amendments may take significantly longer to be implemented but we’ve ensured those who wanted to could have a say,” he said.

07/08/2024

Noosa Council staff have recommended to councillors that a proposal for a carwash, food and drink outlet planned for 34 Elm Street Cooroy be rejected. The core business model involves auto and manual car washing bays, vacuum bays, dog wash areas,
storage and plant rooms, with a food and drink outlet located near the Opal Street frontage. In a written report to the council, staff said the site is zoned ‘District Centre’, in which a car wash is an inconsistent use. “The design of the car wash, while incorporating a pitched roof and a range of materials, does not meet the design criteria detailed in the Noosa Plan as the access and parking arrangements dominate the street and do not contribute to vibrant and active streetscapes that are characteristic of Cooroy,” the report states. “While the applicant has demonstrated that stormwater and noise impacts are able to be addressed, concerns are raised as to the loss of valuable District Centre zoned land for a use that has very limited employment opportunities and is not the highest or best development of the land to achieve the desired employment outcomes in the Noosa Economic Development Strategy. “ The matter went before the Planning and Environment Committee on 6 August and will go to the General Committee on 12 August.

07/08/2024

DRAFT POMONA PLACE PLAN READY AT END OF OCTOBER
As Noosa Council staff and their consultants sift through the various suggestions arising from the successful Pomona placemaking plan consultative process, and in order to give proper consideration to all submissions received, the release date of a draft Pomona Place Plan has been extended to the end of October, the council advises.
The Pomona Place Plan is about how we can better interact with our public spaces and, while this process is new to Noosa Shire, it is happening right around Australia, including in the Clarence Valley of NSW, which is the focus of this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sidIJRfDGk&t=373s
As you can see, it is a bottom-up approach, not a top-down approach. People have a direct say about the ‘look and feel’ of the place where they live. Once the Draft Pomona Place Plan is released, there will be a final round of consultation to test whether the council ‘got it right’. Adjustments will be made, if considered necessary. Finally it will need to be approved and adopted by the full council in order to trigger the Action Plan that will realise the vision. This will take more than a decade to roll out progressively, using funding provided by Noosa Council and supported by other levels of government. Obtaining grants will be crucial to realising the plan and, in order to be in the running for grants, state and federal governments require a plan to judge the worth of investing in placemaking.
It is the same process that worked for the Noosa Biosphere Trails Network, where a master planning process has both attracted and guided investment from all levels of government.

06/08/2024

PAVEMENT UPGRADE FOR COOROY
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) will conduct full resurfacing works on the Cooroy overpass, starting mid-September, following pavement repairs late last year. Noosa MP Sandy Bolton said the earlier works had not met community expectations. “In response, TMR have announced a complete resurfacing of a 1.3 km stretch of Cooroy Connection Road (Myall Street), incorporating the railway
overpass and both approaches to the bridge,” she said. “This work will include pavement rehabilitation, new line-marking, shoulder widening, and additional
guard rails.” Sandy said she and the Member for Nicklin, Rob Skelton, would continue to advocate for major upgrades of the Elm Street–Myall Street and Elm Street-Diamond Street intersections.

05/08/2024

STATE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT SWITCHES FOCUS TO HINTERLAND DAM
This is how the upgraded Lake Macdonald retention wall will look like.
Water storage provider Seqwater has begun geotechnical investigation works that eventually will lead to the reconstruction of the dam wall at Lake Macdonald, Noosa’s domestic water supply. The upgrade should ensure the dam operates safely and provide water security for decades. The analysis will confirm the requirements for the project’s temporary cofferdam, which is expected to deliver benefits to the community and environment during construction. Seqwater awarded the construction contract to John Holland Queensland in February. Planning and site preparation activities include survey works, water quality testing, installation of project fencing, and engagement with the community and traditional owners. Seqwater interim CEO Will Harpham said: “The Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project will ensure the dam meets modern engineering
standards, continues to operate safely during extreme weather events, and provides water security for generations to come.” Lake Macdonald was built originally in 1965

05/08/2024

COMMUNITY GRANTS APPLICATIONS OPEN ON 6 AUGUST
Noosa Council has announced that applications for its Community Grants Program next round of funding opens on 6 August. This program provides essential funding of between $1000 and $30,000 to local, not-for-profit groups to support a variety of projects, events, training, planning, equipment, and facility improvements.
In the previous round, Noosa Council awarded $96,409.67 to local organisations. Notable projects included new parallel bars at Cooroy Gymnastics Club, preparation of a master plan for Men’s Shed Pomona, funding towards the Noosa Show Society’s Annual Show and funds for office equipment for the Hinterland Arts Group. Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie said the Grants Program helped empower local groups. “This funding helps
community groups deliver projects that enhance the quality of life in our region and we’re grateful for the contribution they make,” Cr Wilkie said. To assist potential applicants and facilitate networking, the council will host a Grants, Networking, and
Nibbles Night on Tuesday, August 13, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at The J.

04/07/2024

𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐅𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊 𝐀𝐓 𝐏𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐀 𝐖𝐀𝐑 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋

A positive and strong community response to installation of a commemorative Remembrance Seat in Joe Bazzo Park where the Pomona War Memorial is located has sparked renewed optimism that Noosa Council will also permit a flagpole to be placed beside the rotunda so that Remembrance Day and other commemorative services may resume again.

The council worked with the Cooroy Pomona Lions Club to have the specially-made Remembrance Seat installed, which was funded by a grant from the Australian Government’s ‘Saluting Their Service’ Program. The grant also covered the cost of an updated Pomona History Walk plaque telling the memorial story.

The historic significance of the Pomona Rotunda is that it was the last WWI memorial built in Australia before the outbreak of WWII. The architect was Sidney W. Prior and the rock used was hewn from the base of Mt Cooroora.

In 2018, the council supervised the work of volunteers and a sub-committee of the Noosa Shire Museum on restoration of the war memorial, including its 1930s-era ‘flickering flame’ external light fitting that came from the Pomona Uniting Church. Electrical wiring was renewed for free by local electrician Anthony Dein. Bunnings donated the paint and Lions Club members and professional painters then gave it a spruce-up. Noosa Council contributed by replacing broken roof tiles and leaking guttering. Noosa Landcare donated plants, which were dug in with the help of Pomona State School students.

The council insisted that the restoration be guided by a Conservation Management Plan to maintain its historical authenticity. The ‘best practice’ plan was undertaken by conservation architect Laurie Jones with local man Brian O’Connor as his researcher. Brian was facilitator of the committee that managed the 2018 restoration and rededication ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the Signing of the Armistice that officially ended WWI. Memorial services held subsequently and supervised by Nathanial Ford pre-Covid, when they stopped, required temporary flagpoles being brought in. Anzac Day services are now held at the fire station, opposite. However, Vietnam Veterans and those interested in Remembrance Day commemorative services wish to have the rotunda as their focus.

Brian worked with the Lions Club and Heather Manders on the grant application for the latest restoration activity and the associated updated plaque. He also wrote the first drafts of wording on all the History Walk plaques seen about town and successfully advocated the state government for the large information plaques positioned outside the ambulance, fire and railway stations.

“It’s important we preserve Pomona’s history and that’s why reinstatement of a flagpole that formed part of the original memorial should be considered, especially as feedback to the council placemaking team is that the town character be enhanced by whatever future improvements are made,” Brian said.

“The new Remembrance Seat project is indicative of approaches that reinforce community values. Again, volunteers are ready to raise money for a new flagpole and Energex is on board to assist with its placement, due to the need to ensure that a steel flagpole must be positioned so as not to allow arcing of electricity from the overhead power lines. A further consideration is Noosa Council’s stipulation that a flagpole not hinder other activities in Joe Bazzo Park.

“There are one or two places in the garden beds where a flagpole could be positioned so that requirement is met,” he said.
The absence of a flagpole next to the rotunda is one of the hindrances to commemorative services being held there. “Yet we know a flagpole was in place originally, so it is historically accurate to put one back,” Brian said.

In the Conservation Management Plan, architect Laurie Jones said: “It (the memorial rotunda) represents the Pomona community’s chosen method of remembrance of its war dead. It is a touchstone that links the past to the present and enables people to remember and respect the sacrifice of those who died, fought, participated or were affected by conflict(s).”

In noting the evidence of the original flagpole, Mr Jones wrote: “A flagpole is evident in an historic photograph, and may be reinstalled in its original (or nearby) location.”

𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥
𝐏𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞

1917 – Plans for Pomona War memorial first mooted
1918, September – Noosa Council obtains land from Queensland Government Railways and establishes ‘Memorial Park’
1926 – Meeting held to discuss Memorial Hall and stand-alone war memorial. Subsequently, the separate memorial concept abandoned
1927 – What by then was known as ‘Memorial Park’ fenced by Noosa Council. In June, an initial meeting was held to discuss improving the park
1929 – St Patrick’s Day celebrations held on the park
1931 – Two memorial flame trees donated
1935 – Pomona Sub-Branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A. accepted Noosa Council offer to lease the ‘Memorial Reserve’
1936, January –King George V dies. The R.S.S.I.L.A. proposes a rotunda war memorial in his honour and as a tribute to local soldiers who had fought during WWI. Various fund-raising events were held
1937 – A sum of £100 had been spent on the memorial reserve, outside of donated funds
1938 – Plans for a rotunda, prepared by Brisbane architect Sidney W. Prior, were prepared
1939 – Construction of rotunda began; cost of building and park — £650
1939, Anzac Day – Attendees at Anzac Day ceremony in the memorial hall marched in procession to the unfinished memorial rotunda and placed a wreath
1939, 24 June – The memorial rotunda was officially opened by B.H. Corser, MHR, Federal Member for Wide Bay. Senator Sir Walter J. Cooper MBE was present also. About 500 people attended. The event took place on the eve of WWII.

First image: The Pomona Rotunda War Memorial in 1986, photographed during a national survey of Australian War Memorials. Back then the rather dishevelled memorial included a flagpole. Photo: Fryer Library Collection, Queensland University. (Used with permission.)