Speculation in Northern Rivers as scaffolding surrounds Bunnings iconic Big Prawn in Ballina

Scaffolding surrounds the iconic Big Prawn in the Northern Rivers, prompting speculation about the fate of Bunnings’ quirky 35 tonne monument. Here’s what’s happening.

Ballina Big Prawn surrounded by scaffolding. Picture: Supplied

Scaffolding has been erected around the iconic Big Prawn in Ballina, prompting speculation in the community about the fate of the 35 tonne monument.

But it appears the massive concrete crustacean is set to remain in place for now.

Questions have been aired on community social media pages in Ballina and surrounds about the 16m long and 9m tall Big Prawn being unceremoniously removed.

Some cheered for the removal of what they deemed an eyesore, but steadfast supporters vehemently defended the longstanding tourist photo drawcard.

Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader standing below the Big Prawn and the workers restoring the gargantuan crustacean. Picture: Supplied

Kas Anna remarked: “It got moulded (sic) so it‘s being dismantled and get thrown back in the big ocean.”

David Hirst wrote that the prawn was “just so important”.

“Never take it for granted,” he said.

Tongue in cheek comments prompted chuckles from Ballina residents.

“China bound my guess” Glenn Lawrence said.

Tim Cassidy chimed in: “#PrawnLivesMatter”.

Pamela Chestnut couldn’t help herself: “Don't come the Raw Prawn with me …”

A Bunnings spokesperson said the Big Prawn is simply undergoing a clean and a “painting upgrade” that would take about two weeks.

“We routinely carry out repairs and maintenance of the structure to ensure it’s kept in good condition, and the current works are focussed on a painting upgrade,” the spokesperson said.

“The Big Prawn has been an important feature of the Bunnings Ballina store for more than a decade.”

Bunnings purchased the site the prawn sits on in 2011 and the company decided to refurbish the attraction back then.

The Big Prawn sits in front of Ballina’s Bunnings store. Picture: Alamy

Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader said the prawn has been getting mouldy during the last year or so of heavy rain and wet weather.

She said she told Bunnings staff in recent times that “the prawn needed a clean”.

“(The Prawn) looks like its been affected by the floods as well, even though it was high off the ground,” she said.

Record floods in February and March of last year resulted in parts of Ballina being inundated with meters of water, along with Lismore and the wider Northern Rivers.

The Ballina and Exmouth prawns.

Ms Cadwallader said the likely restoration of the Big Prawn would be a sign the region was entering a new era of flood recovery.

“It’s a reset, and I think The Prawn is going to get a reset as well. Its absolutely marvellous,” she said.

Ms Cadwallader has just returned from a trip to Western Australia, which has a sister prawn monument in Exmouth.

She said the Exmouth prawn was bright red and shining – “glowing” – and she said she hoped to see the Ballina attraction returned to its former glory.

The Exmouth and Ballina Prawns have been the source of some competition between the two towns.