Budget bypass not bad news for The Big Banana, manager says

IS the future of “Australia’s first big thing” — The Big Banana of Coffs Harbour — in question after Treasurer Scott Morrison funded plans for a massive bypass of the town?

IS the future of “Australia’s first big thing” — The Big Banana of Coffs Harbour — in question after Treasurer Scott Morrison funded plans for a massive bypass of the town?

The Big Banana’s general manager Michael Lockman claims it’s not, saying it’s a good thing thousands of motorists will be diverted around the town.

Coffs Harbour, home of the Big Banana, will be bypassed by a new road. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Mr Morrison’s 2018 Budget last night included $970 million for the stretch of road which will redirect queues of holiday traffic off the Pacific Highway 5km south of Coffs Harbour, then return it to the current route about 1km north of the well-known tourist park.

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Mr Lockman said the theme park was now an attraction in its own right, boasting waterslides, laser tag and minigolf, with plans to build short-stay accommodation.

The Big Banana now offers waterslides, laser tag and minigolf. Picture: Supplied

“It’s fantastic news for the town ... our cafe is going to be much nicer to sit in, you’re not going to have trucks roaring up and down all day,” Mr Lockman said.

“A small majority stop and get a coffee, a majority will come in, stretch their legs and spend some time.

“We’ve added a new attraction every year for five years, two in the last year.”

But there are concerns the moment will drift out of site and the national psyche.

Mr Lockman has already put the weights on the state government to include signage on the new highway reminding people Coffs Harbour is the “home of The Big Banana”.

“We’ve already started that consultation with the appropriate ministers,” he said.

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The bypass has been coming for 17 years, when Roads and Maritime Services first began exploring a route.

The NSW Government finally committed $200 million to the project in March 2015 providing the federal government stumped up the significant balance of the finance.

How it breaks down.

Coffs Harbour has for years been an ugly bottleneck for motorists, including heavy road trains, travelling between Sydney and Queensland.

The congestion meant thousands of people travelled past the famous yellow monument, built in 1964 to draw attention to John Landi’s roadside banana stall.