Coffs Bypass art installations inspired by Indigenous cultural themes

Large concrete walls on the $2.2 billion Coffs Bypass will be transformed into super-sized works of art under a draft design and landscape plan that is now open for public comment. See how they may look.

Artist's impression of the Gatelys Road tunnel art wall.

The $2.2 billion dollar Coffs Bypass will be the biggest infrastructure project on the Coffs Coast and it will include a series of large scale artworks.

A draft ‘Place Design and Landscape Plan’ provides information about the visual appearance of the bypass, including:

* Vegetation and landscaping

* Noise walls

* Interchanges

* Bridges

* Tunnels; and

* Pedestrian walkways and cycleways.

Coffs Bypass artists Bernard Kelly-Edwards, Tulli Stevens and Lisa Kelly.

The Coffs Harbour Bypass team’s approach for the art strategy has been a co-design with local Gumbaynggirr custodians and their endorsed artists,

to create a narrative which illuminates the “Aboriginal history and contemporary Aboriginal Story”, the plan states.

Acclaimed art consultancy Balarinji which created the fuselage design for the Qantas 787 Dreamliner has been engaged for the bypass project.

Artist's impression of the bus shelters at Korora interchange.

Balarinji is also currently working on the Pacific Highway Upgrade – Woolgoolga to Ballina Aboriginal Art Trail project.

“On completion, the 14-kilometre Coffs Harbour Bypass will save motorists up to 12 minutes of travel time and let them bypass up to 12 sets of traffic lights,” a Transport for NSW spokesperson said.

“This development will improve safety, travel times and livability in Coffs Harbour, but we also want it to be a project the people of Coffs are proud of.

“A concept of ‘Mountains to the Sea’ has been adopted for the draft plan, and it reflects the unique setting of the bypass where the new Pacific Motorway will sit between, and offer views of, the Great Dividing Range and the Pacific Ocean.”

Four cultural themes will run through the bypass art project:

Coffs Harbour Bypass artworks are inspired by Indigenous themes. Child's Journey by Tulli Stevens.

* Child’s Journey - Dolphins, women and children

Golden Waanji by Bernard Kelly-Edwards.

* Waanji (dingo) and mountain meets the sea

Yuludarla Creation by Lisa Kelly.

• Yuludarla creation; and

Gumgali (goanna) by Bernard Kelly-Edwards.

• Frog and gumgali (goanna) stories.

Three local artists, Bernard Kelly-Edwards, Tulli Stevens and Lisa Kelly have provided works to fit the cultural themes’ brief.

Hard copies of the design and landscape plan can be viewed at the Harry Bailey Memorial Library at Yarrila Place and Toormina Library.

Artist's impression of the Shephard's Lane tunnel art wall.

Community drop-in sessions are also scheduled:

December 13 Opal Cove Resort, Opal Boulevard from noon to 4pm

December 14 – Key Community Group, 61 West High St from 9.30am to noon and 4pm to 7pm

December 15 – Coffs Harbour Golf Club, Earl St from 8am to 10am and at The Link, 631 Hogbin Dr from noon to 2.30pm

December 16 – Coffs Harbour Showgrounds, 123 Pacific Highway from 9am to 3pm.

The plan will be open for public comment until December 22. People can email feedback to [e-mail] or complete an online form.