By Rachel Browne
ONE of Australia's best known ''big things'' looks like being saved from the scrap heap.
Having towered over the Pacific Highway for two decades, the Big Prawn at Ballina had decayed in recent years.
Staying ... Bunnings plan to make room for Ballina's Big Prawn.Credit: Robert Rough
But the site's new owner, Bunnings, has told Ballina Shire Council it intends to preserve the crustacean when it redevelops the site.
The hardware giant shelled out a reported $10 million for the 2.5 hectare site in August.
The general manager of Ballina Shire Council, Paul Hickey, said representatives from Bunnings told the council they want to keep the prawn.
''It's privately owned land so we don't have a lot of control over it,'' he said. ''But they have advised us that they intend to keep it as part of their proposal.''
Mr Hickey said the council had met the representatives to discuss their plans.
''They tossed a few ideas around,'' he said. ''In the end, they decided it was worthwhile keeping it for the promotional and marketing value. They're keenly aware that many Australians feel fondly toward the Big Prawn and keeping it might mean a few extra dollars for them.''
A spokeswoman for Bunnings said it was too early to unveil the detailed plan for the prawn but expected to make an announcement soon.
''Bunnings is currently in the final stages of preparing a development application to the Ballina Shire Council,'' the spokeswoman said. ''We recognise the importance of the Big Prawn to the local community and this has been taken into consideration throughout the planning stages.''
Originally approved by Ballina Shire Council in 1988 and built in 1990, the six-metre by nine-metre fibreglass beast quickly became one of Australia's best-loved ''big things''.
In its heyday, the prawn complex included a seafood market, souvenir shop and restaurants.
As the years passed, the prawn began to lose its lustre and in 2009 the council approved plans for its demolition. This prompted a wave of support for the prawn, including a Facebook page campaigning for its preservation.
Its former owner, Santo Pennisi, put the site on the market last year and gave the shellfish a spruce-up this year after locals became concerned about its dilapidated state.