An audit of the existing highway through the heart of Coffs identified signage for almost 20 significant places of interest, including the National Marine Science Centre, The Clog Barn, Sealy Lookout, Park Beach Plaza, and the airport and hospital.

The council has been in ongoing talks with Transport for NSW and the relevant Minister about extra signage since the start of this year, but there has not yet been an agreement  for additional signage other than what is standard, being:

• A green directional sign indicating the bypassing of Coffs Harbour on the southern and northern approaches

• A photographic blue billboard-style location sign with icons indicating services and facilities, again to the south and north of Coffs; and

• A brown ‘Tourist Drive 18’ sign on the northern approach.

“Council’s Highway Bypass Integration Committee and City staff have worked hard to mount a case for a small increase in tourism signage as we will remain a premier visitor destination after the bypass,” Mayor Nikki Williams said.

City Infrastructure Director Andrew Beswick said Transport for NSW had agreed to new highway signage for The Big Banana due to its state significance.

“We’ve noted that areas to our south and north have been permitted brown attraction signage,” he said. “Including for Ricardoes Tomatoes, Cassegrain Winery and Billabong Zoo at Port Macquarie, and up north for New Italy Museum, the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and The Farm at Ewingsdale.”

The council would like to see:

• The approved brown tourist signage north of Coffs to include ‘Jetty and Marina’ and ‘Scenic Walks and Beaches’ plus associated icons

• Blue ‘services and facilities’ signage for ‘Resorts’ and ‘Coffs International Stadium’; and

• Formalisation of the Orara Valley Tourist Trail. Through Destination NSW, the City will seek to have an official route defined and will then apply for allocation of a ‘Tourist Drive’ number.

“We are seeking a modest increase in signage and will continue to work with Transport and other agencies to achieve an improved outcome which supports Coffs Harbour as a destination as well as the broader visitor economy,” Mr Beswick said.

• Will you still stop at Coffs once the new bypass opens? Comment below.