The Big Banana Fun Park, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia

Project Overview

Since opening in 1964, The Big Banana Fun Park has grown from a roadside banana stall into one of Australia’s most recognised tourist destinations. Located in Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales coast, the attraction welcomes visitors from across Australia and beyond, offering a wide range of family attractions including the famous Toboggan Ride overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

As visitor numbers and attractions have grown, maintaining the highest standards of operational safety has become increasingly important. The park required a durable, low-maintenance walkway solution to provide safe maintenance access alongside its popular Toboggan Ride, enabling staff to carry out inspections and maintenance activities efficiently while ensuring uninterrupted operation of the attraction.

The Toboggan Ride remains one of the park’s signature experiences, carrying guests along more than half a kilometre of track with spectacular coastal views.
To support ongoing maintenance and operational requirements, dedicated access walkways were required along both sides of the ride. The solution needed to withstand outdoor exposure, provide reliable slip resistance in all weather conditions, and minimise ongoing maintenance requirements for the park’s operations team.

The Big Banana Fun Park selected d² Dura Grating 38mm Standard Mesh to create robust maintenance walkways capable of delivering long-term performance in a demanding coastal environment.

A Lightweight, Durable and Sustainable Solution

Manufactured from Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP), d² Dura Grating 38mm Standard Mesh combines high strength with significantly lower weight than traditional alternatives. The patented system is up to 33% lighter than conventional GRP grating products while maintaining exceptional structural performance.

Traditional GRP grating systems have up to 48% more embodied carbon than d² Dura Grating 38mm Standard Mesh.
The lightweight design simplified installation and reduced manual handling requirements, while the corrosion-resistant GRP construction provides excellent durability.

The open mesh configuration allows water, dirt and debris to pass through the surface, helping to maintain safe footing and reducing cleaning requirements. Combined with a high-performance anti-slip surface tested to more than one million footfalls, the system delivers dependable safety for maintenance personnel throughout the year.

Supporting Long-Term Operational Performance

Unlike traditional steel walkways, GRP does not rust or corrode, making it particularly well suited to outdoor leisure attractions exposed to moisture and changing weather conditions.

The anti-slip surface helps reduce the risk of slips and falls during inspection and maintenance activities, while the material’s non-conductive properties provide additional safety benefits in operational environments.

Beyond performance, d² Dura Grating supports The Big Banana Fun Park’s sustainability ambitions. Supported by a verified EPD and a design focused on reducing raw material consumption, the system helps minimise the environmental impact of infrastructure upgrades while delivering long-term value.

At end of life, the grating can be repurposed, supporting circular economy principles and reducing waste associated with future asset replacement.

Results and Impact

• Safe maintenance and access walkways installed alongside the Toboggan Ride
• 33% lower embodied carbon than conventional GRP grating solutions
• Corrosion-resistant performance ideal for coastal environments
• High-performance anti-slip surface tested to over one million footfalls
• Reduced maintenance requirements compared with traditional materials
• Backed by a 25-year warranty for long-term confidence and value

The Toboggan Ride is one of our most popular attractions and maintaining safe access for our team is essential. The GRP walkway solution provides a durable, low-maintenance surface that performs well in our outdoor environment and supports the safe operation of the ride.

Scott Baxter

Development Manager, The Big Banana Fun Park

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