STILL HOPE: Ballina’s Big Prawn could stay at West Ballina, with Bunnings proposing to keep the crustacean.

STILL HOPE: Ballina’s Big Prawn could stay at West Ballina, with Bunnings proposing to keep the crustacean.

THERE is life left in Ballina's Big Prawn.

Bunnings, which now owns the West Ballina site, this week it wants to keep the giant crustacean to welcome shoppers to the proposed new store.

Managing director, John Gillam, said the company had recognised the "importance of the Big Prawn to many in the Ballina community".

"At this stage as part of our development we hope to refurbish the existing giant prawn structure and relocate it near the entry to the site," he said.

"A development application has recently been lodged with council for the new store and a community information session will be held on November 26.

"If approved, this development will replace our existing Ballina store, employing all 40 current team members from there as well as a further 70 new permanent positions."

The development application for the Bunnings store, complete with the prawn, is expected to go on public exhibition by the end of the week.

The demolition of the Prawn was approved by Ballina Shire Council in 2009, and the site sold to Bunnings this year.