The public meeting at the Berry School of Arts was scheduled to run for four hours, discussing the proposed development of 42 accommodation units and associated facilities, including a restaurant and function centre, by the Hamilton family at the Rockfield Park property on Kangaroo Valley Road, between Berry and Kangaroo Valley.

A total of 23 speakers were registered to address the panel, including ABC TV presenter Peter Wilkins.

The audience was told Shoalhaven City Council had received 269 submissions from 178 households.

Just five submissions were in favour of the proposal and 173 against.

The council had also received one petition objecting to the proposal.

The first speaker to address the panel, Richard Cullinan, himself an architect, said he had dealt with a number of such projects, and could not believe the proposal was being planned for the location.

“How anyone could think to place this on top of Berry Mountain beggars belief,” he said to applause from the crowd, many of whom were wearing No Rockfield Park Development T-shirts.

“I know this sort of development intimately – the noise, the traffic, dealing with the service of alcohol, people who are affected by alcohol, these are big issues.’’

He said the development, which was “disguised” as an eco-resort, was not appropriate for the RU1 rural zoning.

“This is not an eco-resort, it is a wedding and conference centre,” he said.

Ralph Stadus also spoke against the proposal, highlighting the dangers of the narrow roads in the area, particularly Kangaroo Valley and Tourist roads, with a DVD presentation.

“This is one of the most dangerous, if not the most dangerous, roads in the Shoalhaven,” he said.

“Both roads are in a poor condition. They are disastrous and Shoalhaven Council should be ashamed of both roads and the condition they are in.”

He demonstrated the fact by asking the crowd to raise their hands if they had experienced a near miss on the road in recent times and multiple hands were raised.

“This is a deceptive DA and is not suitable for the area,” he said.

Proponent David Hamilton sat in the front row listening to the concerns raised by opponents.