"THE fight to save Airlie is not over, it has only just begun," said resident Roger Down as he spoke to the Fight for Airlie rally on Saturday afternoon.

Perched atop a step ladder in front of a crowd that police estimated to number 250-300 people, Mr Down thanked the crowd for their attendance and issued a pointed warning to those he saw as responsible for the draft planning scheme and the associated increase in building height restrictions to eight and 12 storeys around parts of Airlie Beach.

"You folk are Airlie's heroes," he began.

"You, we, I, would not be here today had we not conducted such a spirited defence against the self-interested people and groups who put profit before identity at the PCYC.

"Whitney's block of councillors - Clifford, Atkinson and Collins - were five days from sneaking this radical plan through under the radar.

"Contrary to her statements 'it was just the start of public consultation', it would only require a government rubber stamp and be enshrined in law."

Speaking to the Whitsunday Times yesterday, Whitsunday Regional Council mayor Jennifer Whitney said the draft town plan had been workshopped weekly and monthly and each section had been put to a council vote that passed six votes to one.

"Six councillors voted for that each time it went up. The only reason one councillor didn't is because they never showed up to the meetings or workshops," Cr Whitney said.

"What the community needs to understand is that I was at another meeting that night, but councillors Clifford and Atkinson phoned me as soon as the meeting finished and between the discussions of the three of us we saw whether we could extend the consultation time, which we were more than happy to do."

On Saturday, Mr Down said the only public consultation to date over 10 months had been a 300 telephone call survey.

"I say, remember who it was who elected them to office, many on a platform of 'Save our Foreshore'. Hear our cry of the overwhelming majority of Airlie's citizens," he said.

"We say, no, no, no to high-rise development."

Mr Down said residents wanted to retain Airlie Beach's natural outlook and relaxed village atmosphere, which he argued was the town's greatest asset.

"How? It is easy. Amend the new town plan and remove all clauses which allow an increase in building height and/or change to the zoning," he said.

"Remember, all that glitters is not gold. Developers are transitory by nature and predatory by intent.

"Just because a developer is interested in filling his pockets does not mean he has the right to demand a radically taller building footprint.

"Say 'no, move elsewhere.' Just like Byron Bay did for its town precinct, history shows it prospered as a result."

Cr Whitney said she wanted the community to come forward with their comments and their feedback and lodge a submission with the council.

"They've got to have suggestions on a way forward of what a solution is, because that's what's really needed," she said.

A fact sheet on how to make a submission to the Draft Planning Scheme can be found at www.whitsundayrc. qld.gov.au.