DEPUTY Mayor John Collins was greeted by the strains of We Shall Not Be Moved as he met Airlie Beach market stall holders outside the Proserpine council chambers this morning.

The stall holders were there to present Whitsunday Regional Council with a petition to retain the market in its current position on the foreshore.

Council is currently considering a revitalisation of the Airlie Beach foreshore that would potentially see the markets moved further back from the beachfront.

Please Don't Move The Markets committee member and stall holder Christina della Valle explained 1121 residents and visitors had signed the petition against the move in support.

"We just wanted to show you that whatever happens, whatever plans come to fruition, that we would love the market to stay where it is," she said.

Ms della Valle said there were two major draw cards in Airlie Beach; these being the lagoon and the markets.

"And there is hardly any maintenance done on the markets," she said.

"But if we move the markets it will die.

"So this is an expression of our strong feeling and (a) thank you for coming out here."

Cr Collins said he would do what the people thought best.

"I can guarantee that I'll be listening to the people, the majority of the people," he said.

"That's how I've always voted, even if it's against my own wishes.

"But at the end of the day, it's a whole council decision and what individual councillors might think about it, that's their business."

Ms della Valle said the stall holders had spoken directly to their councillors.

"So I think the councillors should by now be well informed," she said.

"Oh we're well informed," Cr Collins replied to a round of laughter.

Market stall holder and artist Adriaan Vanderlugt, who sculpted the wallaby that sits outside the Proserpine chambers, said the markets just needed a facelift, not a move.

"It's not broken," he said.

"Just fix the toilets, fix the parking, level up the ground on the beach side and it's done.

"I'm amazed that two minutes ago the council was in financial strife and suddenly we have the money to do what's not necessary."