Park resident Margaret Dent said she was first advised of the proposed redevelopment in 2006 and the park residents should have been informed then, giving them a choice whether to remain in the park or go elsewhere.

Local Jan Innes said no money raised through the park seemed to go back to Augusta, and they would end up with a “bigger and better empty town”.

“It’s their asset, their home,” she said of the park residents.

Local James Goodman asked what the proposal would do for Augusta in the long term, saying units could be bought by mainly absentee owners.

Park resident Nick Johnson described the shire staff he had dealt with as “arrogant b-------s”.

Park permanent resident Elizabeth Campbell said she was “really going to suffer from this”, fearing the money she and her husband had spent improving their property would be lost if they were forced to relocate within the park.

“The shire doesn’t seem to realise it’s our home, we’re threatened, we are being treated with disdain,” she said.

Another man queried the shire’s background checks on David Holland of Brighthouse Consultants, as Yalgornup Eco Park, of which he was the director, was now closed.

Leeuwin Ward Cr Mike Smart responded that Mr Holland was past president of the Caravan Industry Australia and was highly respected.

He had made a fantastic impression on the shire councillors, he said.

“We have faith in him and it’s taking it to the edge of slanderous to say someone is incompetent.”

He said it was his intention to help the community, and most of the people he had spoken to on the matter were in favour of the development.

“Young people who work in the shops want to see this town survive,” he said.

“I’ve spoken to Tourism WA’s Robert Inkpen and Mark Exeter, they are totally in support of catering for young people, they don’t want to see them leave.”

He said most of the permanent residents had been given five years to relocate and some semi-permanent residents three years, so they were not being treated unfairly.

“The redevelopment means shire are putting five to eight million dollars into the town,” he said.

“It’s nonsense when you say money is being taken out, it can’t be debated.”

He also said ‘Don’t be Smart’ signs advertising the meeting were ironically put up on empty premises in town.

“Most young people aren’t vocal but they want Augusta to go forward,” he said.

“I’ve had phone calls from half a dozen people, young and old.

“The reality is we have a hospital that’s become a nursing home, a St John Ambulance Service that’s only made up of older people, and empty shops.

“The town is currently beautiful, fragile, and empty.

“It’s time people overcame their self-interest.

“We don’t need to be divided.”

Mr Ellis put the motion that the council be officially called upon not to sell portions of the park “to the highest bidder”.

Former shire councillor Bill Shephard argued that this was a false statement and should not be accepted.

There was a show of hands, but Cr Smart argued that the motion was “a nonsense”, saying the park was not going to be sold–nor, after the motion was amended, was there any point in changing the motion to say “lease” as the residents were already leasing.

Local Barry Purcell suggested a motion for a full environmental impact statement on the site and a noise impact study.

Cr Smart again said that was pointless as the shire did this as a standard process when a development proposal was put to Council.

Mr Ellis withdrew his motion and Mr Gilmour said they would instead forward the list of concerns to the shire.

After the meeting, Cr Smart said he felt it had been a good forum to dispel some of the misinformation circulating within the community and for affected park residents to voice their concerns.

“The inability of the meeting to structure or support a motion of any form, reflects the division of opinion within the community,” he said.

The shire’s Cary Green said the meeting had been reasonably constructive.

“I was happy that there were positives and concerns on the table,” he said.

“It was a balanced meeting and I look forward to the submissions coming through.”

He said there had been extensive consultation on the proposal, including a shire-hosted meeting, an onsite meeting at the park, and full page newspaper advertisements.

He also said he was disappointed by the personal attacks on Cr Smart but acknowledged it was an emotive issue.

“He’s doing what he believes is best for Augusta,” he said.

There was misunderstanding in the general community about the proposal, he said, and reiterated they were not going to evict anyone.

“We’re not selling the land, it’s a form of asset banking, a business process.

“We’re not selling any of the assets.

“If we were selling it would be fair for us to be criticised.

“(But) Cr Smart made a very good point, the majority of the business owners in Augusta are 100 per cent behind this project, it’s going to provide them with extra patronage, it’s a $5 million to $8 million project.

“There’s got be money through Augusta’s economy, it’s going to create jobs.”

Submissions on the proposal close tomorrow.

• See page 9 for the shire’s latest offer to the park residents.