Many Augusta residents have clamoured for approval of the development on Lot 10 and a part of Lot 11 Hillview Road, which will feature about 1172 residential lots, an aged care facility, wedding pavilion, nine hole golf course, town square and clubhouse/convention centre.

However, Ms Pasco said there were already many houses for sale in the area, indicating more housing was not needed, and the town was already under pressure from the current plans to stop the on-call weekend doctor service at Augusta Hospital.

As well, she says the area is beautiful and tranquil, and will be ruined by the big development, filling the cleared land against the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge with electric lights at night.

She would prefer to see bushland cleared, she said, than have the site covered in buildings.

In response, Two Oceans Estate co-developer Daniel Avila said the development will be long-term.

“The site may take decades to fully develop,” he said.

“It’s visionary.

“We’ve worked for a long time with consultants to produce a plan to address all the concerns that are part of every development.

“People breathe life into a town.

“We’ve really appreciated Augusta people’s support.”

Two Oceans proponent Ren Lexander, who was in Augusta on the weekend, said the site was “technically described as a degraded site, it’s cleared farmland”.

“We’re planting hundreds of trees, I think it will become more beautiful,” he said.

He said some people were “allergic to change”.

“Augusta is changing, but it’s in the wrong direction, with shops closing.

“We think this (development) is something Augusta will be proud of.

“It will make it a more charming, vibrant place to live.

“There is a screaming need for a retirement village here.”

The Two Oceans Estate Outline Development Plan is out for public comment until September 15.