Bill Lang has called the laid-back beachside town of Emu Park home for about 40 years, but fears its village atmosphere will be destroyed by a "six-storey mega complex".
"It absolutely sets a precedent," Mr Lang said.
The retiree said the town on Queensland's Capricorn Coast was on its way to becoming the next Gold Coast after a contentious multi-million-dollar building received council support this month.
"There is no doubt that if they allow six storeys in, the next developer will say seven is not much more, [then] eight is not much more," Mr Lang said.
Mr Lang was one of about 200 who made submissions against the original proposal last year, but with demand for housing at crisis point, others have argued it is exactly what the region needs.
Developer's legal appeal
Developer Rob Carr submitted the original proposal in October 2021 for commercial space and up to 49 apartments over seven storeys.
But opposing public submissions outweighed those in support, so the developer revised plans from seven to six storeys and 49 units to 42.
The Livingstone Shire Council (LSC) voted against it in May but the developer appealed through the Queensland Planning and Environment Court.
As part of the court's mediation process, the council this month "resolved to support" modified plans, with the next court date set for late January.
"The developer has provided amended plans that reduce the height from six to five storeys on the western and southern ends of the building, with six storeys remaining for the balance," LSC Mayor Andy Ireland said.
He said a full appeal process would "greatly increase legal costs" and be a "significant drain on council resources".
"The development responds to the urgent need for an additional supply of a variety of housing options, particularly at the southern end of the Capricorn Coast," Mr Ireland said.
"It also provides high-quality short-term accommodation and tourism-related commercial opportunities, whilst delivering jobs and an overall economic boost to this part of Livingstone Shire."
The ABC has contacted Mr Carr for comment.
Mr Carr previously said the apartments would provide much-needed accommodation, and a meeting point for locals and business opportunities to complement growth in the area.
Housing at crisis point
Glen Kable, an Emu Park resident for 22 years, said he had wholeheartedly supported the retail and residential complex when it was first proposed.
"I've got some friends at the moment living in a caravan in my backyard because they can't even get a caravan spot. It's all booked out," he said.
"People come here on holidays and there's nothing to rent."
He hoped the complex could not only provide more housing and accommodation, but also jobs — especially for younger people.
Mr Kable said concerns the town would turn into the Gold Coast were "nonsense".
"I'm sure that people who were here 60 years ago would never have believed that there's a supermarket," he said.
"Life goes on and things have to change. It can't be a sleepy little place with 200 people anymore."
But Mr Lang said the maximum development height, agreed on after community consultation in 2018, should be final.
"What they [council] have done is opened the door for developers with money to decide what the council's town plan will be," he said.
A familiar debate
The familiar tug-of-war between lifestyle and development has been debated in towns across Australia for decades.
Mark Limb, a Queensland University of Technology senior lecturer, said striking the right balance was never easy but most councils aimed to have centralised suburban housing, with density and infrastructure considered in planning.
In terms of precedents being set, Dr Limb said outcomes rested with councils and how detailed their planning framework was.
"I don't think you're going to see it spiral out of control. Six storeys over four storeys, it's not a hugely material difference," he said.
"I don't know if it's going to be a slippery slope as such. It depends on what the council's intention is for that area as well.
"If they've got a very laissez-faire style of planning scheme, then it may allow all kinds of development which they never initially anticipated."
Dr Limb grew up in Cairns and said many towns had a clear progression of development, but the idea one city's growth "opened the floodgates" for all regions was unrealistic.
He said it was common for developers to challenge local councils in court.
"Ideally, planning should be an exercise that is done in strong collaboration with local communities," Dr Limb said.
