Wildlife Queensland is concerned beach bars could pop up on Noosa Main Beach or Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands after a three-year trial was granted on the Gold Coast.
A majority of councillors were in favour of allowing the Kurrawa Beach Club, which has been operating on a trial basis since late last year, to continue trading for the next three years.
The president of Wildlife Queensland's Gold Coast and Hinterland branch, Sally Spain, said the decision was "idiotic".
"I think council is out of touch with the community on this decision," she said.
"It opens the slippery path downwards for shops on the beach and that is something that the public are signalling they don't want.
The environmentalist said it opens the door for other operators across the state.
"This is not just one hotel on the beach, there will be others," she said.
"This Pandora's box has been opened."
No holds barred?
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says the trial will not open the door for other businesses, because the council has a memorandum of understanding with the operator that is subject to review and evaluation.
"It's not open for everyone," he said.
"This is the measuring, planning instrument that we'll be using specifically for the bar."
The three-year trial was granted after a report into an initial trial found 47 of the 76 days the bar traded over summer were impacted by bad weather.
Under the new conditions, the bar will be able to operate for six months every year for the next three years.
Cr Tate said the beach bar was located at the rear of the beach and had minimal impact.
"We've got 55km of beach, I hardly think 150 metres is an enormous amount of stretch," he said.
'Idiotic decision'
Ms Spain said allowing commercial operations on Queensland beaches could put shorebirds and turtle hatcheries in peril.
She feared more bars would appear throughout the "beautiful state, thanks to the idiotic decision of councillors".
But Mr Tate said he was not concerned about the environmental impact.
"With the first trial that we've completed, go down and have a look at how pristine it is," he said.
"They've set it up and packed it up for winter and I've gone and inspected and you wouldn't know it's ever been there."
Broadbeach resident Jenny Kirwan said she was vehemently opposed to the trial.
"It just looks ugly and then there's the stench as you walk past and they're emptying the (portable toilet) sewage," she said.
"One day we were walking past and I saw two girls vomiting.
'The majority rules'
Mayor Tom Tate said that the operators would improve the site now that they were assured of some longevity.
"Last time they literally had four weeks to roll it in," he said.
"But this time … the operator knows that it's not temporary, so it'll be something that they want to be proud of."
Cr Tate said if the current operator withdrew from the trial then it could technically be taken over by another party.
"Me being a servant of the people, a good politician, the majority rules," he said.
"If it's my idea and it's bad then I'll admit to that and make sure that the majority's wishes are taken up."
