The club has applied for a DA to extend existing 10 sites to 37

According to many of the residents, only a handful of households were told about the proposal via mail, which arrived in letterboxes on March 3. They have just 20 days to voice their concerns.

"I live in a complex of four and only one resident received the letter," resident, Greg Fall said.

A lot of people had no idea what was happening

The letter was dated February 25, we have until March 23 to reply, he said.

Sporties Tuncurry has lodged a development application (DA) to convert ts existing RV (recreational vehicles) site to a car park and to extend camping facilities from 10 to 37 across the front of Pacific Parade and on to Beach Street.

The existing park was established about two years ago specifically for self-contained caravans and motorhomes on a trial basis.

The DA does not include amenities, an unpleasant problem; residents have regularly witnessed campers disposing of toilet waste on the nearby grass verge and near the campsite.

"The club doesn't check to make sure the vans have toilet facilities; it is not policed," Brian Rudkin said.

He said the smell could be unpleasant at times.

Mr Fall said residents were not against progress or tourism or the proposed site on Beach Street, but objected to the removal of the existing buffer of trees and the potential consequences mainly increased traffic.

"The trees also provide shelter for a lot of birdlife, and even the odd echidna," he said.

"We want to keep this area natural."

They group already suspect some of the trees have been poisoned.

However, an arborist claimed some trees had been 'infected' and had to be removed.

The also believed the glare of LED security lights also will become a greater problem without the buffer of trees.

"The glare from the lights can be quite horrendous at times."

Ken Baggs believes this project is only the beginning of conversion into a 'full-blown' caravan park.

Addressing the claim not every ratepayer received notification of the club's planned camping ground, MidCoast Council has extended the period for submissions by another week to March 30

"We do understand the community has some genuine concerns regarding the proposal so to allow them to express their views to us, a decision had been made to extend the deadline for submissions to March 30," MidCoast Council liveable communities director, Paul De szell said.

Mr De Szell did acknowledge the club had been operating a campground without approval allowing visitors to park self-contained RVs and caravans in parking areas around the club for overnight stays.

"With the relaxation of COVID restrictions the club sought to re-open the site for camping."

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"At that point we advised the club that an application would be needed and a determination made by council before any camping could take place."

The application proposes 37 sites for the parking of registered moveable dwellings.

The sites will be established on existing grassland areas and will generally be 12m x 5m.

There will also be five double-sized spaces (24m x 5m) for longer moveable dwellings.

Notification was given to neighbours as per the requirements outlined in council's community participation plan, which provides for a 14-day notification period for this type of development.

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