The proposal comprises 42 accommodation units and associated facilities, including a restaurant and function centre.

It is planned for the historic Rockfield Park property on Kangaroo Valley Road by the Hamilton family.

There is little doubt the proposal will be controversial. The development application has already attracted 37 public submissions.

Berry Mountain resident Ralph Stadus was happy to add his opinion on the subject.

“I think this has shocked almost all the local residents. It is in completely the wrong place and locals want the Hamiltons to realise that,” he said.

Mr Stadus said he and many other residents were not against the development, just its location.

He said the proposal could work well in a different location, where visitors would have other attractions nearby.

“This is just a plain dumb idea by some people who have enough money to play around with dumb ideas,” he said.

“They should take their money and build something on a site where it will benefit the region.

“It doesn’t make any sense to build it up there. It makes no sense from traffic and ecology perspectives.

“Also, apart from Cambewarra lookout there are no other activities in that area.”

Mr Stadus said the Hamiltons had tried hard with the design but believed it lacked the type of activities that would draw people to the region.

“It looks attractive on a superficial level, but they’re not actually proposing any tourist activities with it.

“And although they’ve labelled it ‘eco’ there’s nothing eco about it,” he said.