A plan to open a Jurassic Park-inspired activity centre on the main street of an idyllic Queensland resort town is dividing members of the community.
A proposal for Jurassic Falls is currently being assessed by Whitsunday Regional Council which outlines plans for an 18-hole mini-golf course, arcade, takeaway food outlet and waterfall feature.
Since the application was lodged, a petition has been launched urging residents to oppose the development, due to several concerns including the theme and its location on the main street.
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"This isn't just about mini-golf, it's about protecting what makes Airlie Beach special," petition starter Lara Kell said.
"While we welcome more family-friendly activities in the region, our primary concern is the location and design of this project.
"The development fronts directly onto our main street and the inclusion of oversized dinosaurs and a theme park-style waterfall is visually intrusive and completely out of step with the natural beauty and laid-back character of Airlie Beach.
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"As currently proposed, the entrance feature is excessively large, overbearing and visually jarring.
"We do not oppose mini-golf as an idea but we do oppose this poorly considered and out-of-place design."
Residents have suggested a Great Barrier Reef theme to reflect the area's natural heritage.
The Change.org petition also voiced concerns about the potential for an increase in traffic in the area and interference with nearby taxi ranks and bus shelters.
'First of their kind in Australia'
A spokesperson for the Jurassic Falls development said the dinosaurs will be "hyper-realistic animatronic models" which will be the "first of their kind in Australia".
"They will look, feel and move like the real thing, offering next-level interaction with patrons and real wow factor," the spokesperson said.
"Overall our vision for the project is to maintain the pre-existing character of the site by preserving the native trees.
"In doing this we not only minimise the impact on the street facade but also set the scene, using elements of an existing forest to create a natural habitat for our dinosaurs, transporting visitors to a day gone by when these magnificent creatures roamed the earth.
"And yes, even in Airlie Beach!"
The company said while there were other locations around the Whitsundays that would welcome the experience, the company did not own sites in those locations.
"For us, this is about the kids, we are a family-run business with the wellbeing of other families and the Whitsunday community at heart," the spokesperson said.
"We have 18 summers at best with our kids so let's make at least one of those an experience to remember in Airlie Beach."
A history of dinosaur parks
Dinosaur parks are one of the many family-friendly attractions available to locals and visitors in Queensland.
One experience is Australia's Dinosaur Trail in the outback, which allows dinosaur enthusiasts to step back in time and follow in the footsteps of prehistoric giants.
Jurassic Falls is not the first dinosaur-themed attraction to be met with opposition in the state.
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Previously billionaire businessman Clive Palmer ran his own dinosaur theme park called Palmersaurus at a golf course in the beachside town of Coolum.
During the development stage, Palmer defended the idea against concerns that the park would take "a premium resort surrounded by incredible natural beauty" and turn it into the "theme park from the Happy Gilmore movie".
Public submissions for the Jurassic Falls development application will close on May 14.
Whitsunday Regional Council has been contacted for comment.
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