WALKER Corporation has accused lobby group Redlands2030 of intimidation and disruptive behaviour at talks to explain the $1.3 billion Toondah Harbour project.
Communications manager Dolan Hayes said about halfway through a three-hour session at Cleveland on Friday Redlands2030 supporters hijacked the meeting, jumping on stage and turning the event into a political debate.
"I'd hope that the leaders of Redlands2030 have a think about their actions and consider that this sort of disruption and intimidation, including filming conversations, has the potential to undermine their credibility in the community," Mr Hayes said.
"It was poor form when the group stormed out and gathered outside the front door.
"People who genuinely wanted to come into the session naturally felt pretty intimidated."
Redlands2030 president Steve MacDonald said the developer had refused to allow questions from attendees as a group.
Walker had a massive communications team and the event was part of a one-way, controlled and contrived consultation process, designed to pacify people.
Mr MacDonald said he had asked Walker Corp to convene the meeting differently.
"They declined," he said. "I asked them again. They declined."
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Mr MacDonald said he went on stage to ask attendees if they wanted a group question-and-answer session and most agreed. He also asked people if they supported the project.
"Walker got quite irate about that," Mr MacDonald said. "...I think two people out of about 80 people showed some support."
Mr MacDonald said Redlands2030 had invited people outside to hear the lobby group's views.
"We didn't storm out of the meeting," he said. "...I suspect that more than 80 per cent of the people left the room and came outside and joined us."
Mr MacDonald said many people grew tired of trying to get information from Walker.
Mr Hayes said Redlands2030 had sought to shut down discussion.
"There are plenty of opportunities for Redlands2030 to hold their own information sessions and promote their own agenda, which they frequently do, but they need to allow the broader community to attend sessions in peace and make their own minds up about the proposal," he said.
Mr Hayes said Walker would continue to engage with the community despite the threat of disruption by Redlands2030.
Environment and community groups have fiercely opposed the project, raising concerns about its impact on a Ramsar site, the loss of public space, impacts on koalas and foreshores, and road and public transport issues.
The deadline for comment on the draft guidelines for the project's environmental impact statement must be submitted to the federal government by March 6.
Walker will hold another community drop-in session at the Dunwich public hall, 6 Ballow Road on Saturday from 10am to 1pm.
The federal government draft guidelines for the EIS:
