Mr Pattinson has asked for candidates to support a Rescission Motion at the first Council meeting if they are elected on September 9.

“We want to know what candidates if elected, would be prepared to support a review of the current approach in order to create a better planning and assessment process for the greater community good,” Mr Pattinson said.

“We want to know who would be prepared to support a motion to send this back to the drawing board to achieve a fairer planning outcome.”

Candidate John Horton said he supports development in the region but only if they are appropriate for the community. 

Former Mayor Brian Ingram said the best thing incoming councillors could do would be to view the Forsyth Avenue DA approval as a lesson in what not to do.

“The major issue with this development application was the lack of consultation with the surrounding residents,” he said.

“These people feel they have been treated very poorly in the process.

“Unfortunately for this particular DA, I believe the horse has bolted, but this protest was about making prospective councillors aware of the situation.”

Candidate Margaret Roles said she was sympathetic to the Forsyth Avenue residents’ cause.

“If I were to be elected I would look into the legalities of the Rescission Motion, and if I were able to, I’d support it,” she said.

But fellow Council candidate Greg Armstrong said while it is possible, a Rescission Motion could prove costly for ratepayers.

“Unfortunately once approval is given on a merit based system there is no real opportunity to take back that approval,” he said.

“If the council was to try and do that the applicants may seek compensation through the courts. I’d certainly not like to see the ratepayers of the Hilltops suffer twice due to the failings of the administrator.”