The group has collected more than 12,000 signatures but wants to hit the 15,000 mark by tomorrow.

Association president Jaci Cartwright said the petition could be signed at Horton St, Munster St and Clifton shopping villages, and Laurieton Newsagency. It also can be downloaded at www.foreshoreprotection.org.au

“The petition calls on the Minister for Lands (Tony Kelly) and the Minister for Planning (Kristina Keneally) to listen to the community’s concerns and reject any proposal to allow any foreshore reserve areas to be developed for commercial development and that their concerns be properly heard,” she said.

The association will present the petition to Port Macquarie MP Peter Besseling on Wednesday.

Mr Besseling has urged Mr Kelly to stop the multi-million dollar development being proposed for the slice of foreshore.

He wants Mr Kelly to refuse land-owners’ consent which is needed for a development application to be lodged for the site.

Port Marina operator Ariadne Australia has been selected as the preferred tenderer for a 2.37ha piece of Crown land at Westport.

Ariadne wants a $20 million development including a dry dock and a restaurant.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has commissioned a modified version of the plan which has reduced the scale of the boat storage shed from five storeys to three. The plan, which includes commercial buildings, will be considered at Wednesday’s council meeting.

“We are encouraging all those with an interest in the foreshore of Port Macquarie, in particular the proposals to develop Westport Park with buildings, to attend this meeting to show the level of community concern,” Mrs Cartwright said.