For the first time the general public is getting a peek at artist renderings of the proposed resort at Southlands.

These pictures, part of a collection submitted to the Department of Planning, shows a predominantly glass building standing out above the beach on South Shore in Warwick and clusters of other structures on both sides of South Road.

The vision depicted in the images, from developers Southlands Ltd, is breathtakingly bold ? winning over some, but disgusting others. Jonathan Starling, a 27-year-old local aquarist, started dissemination of one artist impression when he found marketing firm Dana Communications. Its website lists Southlands as a client and shows a promotional video of the planned resort.

One of the impressions shown here today came from that video and was posted to a local website over the weekend. Prior to that, if people wanted to see any plans they had to physically go into the Government Administration Building in Hamilton and make a request. ?I was trying to find out more information on the owner,? said Mr. Starling who opposes the proposed resort.

?It was purely by accident (that I found the photos). It wasn?t difficult. I understand it?s been up for about a month,? he said.

The discovery and subsequent posting may be a moot point however if Mr. Starling hoped to galvanise public support in opposition to the project because the period for public comment has ended.

The Southlands developers, who would partner with high end hotel operator Jumeriah, are asking Government planners for special development orders (SDOs) to push the project through.

If the requests are granted Southlands can bypass many of the normal planning laws which are designed to ensure the public is properly appraised and the rules are meticulously followed.

The very same laws sometimes slow down a developer?s progress. That is why SDOs are often requested.

Craig Christensen, one in a team of developers behind Southlands Ltd, says the image pulled from the promotional video probably differ from the ones ultimately submitted to the Department of Planning last month.

?There?s been constant updates. We?ve constantly been working on improvements,? he said in a brief telephone conversation.

Later in the day Mr. Christensen released two images to and cleared them for publication ? and public consumption.

A few people have already seen the images. Graeme Outerbridge, a professional photographer who has a self-proclaimed environmentally-friendly tilt, calls the Southlands proposal well thought out.

?I?m very supportive of this development. I see nothing wrong with it,? he said.

?I have seen the mock up of it and although there are some concerns about the location as close to the water?s edge as they?ve placed it, I have no problems with the design.

?I think it?s actually quite visionary and brilliant,? said Mr. Outerbridge.

The publicly posted drawing shows a waterside resort in Warwick with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. It would be like nothing else already seen in Bermuda.

The Southlands property spans 37 acres and includes a maze of gardens, century-old trees, and tunnels ? part of South Road would be tunnelled underground.

Milton Raposo of local environmental group Greenrock was already cautious about the project and the images posted online reaffirmed his fears.

?We seem to be putting the squeeze on Bermuda?s resources with four new hotel developments. I think that is very dangerous,? the 33-year-old said.

?I also think it?s pure greed at the cost of Bermuda?s environment. Southlands must be protected.?

Mr. Starling, who may have heightened public attention on this issue with his online discovery, submitted an official letter of opposition to the Department of Planning, particularly its timing.

The public comment period on the development, set out by the Department of Planning, closed on January 5.

Mr. Starling is now requesting the Department of Planning re-open the comment period so that more people are available to participate in the process.

?To allow the initiation of this development,? he said, ?especially the approval of a SDO following such a flawed period of time for objection would be highly unethical and borderline criminal bearing in mind the legacy and impact that such a development would have on our people and country.?