Anti-Southlands sentiment is being mobilised on the Internet.

An online petition is shooting for 10,000 signatures and so far it has about 12 percent of its target. The site began accepting petitions on March 10 and already there are more than 1,200 signatures.

The petition’s organiser, Lisa Vickers, is a member of the environmental group Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (B.E.S.T). The lobby organisation is headed by environmentalist Stuart Hayward.

Ms Vickers’ website permits people to include their nationally, location of residence and a personal photograph. Signatories can also leave a personal message. Hundreds of people have offered comments.

Briton Sally Dalrymple wrote: “Once again the signs of greed.”

American Bill Conrad said: “Seems a shame to wipe out so much green space in the name of greenbacks.”

Bermudian Sharla Bean wrote: “The new development is being considered for all the wrong reasons — it needs to stop.”

Southlands is a 37-acre sprawling property of green space on the south shore in Warwick where developers want to erect a five-star cliff side hotel, condos and an employee dormitory. The property owners have requested a special development order which would speed up construction and bypass some levels of public input.

Some consider the proposed hotel as critical to the revitalisation of Bermuda’s tourism product.

Others worry the hotel is a threat to the Island’s limited open space resources.

Overall members of the public have shown keen interest in this project, more than 100 people objected to the proposal when it was first advertised late last year. Now the Environment Minister has taken the unprecedented step of reopening the public comment phase, allowing even more people to voice their objection or support.

The new comment phase closes on March 23. If the current average rate of 305 signatures per day is maintained, the online petition should have almost 4,300 signatures by then. The organiser plans to deliver the petition to the Premier and the Environment Minister so that it is part of the decision making process on the Southlands SDO.

Ms Vickers and B.E.S.T is also a circulating a paper petition to include people who don’t have access to the Internet.The online petition is found at: www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/380235257?ltl=1173923602