PORT Campbell locals are calling for a group claiming to represent the coastal township to reveal its membership base.
Residents and business owners are concerned they know little about the association calling itself the Port Campbell Community Group.
Formed six years ago, the group has strongly voiced its opposition to the Southern Ocean Beach development -- a 97-room motel complex planned for the town's headland.
Brett Wallace is one resident who said he knew little of the group. He told The Standard he did not object to the association's work, he just wanted to know how many full-time Port Campbell residents were members.
The group maintained it did not have to reveal its members and said it had strong community support. Mr Wallace's comments came after The Standard and other south-west media outlets published a letter from the association's Warrnambool-based president Donald Swanson.
Mr Wallace said many locals, including a resident whose family had lived in the Port Campbell community for generations, did not know of Mr Swanson.
"The (group's) name has connotations that they speak on behalf on the community," Mr Wallace said yesterday.
"What they are talking about, the point (headland) and erosion, might be valid, I haven't really got into it.
"But there needs to be more transparency."
Information obtained by The Standard revealed the group's postal address was in Camperdown. Mr Wallace said Friends of Port Campbell might be a more accurate name for the group, if the majority of members did not use the town as their principal residence.
Mr Swanson told The Standard he would raise any local's concerns at the group's annual general meeting, which is only open to financial members, tomorrow night.
"We want to be taken seriously," Mr Swanson said.
"I always look at going the sensible way and take time to look at things closely."
But group secretary and founding member Marion Manifold said the incorporated group was unlikely to change its name.
"An incorporated association is a legal entity endorsed by the Government, and there is no reason to change a name," Dr Manifold said.
"It's part of a democracy that people can form groups and name them what they like.
"A significant number of members are local residents. The group also receives a great deal of support and respect from a wide range of community members who are friends of the group, members of parliament, heritage and environment groups, and specialists in various fields."
Dr Manifold said the group's aim was to protect the headland and it would fund-raise to revegetate the clifftop.
"I would think anyone in Port Campbell should be proud of the group's achievements," she said.
"We are advertising for membership soon and look forward to new members joining."