KURANDA residents say their fight against a proposed 11,000-resident subdivision at Myola is not just a case of "not in my back yard".

Opponents of the development handed an 800-signature petition to Barron River MP Steve Wettenhall yesterday, to be submitted to Parliament and Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas.

The proposed development would stretch 6km through the Myola Valley west of Kuranda, along Myola Rd from Jarawee Rd, as far as Boyle's Rd and feature a shopping centre and residential blocks as small 450sqm.

The plan was ticked off by Mareeba Shire Council last week but required approval from Mr Lucas.

"We've looked at this plan closely and it’s not just a case of not in my back yard," Save Myola group spokesman John Beasley said.

"We are not against development. That has never been our position."

Mr Beasley said frogs and palm trees native to the area could be under threat if the development went ahead. He also said the rural feel of the area would be destroyed.

"At the moment it's an area of rural residential blocks, rainforest and some urban lots," he said.

The plan was the second put together for the area as part of the 2010 plan.

Mr Wettenhall said it should be put on ice until the 2025 regional plan was complete.

"The FNQ 2010 regional plan identified the Koah and Myola areas as future development and now we are to the point of amending the planning scheme," Mr Wettenhall said.

"I think it is best to wait until 2025."

Mareeba Mayor Mick Borzi said the amendments to the plan, approved last week, provided better environmental protection than the current planning scheme.