COTSWOLD Hills residents say their rural lifestyle is under attack with a developer seeking to turn three properties into a 194-lot estate.

A concerned citizens' group has been formed to fight the project which will appear before council's Development Assessment Panel today.

Group spokesman Rod O'Connor said the rezoning of rural-residential areas to "emerging communities" meant several suburbs were at risk of unwelcome overdevelopment.

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Currently, Drayton, Glenvale, Torrington and Cotswold Hills all fall under the zone.

"We see this as a 'test case' for the new emerging community developments which changes such areas from 2.5 dwellings a hectare to 15 a hectare, or as high as 80 high-density dwellings a hectare under the new emerging community zoning." Mr O'Connor said.

"There are community expectations which have not been considered.

"There is a lot more suitable land available for higher density living for those who choose that lifestyle, leaving these areas for the current lifestyle choices our community prefers and enjoys."

Council's Development Assessment Panel will consider the application at City Hall at 1pm today.