The 250-dwelling lifestyle village has been spruiked as a state-of-the-art development but has not convinced everybody in the area of its environmental benefits.

Project manager Simon Divecha said Murraylands Life would have a minimal impact on the River Murray, slash average water use rates by 85 per cent and would also use up to 90pc less power than similar dwellings.

“Murraylands Life will set new benchmarks for modern developments in South Australia and has been meticulously planned to ensure it gives more back to the community than it draws on the environment,” Mr Divecha said.

He said the development had recently been awarded a six-lead EnviroDevelopment accreditation from the Urban Development Institute of South Australia - the first project ever to receive the accreditation prior to development approval.

However, not everyone is convinced.

Neighbouring resident and conservationist Steve Coombe questioned the developments credentials and said it could do better at a recent Murray Bridge council Development Assessment Panel hearing.

“Whilst claims of 6.2 to 6.7 star rating for the proposed dwellings seems commendable, the panel will be aware that as of May 2010 the minimum standard for new dwellings is six star,” he said.

“If this development is as clever as we are being led to believe it is, why are the houses merely complying with the standard rather than exceeding it?”

Mr Coombe said he was also concerned about the financial cost of some of the water and power saving technology, which he said may need to be shouldered by ratepayers if the development failed.