THE university academic behind a community survey on controversial council development plans for Cabarita Beach has hit back at what she says is "politics at its worst" played out by Tweed Shire Council in trying to undermine her work.

Griffith University researcher Dr Kerrie Foxwell-Norton has defended her survey, which attracted more than 750 re- sponses from residents of Cabarita Beach and surrounding areas, saying her methods were sound and "have been reviewed by my peers".

Council general manager Mike Rayner sparked a separate controversy in addition to the council's support for a huge caravan park and nearby housing development on crown land at Cabarita Beach after he commissioned a Sydney firm to criticise Dr Foxwell-Norton's community survey.

She was asked to do the survey by the Cabarita Beach/Bogangar Residents Association which has been arguing a huge proportion of the community is opposed to the council-backed developments.

"The main issue is the way the council is playing politics and trying to undermine my research," said Dr Foxwell-Norton.

"My concern is 750 people is a lot of people to have responded to that survey.