UPDATE Tuesday, 3pm:  The trio changed their mind and removed the sign at midday on Monday when the council was due to inspect the site. 

They say the council has also told them to remove the Jenners Corner sign which will also be coming down.

But they are vowing to continue protest action against the refusal of their DA.

ORIGINAL STORY: "WE'VE only just begun," warn three would-be-developers responsible for erecting a protest sign against Tweed Shire Council at Chinderah's picturesque Jenners Corner.

The business partners in plans for a cafe and boat storage facility, say there will be further protests over the rejection of their $2 million development.

The council gave them a deadline of last Friday to remove the sign. After they failed to comply, the council has now warned they face a fine of up to $3000. But the trio, which includes Banora Point developer Hugh Mackay and his business partners, local builders Luke Manning and Luke Schwanke, are unrepentant.

They say they have been given the runaround, with six figures in time and money spent with nothing to show for it.

"Don't drag us through this for 12 months, waste all this time and money and then go, 'No we don't want boat storage'," Mr Schwanke said.

"Why didn't they tell us that 12 months ago?"

Mr Mackay is to meet with Sydney lawyers this week to mount a Land and Environment Court battle against the DA knockback.

Opposition from the majority of councillors includes that the boat storage would mainly cater to Queenslanders, when basic locals services are needed.

It is also argued that the development would be more suited to an industrial area.

The local residents' association is also opposed to the boat storage, claiming there are enough such facilities already.

But the trio say a cafe alone would not be financially viable, and there are severe limits on what can be built on the flood-prone site.

Council did not wish to elaborate further.