In consultant's recommendations, now with the council as part of the Nelson Bay 2030 strategy, five storey development has been suggested for the waterfront and Apex Park.

Now there are concerns the council will have limited or no say on what is built there.

Mr Broyd said while either the Minister for Planning or the Hunter Joint Regional Panel [JRP] would have the final say on Nelson Bay foreshore developments, depending on the value of development applications, the JRP would have to take into consideration any framework and controls put into place by the council.

"Council continues to work closely with the Land and Property Management Authority to integrate planning for the business district and the waterfront," Mr Broyd said.

The NSW Land and Property Management Authority has named Ardent Leisure, the investment company which owns d'Albora Marinas, as its preferred developer along the foreshore.

Mr Broyd also refuted claims made by resident groups that money spent on consultants to integrate the foreshore and the CBD was being wasted.

"The planning controls for the town centre and waterfront need significant upgrading for both State Government and council decisions on development applications," he said.

Mr Broyd said the town centre and waterfront needed to be linked.