The council's head planner David Broyd told the Examiner the maps relating to the introduction of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft to RAAF Williamtown were released by Defence without any prior consultation with the council.

The council has been criticised for being too rigid in applying the maps when considering housing development.

On Tuesday night councillors held a confidential meeting to discuss a new policy guiding how it might approve homes in noise areas without hitting homeowners too hard with noise attenuation measures.

Mr Broyd said the RAAF maps triggered an immediate, legal obligation on the council to enforce the new noise contours as per Australian planning standards.

He also said repeated requests to meet with federal Defence Minister John Faulkner to discuss the maps and compensation for residents had been unsuccessful.

A meeting with the parliamentary secretary for Defence Mike Kelly has now been scheduled for May 9.

Residents have also suggested that the council could still legally approve development in noise-affected areas by simply including noise warnings on zoning and construction certificates.

But Mr Broyd said it was not that easy.

"That was done from the time the RAAF brought in the new maps in October," he said.

"There is a duty of care on the council, not just to protect the current owners and the noise impact on the them, but the future owners of that property as well.

"The bottom line for council is protecting these residents for health reasons."