The council's senior strategic land use planner, Alexandra Macvean, said the review would help assess proposed heritage items nominated in the Great Lakes Heritage Study in 2003.

"At the conclusion of the Heritage Study Review it is anticipated that the council will have a list of all items of heritage significance, an amended and updated version of the Heritage Study and a recommendation to list the items of heritage significance within the local government environmental plan," she said in her report to the council's most recent strategic meeting.

The council's heritage adviser has completed stage one of the three-part review.

This stage involved assessing the heritage significance of cemeteries, public spaces, marine, trees and environment, memorials and bridges.

Over a three-month period 54 sites were visited with 35 of the items considered "easily listable" heritage sites.

These include the Tea Gardens and Bulahdelah War Memorials, the Tea Gardens slipway, the old ferry approach at Hawks Nest and the well for sawmill at Nerong.

Six items were already heritage listed and the remaining sites, including old vessels and wharf timber at Pindimar and the Tea Gardens General Store, were put on hold due to access difficulties and will be assessed in stages two and three of the review.

The entire Heritage Study Review program is expected to take about 18 months to complete.

The council expects that by the end of the review there will be a clear list of all items of heritage significance.