The TRRA have been calling for an investigation into the mayor since March, when it was revealed Cr MacKenzie helped organise the campaigns of several other "independent" candidates in the local government election.

Now the group says, with the recent actions by ICAC in relation to the state government, they too would like to see the Port Stephens mayor considered by the commission.

"ICAC has displayed their claws," president Terry Walls said.

"We have ongoing concerns about the behaviour of the mayor during the last local body election."

Cr MacKenzie has continually denied any wrongdoing in relation to his tactics at the past election but was not available for comment in this story as he was overseas.

Labor candidate for Port Stephens Kate Washington weighed into the discussion, going one step further in calling for an independent review of Port Stephens Council's planning decisions since Cr MacKenzie took the chair of mayor.

"It is clear to our community that our council is not following proper process when it comes to making planning decisions," she said.

She cited criticism from the RAAF for council's approval of a new residential development in an area identified as being noise affected and comments from the RFS due to council's approval of residential builds in contravention of minimum fire protection standards as just some of the examples.

She has also called into question the relationship between the council, the mayor and developer Buildev.

Buildev's Darren Williams - a business associate of Nathan Tinkler and an executive with development group Buildev - has been in the ICAC spotlight in relation to Buildev's secret payments to an alleged slush fund.

The department of local government and the election funding authority have been unmoved by calls and have not confirmed they would take any action.