The push to overturn the staff recommendation was led by Mayor Bruce MacKenzie.

Cr MacKenzie said he called for a DA for the building at 5-9 Memorial Drive, Karuah to be used as a men's shed to the council to discuss the issues behind staff recommending it be refused.

"Because of a few different reasons, staff can't approve it [the DA] under delegated authority," Cr MacKenzie said.

"But councillors can."

Before the council meeting on Tuesday, when the Examiner went to print, Karuah River Men's Shed president John King said he did not wish to comment before the group had an outcome. The Karuah River Men's Shed lodged a DA to repurpose an existing building, previously used as a boat shed, at the Memorial Drive site.

In a report to the council, development assessment and compliance section manager Matthew Brown said the building was in a "dilapidated condition" with the existing decks noted on the plans as "structurally unsafe".

Other issues included the risk of flooding, which could lead to personal and property damage, lack of sewerage and electricity connections and the need for plans for a formal carpark and adequate toilets.

Mr Brown stated the development also did not provide disabled access to and within the building.

"It is noted the proposed use is a highly valuable community use," he said in the report.

"However, due to the constraints of the site in this instance the proposal fails to comply with council's Local Environment Plan 2013 and Development Control Plan 2007 and cannot be supported."

Cr MacKenzie said while he did not think staff were wrong in their recommendation, he would support its approval.

"I think in this instance we can overlook them [the issues]."