The development application (DA) for stage one of the project to see 29 dwellings nestled on a 112 hectare farm was lodged in March and is recommended for approval by council staff.

Councillors were to vote on the application at the October 14 meeting, but chose to defer the decision after issues of grey water run-off and road safety were brought up during public access presentations.

Port Stephens resident Hilton Goldfinch spoke against the development, known as Shepherds Ground rural landsharing community, saying the access road would need to be sealed to make it safe for increased traffic use.

Current conditions of approval only require 400 metres of the road to be surfaced, but development spokeswoman Lucie Bruvel said the cost of surfacing the entire road would make the project financially unviable.

Despite the delayed decision, with the site inspection set for October 27, there was plenty of support for the development in the chamber.