"My boys will have grown up by then and we'll have missed out," Katy Kruzins said.

The mother of two, with a third due soon, was among 100 people who met with Cr Geoff Dingle last week to discuss infrastructure needs. The Ferodale Sports Complex plans, which came back to council on Tuesday night, angered residents.

The council maintains the club won’t be used a licensed venue but the size of cool room facilities makes Fern Bay residents think otherwise.

"There should be a caveat that council has to pay the money back immediately if the Medowie sports club ever becomes a licensed venue,” Ms Kruzins said.

A council spokesman said the community had been consulted despite sentiment to the contrary. The spokesman pointed to the month-long consultation period during which the plans were on display at the council’s admin building, at branch libraries and online, as well as at Medowie Community Centre.

“Internal lendings for the [Medowie] project included $1.7 million from the Fern Bay Section 94 fund to be repaid over 10 to 15 years, and will not compromise existing or future works programs within either the Medowie or Fern Bay catchments,” he said.

“Council has been working with the Fern Bay Hall Committee and Fern Bay Tennis Club on the design for the new multi purpose community facility at Fern Bay.”

Cr Dingle said it wasn’t enough.

"Fern Bay’s real concern is that council hasn't gone far enough to inform them of this borrowing arrangement ," he said.

"The residents not only wanted to talk about that but the new community hall, pedestrian access and a commercial centre."

Cr Dingle said more residents should have been involved to help maximise the new hall’s floor space.

"I want the architect to sit down with the community and consider their needs," he said.

Medowie sports club supporter Cr Steve Tucker said there was nothing extraordinary about borrowing developer contributions.

"Funds get shifted around all the time to pay for different things but the money gets transfered back in the end," he said.

The council has previously borrowed Fern Bay funds to complete the Birubi Point surf life saving club facilities. 

"The trouble with most section 94 funds is there are so many restrictions on how it can be spent unless there is an [voluntary planning] agreement in place," he said.