Five options to extend the street were presented to the council during the February 25 ordinary meeting, with councillors voting on concept five as the most favourable. This concept would see traffic travel in a northerly one-way direction towards the Victoria Parade roundabout from Yacaaba Street.

It would be a shared pedestrian zone with a wide footpath.

The council's community planning and environmental services manager, Bruce Petersen, said the plans had to take into consideration pedestrian comfort and safety as well as the needs of businesses.

He said concept five would bring business activity back in the vicinity of the town centre.

Former Port Stephens councillor and long-time surveyor Geoff McClelland said he supported concept five, but believed now was the time for the council to look at the overall traffic flow in the central business district.

"Long term it [traffic assessment] would be better for access, better for parking, better for landscaping and more attractive for pedestrians and tourists if there is more greenery around," he said.

A letter from the council's traffic engineer, Joe Gleeson, to Mr McClelland in June 2013 said the surveyor's suggestions had "much merit" and would be "considered as part of any road network improvements" in Nelson Bay.

Mr McClelland has written to the council again to have a traffic flow assessment completed.

The council is seeking submissions.

Concept five can be viewed at the Raymond Terrace council chambers, the visitor information centre and the business association chamber in Nelson Bay until Sunday, April 27

The plans are also available on the council's website.