The proposal included a complex of four, five and six storeys and sought a height variation from the Eurobodalla Local Environmental Plan (LEP) of 5.15 metres or 34 per cent at its highest point.

The council agenda said the LEP defined the maximum building height of the subject site as 15 metres from natural ground level - this one will stand more than 20 metres tall.

It will be L-shaped with a stepped roof line. It will include 16 x 1 bedroom, 32 x 2 bedroom, 18 x 3 bedroom and 1 x 4 bedroom apartments and a basement car park of 93 spaces.

The council said the application was exhibited from May 24 to June 12 and the application was publicly notified in accordance with the council's Advertisement and Notification Code.

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At the meeting, Councillor Lindsay Brown said changes to standards or restrictions were always "fraught with a level of concern" and the argument of why have "standards when they would be broken" was valid.

But he understood there was always room for flexibility under the planning process.

He said one way to rejuvenate the Batemans Bay CBD was to have more people live close by.

Councillor Anthony Mayne asked if there were concerns about a lack of consultation, whether two weeks' extra consultation would help.

Director Lindsay Usher said a lack of consultation had never been raised with him or the council, and the issues mentioned had already been assessed.

The architect Nathan Judd, of Judd Studio, said the project was time-sensitive.

The motion was passed unanimously (Major Liz Innes was absent, while Councillors Maureen Nathan and Jack Tait declared interests in the item, and left the room during discussion and the vote).

The site is located on the corner of Herarde Street and Beach Road, containing a 60m frontage to Beach Road and has views to the Clyde River, Batemans Bay Town Centre and the ocean.