General manager Des Jennings last month tabled a recommendation to develop a master plan for the town's foreshore.

Councillors rejected the plan 7-2.

Mr Jennings' recommendation also involved comparing the costs of "suitably qualified consultants, to devise the plan".

"One of the drivers for recommending this master plan is the expressed community concern that improvements to the area have been ad-hoc and are generally not sympathetic to the natural and built environment," Mr Jennings wrote in his report.

But seven out of nine councillors agreed that the council was working on too many plans and wanted to see some of them implemented before any more were drawn up.

Councillor Margaret Osborne supported the proposal but said now was not the time to implement it.

"I don't have a problem with it but let's see some action on other plans before we start developing more plans," she said.

It is estimated it would cost the council between $20,000 and $40,000 to develop the plan.

Councillor Reon Johns and Deputy Mayor Hannah Rubenach supported the motion.