Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council member and Aboriginal site officer Robert Sampson jnr estimated the Morisset site contained more than 1000 artefacts.

Mr Sampson, who worked as an Aboriginal consultant at the Sydney Olympic Stadium site and the Glendale SupaCentre site, said the views of local Aboriginal people had largely been ignored during the heritage assessment for the marina project.

"It's just a box they have to tick to get the development through," he said.

"A lot of knowledge about the area has been passed down from the old fellas; but the people pushing the project don't want to know about it."

Legal advice about how to protect the area was now being sought.

In addition to sacred artefacts, Mr Sampson said it was likely the 23-hectare area was used as an Aboriginal burial site.

It was also frequented by the Awabakal tribe's totem, the eagle hawk.

"The whole area has a very spiritual feeling about it," he said.

"That's why the Christians set up there, because they knew it was special to the Aboriginal people."

Developer Keith Johnson dismissed the comments, saying all issues relating to the area's Aboriginal heritage had been adequately addressed.

"We have passed all of the Aboriginal tests and there will be further works done as we go through the process," he said.

He said he was not interested in further consultation with local Aboriginal groups.

"I'm not interested in a slanging match," he said.

"The professional consultants have dealt with it."

"We have followed all of the requirements; we haven't done anything wrong. Why do they want to crucify us?"

Lake Macquarie City Council voted seven to five to allow residential and commercial uses on the site this week.