Councillors had a lengthy debate about the feedback and merits of the suburb at Monday's ordinary meeting.

The Newcastle Herald reported ahead of the meeting that close to 60 per cent of 1244 community responses had rejected the idea of forging a suburb around the old smelter site in Boolaroo.

Despite staff recommending the plan be shelved, an amended motion moved by Cr Luke Cubis to send the consultation report to the diverse economy portfolio for review passed seven votes to six.

It was mainly the independent and Liberal councillors who got the motion across the line, as all the Labor councillors except Adam Shultz voted to kill off the proposal. Independent Wendy Harrison voted against the amended motion.

Cr Cubis had argued the suburb had "unanimous support from councillors" before exhibition but that had "turned on a dime" after receiving a summary of the feedback.

"We got the what, but we don't have the why," he said.

"Let's send it to portfolios ... so we can make sure we've analysed it."

He had support from Cr Nick Jones, who suggested the council may have sold the proposed suburb wrong.

"I'd be disappointed if we didn't pursue it further," he said.

Cr John Gilbert questioned how the consultation was conducted and slammed input from the Geographical Names Board, which had suggested the suburb would confuse emergency services and hamper businesses in other areas using Lake Macquarie in their names.

"The GNB evidence can be thrown out," he said.

"Sydney and Newcastle each have like-named suburbs in their cities. They've [had] those for hundreds of years."

After Cr Barney Langford queried the integrity of the consultation, staff said every landholder within the three proposed suburb boundaries had been contacted and feedback sought online, among other avenues.

Cr Langford then responded that "the people have spoken, we should listen".

Cr Christine Buckley said the "community had made a decision" and "at the present time feels there are more pressing issues we should be focusing on".

"Central Coast doesn't have a suburb of the same name, neither does Port Stephens," she said.

Cr Wendy Harrison said the council was "flogging a dead horse" if it pursued the idea as the suburb had not been supported in at least two prior council terms.

Cr Adam Shultz said the report deserved further analysis to ensure any future council understood the issues.

"It's easy to say it's done and dusted, let's kill it off," he said. "There could be some elements of merit picked up in the consultation."

Cr Jason Pauling, who last year pushed for community consultation, said councillors had been presented "a summary of the responses at best".

"This needs deeper analysis than it has had before it's put to bed," he said. "

Mayor Kay Fraser she had heard the community "loud and clear" and "we should accept the results".