Council head planner David Broyd said yesterday it would be legally exposed if it ignored new noise contours, which reclassify almost 3000 properties in Port Stephens as "noise affected".

The contours are based on planned RAAF flight paths for the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.

Mr Broyd said the council has called for a meeting with Defence Minister John Faulkner to discuss the "negative impact" of the contours on residents.

"If we are granted an audience with the minister we will be raising the negative effect the new maps will potentially have on more than 3000 landholders," Mr Broyd said. "It is our hope that [Defence] can take a leadership role in what is essentially a [Defence] issue."

The council has been criticised in recent weeks for the inflexible development guidelines applied to homes in the noise-affected area.

The boundaries shifted to include Medowie couple Mark Strain and Roz Hann's planned home, and they were told they had to meet soundproofing standards before building.

Mr Broyd said the council had an obligation to consider the noise maps.

"We can neither influence the new noise boundaries, nor the way in which development is required to be assessed when affected," he said.

The council said yesterday it would write to all affected land owners.