But the residents, stung by a change to noise guidelines, say it's time the council stood up to the RAAF about planned flight paths that classify their property, and hundreds of others in Medowie east, as noise-affected.

Mark Strain and Roz Hann were told by the council their property was not noise affected and had planned to start building at the same time as noise contours were redrawn late last year.

Their land was reclassified, forcing them to add insulation worth $25,000 to the plans.

Mr Strain said yesterday the family had "lost faith in the council process" after council staff recommended their application to build without soundproofing be refused.

That's despite the couple's property being just 50 metres inside the noise affected zone, and a Department of Defence draft Public Environment Report that said soundproofing was not necessary.

Mr Strain described the situation as "ridiculous" yesterday.

"The council resolution from December 15 required the staff to come up with a solution that enables exceptions for people in our situation" he said.

Mr Strain and Ms Hann stressed yesterday they were not complaining about aircraft noise, which will only affect them for eight hours each year, but the rigid council approval process that would force them to install costly and unwarranted noise insulation.

They said the council should have told the Department of Defence that noise contours for the joint strike fighter aircraft that place thousands of Port Stephens properties in the noise affected area were unacceptable.

"Why isn't our council sticking up for the community?" Mr Strain said.

An extraordinary council meeting will be held tomorrow night to discuss the development application, which council staff say could set a precedent for future developments.