The council had been due to enshrine plans for Splitters Creek and Table Top at its meeting this week.

However, a perceived need for more consultation with the Rural Fire Service and a lack of change from the original strategy prompted the council hold.

The move means the issue is likely to return to council in October at the earliest, after a decision was already postponed at the July meeting for community feedback.

Cr David Thurley, who initiated the latest move, said he struggled to find changes in the revised strategy and was worried the views of professional planners were not considered.

"What I'm concerned about is that I can't see any modification to this plan, based on the extensive consultation, submissions from residents and submissions from three planners who represented residents," Cr Thurley said.

"I find it hard to believe that they have no merit in any of their proposals and I guess that's why I'm asking for further consultation."

Cr Henk van de Ven said he was keen to hear from senior RFS personnel about the bushfire danger.

"I need to get some more advice if you like from senior Rural Fire Service people who aren't directly living in the area which is under consideration here in this rural land strategy," Cr van de Ven said.

Speaking against the deferral, Cr Graham Docksey also raised fire fears based on evacuation problems with a larger population.

"There are a number of people out there that want no change whatsoever and they're not being considered,” Cr Docksey said.

"I'm concerned... that if we overpopulate areas of Splitters Creek and if the advice of RFS is taken we are putting people's lives at risk."

Cr Alice Glachan, who also opposed the delay, said not everybody was going to be satisfied with the council's decision, but there would still be the opportunity for subdivision applications to be assessed.

Cr van de Ven said he did not believe postponing a decision would disadvantage anyone.

"I think it's good governance on our part to be having those further consultations to see whether we can't find some middle ground between people who want to develop further and those people who don't," he said.

Splitters Creek resident Bert Eastoe, who was at Monday night's meeting, is comfortable with the delay, saying it was important to address the fire concern.