ENVIRONMENTALISTS are scathing of a zoning plan but Tweed Shire Council has said its hands are tied.

The draft Tweed Local Environment Plan 2012 is on public exhibition and has drawn fire from environmental groups claiming it does not do enough to protect key areas.

Team Koala president Jenny Hayes said the plan left vital areas in Cudgen and Pottsville vulnerable.

"These sensitive areas are zoned rural without any protection," Ms Hayes said.

"I will be doing everything to make people aware of this LEP."

The Caldera Environment Centre also rejected the plan and called for a "public hearing" as due process was not followed.

Mayor Barry Longland said the only change in the draft LEP was to make the Tweed land zones consistent with the state government's new classifications.

"The minister (Brad Hazzard) made it quite clear that he didn't want any expansion of e-zones (environmental zones)," Cr Longland said.

"People that are upset about it don't quite understand the process."

Cr Longland said any changes to zoning or restrictions on building height had to go through a political process.

The council has planned an additional community presentation about the draft plan.

The extra session at Tweed Heads on January 16 two days before the public submissions period closes on January 18.

The session is at the Tweed Heads Civic Centre's South Sea Islander Room beginning at 5pm.