BULK earthworks will be allowed to proceed at more sections of the proposed mega residential estate Cobaki Lakes while Tweed Shire Council and developer Leda work out key points of dispute.

At Thursday night's planning meeting councillors voted 5-1 (Warren Polglase absent) to issue a certificate for the earthworks to proceed in an area that will encompass several hundred house blocks.

It means the issue of working out a funding mechanism for the future protection of environmental land at the site will be deferred for future consideration.

The fund has been a sticking point with Leda arguing that the condition is unreasonable.

Cr Carolyn Byrne said earthworks were already under way elsewhere at the site and approving the further works would avert the risk of a challenge in the Land and Environment Court "which we appear to be very close".

Another point of debate, the size of a fauna corridor at the site, has also been deferred amid concerns held by some councillors that it was too small.

Leda regional manager Reg van Rij, who addressed councillors at the meeting, later told the Daily News that they were moving about 12,000 cubic metres a week at the site at a total cost in excess of $30 million.

The council deferred a decision on two dry marina facilities proposed for Chinderah so that more information could be made available about their potential impacts.