Waikato Regional Council has refused to give its support in principle for the Coromandel peninsula to be established as a heritage region.

Thames-Coromandel District mayor Glenn Leach spent close to two hours fielding questions about the project during council's monthly meeting on Wednesday before councillors agreed it was too early to back the project.

A Thames-Coromandel District Council concept to make the peninsula a heritage region has failed to get support in principle from Waikato Regional Council. Photo: File

"What we're asking for is periphery vision not tunnel vision," Leach said.

"This is about working together to enhance our long term sustainability."

However, confusion was the overwhelming feeling in the meeting, as TCDC chief executive David Hammond presented a concept report from Miles Media - which contained examples from overseas.

But he said there was no proposal document for the Coromandel project.

"The proposed actions in the plan are from Miles Media, they're not our proposed steps forward because we don't have that yet," Hammond said.

"One of the things we're doing is developing a project initiation document which will answer some of the questions of how we're going to do it, what will it cost .. a very detailed document.

"There's very little point to progress it to the investigation if the key parties aren't on board."

Councillor Hugh Vercoe was puzzled by what was being asked of council.

"For us to endorse in principle something that I have no idea what I'm endorsing.. Am I missing something?"

"I don't want to lock you into anything that takes you down a road," Leach replied.

However, councillors agreed there needed to be more detail and more consultation with the Coromandel community before it could support the concept.

Councillors threw out an initial recommendation that suggested Waikato Regional Council would support the concept of a Coromandel Heritage Region and it's early stage development.

And council chairwoman Paula Southgate failed to gather support for a motion that "council supports further discussion and development [of the concept] in consultation with the community...".

Councillor Stu Kneebone seconded Paula's motion, but none of the remaining 11 councillors came on board.

Nine councillors voted against Southgate's motion and two abstained.

Council voted to receive the report and passed a resolution to receive regular updates on the project.

Hamilton Waikato Tourism has backed the idea, and its chairman Graeme Osborne voiced his support in the meeting.

"In terms of kaitiaki, this to me is the right thing to do. That is the important first step. The next step is the commercialisation of our natural heritage assets.

"We've got Maungatautari, we've got the wetlands project down south, and here we have a nice project being worked up for the Coromandel, and it's not just a point of difference."

Following the meeting, Chris Vickerman, president of the Coromandel Property Owners Alliance, said she had concerns over the impact the project would have on housing affordability.

"Part of the promotion of the concept is to preserve the region, but we are concerned it will force people out because it's not affordable.

"What about our grandchildren? How will they afford to live there?"

- Stuff