However, opponents to the project say conditions imposed by the JRPP on the proposed building, such as additional car parking, will raise further questions about Shellharbour City Council's ability to finance the project currently valued at $57 million.

More than 50 people attended the southern region JRPP meeting held at the Shellharbour Club on Monday, with ten speakers expressing concerns.

The panel agreed there were four key issues with the development application: the building's height, traffic management, parking and stormwater management.

While the panel believed height was not an issue considering the "excellence in design", it did impose "tough" conditions regarding parking and flood management.

Planning controls require 112 spaces for the administration offices component of the project, but the development application provided for just 70, with the council proposing the staff parking shortfall be redistributed to other off-site parking areas in the Shellharbour City Centre such as the nearby Gadu Lane centre block car park.

Overall the project had a parking shortfall of 24 spaces.

The panel ruled the project would need to find room within the development for the extra 24 car spaces either through excavation or a reduction in floor area of the building before full development consent was granted.

"This is an area undergoing change ... there is a need for this development to support its own car parking on site," panel member Alison McCabe said.

Traffic lights will also need to be installed at the intersection of College and Cygnet avenues prior to occupation of the hub.

Despite the strict conditions panel member Allen Grimwood said in his opinion the flow-on benefits of the project would generate income and jobs in construction and services.

"These benefits have not been estimated but you can assume the flow-on will be generous," Mr Grimwood said.

"Job creation is paramount to me and I believe the economic impacts will be positive as a result of this development."

Panel chair Pam Allan said it was clear that the financing of the project was a major concern for the community.

While this was something that "fell outside the panel's brief", the JRPP had noted the council had satisfied the requirements of the Office of Local Government in relation to the financial aspects of the proposed development.

Stop the Hub convener Dianne Quinlin said the council now had further questions to answer in regards to its costings for the project.

It comes at a time the council attempts to sell more than $30 million in property to fund the project.

An offer has been accepted on a multimillion-dollar development site at Tullimbar, while negotiations continue over the sale of the council's current administration building Lamerton House.

Shellharbour City Council general manager Michael Willis described the approval as a "step forward", but "extra work" would be required on financial matters.

Mr Willis said the council had consistently said that a construction contract for the project would not be awarded until councillors had certainty that the project would be funded.

Shellharbour City Council received 88 individual submissions - 84 objections; four in support - during the development application's exhibition period, plus a petition comprising approximately 11,500 signatures objecting from the Stop the Hub community group.

The proposed City Hub, to be built on the corner of College and Cygnet avenues in Shellharbour City Centre, comprises new council chambers, administrative offices, meeting rooms, auditorium, library, local history museum, cafe and small retail premises; basement parking and loading facilities and a civic square.