The Government announced this month a 1% discount per working day to a maximum of 50% for councils exceeding the time limit.
Cr Louise Croot said the "devil would be in the detail", so the council needed a detailed report on the implications of the whole process.
Council resource management director Dr Selva Selvarajah said the council, in response to the Simplifying and Streamlining Act, was already being more vigilant about the quality of the consent applications it was receiving.
That had been met by objections from some in the business community - the very ones the Act was supposed to benefit, he said.
Chief executive Graeme Martin said the changes meant senior and experienced staff would have to assess the quality of applications, which came at a higher cost.
Time pressures could also lead to people making kneejerk decisions, he said.
Cr Bryan Scott said the council should tighten up its expectations and procedures and make its position clear so the community was not penalised.
"We need to develop a process that is fair and reasonable."
