Council opposed the proposal on the grounds it did not want an industrial type business in a residential area, and were worried the couple may extend their business from the sale of tyres to fitting and changing tyres on vehicles.

Council acknowledged that while the applicants proposed to store the tyres behind a chain link fence along the driveway, it was also concerned about the possibility of an increase in traffic on the residential street.

But the Walgett Shire Council depot is located directly across the road from the couple's residential home, and there are a number of other industrial businesses operating in residential areas of the Ridge.

Council's opposition to the application came following advice from environmental service manager Matthew Goodwin that it would be ideal not to have more industrial type businesses in residential areas. But Lightning Ridge is zoned as a village, which allows any type of development application to co-exist.

Health and building surveyor Colby Farmer had checked out the storage set-up for the tyres at the applicants' home, and said it passed the safety test.

Five neighbours had also consented for the go ahead of the business.

Lightning Ridge Chamber of Commerce and Industries president Stephen Eldridge said the chamber would seek from council clearly defined rules as to what type of developments were allowed to take place and where.

He said an ad hoc approach might have been acceptable in the past, but not anymore.

"If people want to earn an income, there should be a set of rules governing what they can or can't do." Mr Eldridge said he wanted to highlight the approach council had taken.

"Council should formalise its conditions and regulations and there should be one rule for all.If one industrial type of business is banned so should another," he said.

Mr Eldridge said while he personally felt industries shouldn't be mixed with residences, it appeared the application was retailing tyres and not providing a trades service.