A council on the New South Wales north coast has shut down early-stage production for the reality television series Love Island amid concerns about film workers travelling to the region during lockdown.

The Byron Shire Council has placed a stop-work order on earthworks being carried out on a property at Federal, in the Byron Bay hinterland.

Mayor Michael Lyon said the production had applied for permission to film in the shire but had gone ahead with the earthworks before it received approval.

Cr Lyon said the production company, ITV Studios Australia, had not submitted a COVID safety plan or any details of the travel moments of the crew.

Meanwhile, the production of a Coca-Cola commercial has been underway on the beachfront at Byron Bay.

In a statement, Coca-Cola said "the production company has assured us the filming is taking place in accordance with the guidelines provided by Screen NSW in line with Public Health Order".

"We believe that the majority of the team are from the region and those that aren't have been able to travel under the guidelines provided in the Public Health (COVID-19 Temporary Movement and Gathering Restrictions) Order 2021. The production company has advised all efforts have been made to keep the production very small. They also advised all cast and crew are following strict COVID protocols and have been tested according to the COVID Safe Guidelines outlined by the NSW Government. The Byron Bay police were informed a shoot was taking place and have cross-checked the shoot as part of their routine patrols/were satisfied all is in order," the Coca-Cola ASEAN and South Pacific statement said.

But the Byron mayor has questioned how filming a soft drink commercial could be classified as essential work.

Cr Lyon said "you could drive a London bus" through the public health orders restricting travel to regional areas of the state.

"For instance, we had the commercial being filmed on the beach, and that is regarded as a valid reason for them to come up with their drones from Sydney and start filming," he said.

Screen NSW said in a statement "as long as you are working within the Public Health Orders and taking all the COVID-safe measures you can, advice from NSW Health is that screen production may continue".

"However, we ask that schedules are reviewed and anything that can be postponed while the stay-at-home order is in place, is postponed," Screen NSW said.

"Where production must continue, it should continue with the utmost caution and use only essential personnel."

North Coast MP Janelle Saffin has also called for the travel permit system to be better regulated.

The member for Lismore said there was no public record of who was obtaining exemptions to the public health orders, and for what reasons.

Ms Saffin said, with parliamentary sittings suspended, there was no forum to pose these questions and scrutinise the public health orders.

"People from the film industry, if they have been given an exemption by New South Wales they should have to notify at least the mayor, talk it through it with everyone and earn their social licence," she said.

Ms Saffin said the rules around travel exemptions should be tighter and more transparent.

The ABC has sought comment from ITV Studios Australia.