Nearly two years have passed since councillors unanimously approved a water safety management plan, with the aim of "reducing the community risk of drowning or near drowning incidents" in the Murrumbidgee River.

One of the report's 13 recommendations was to investigate the installation of vandal-proof waterway rescue cabinets containing publicly accessible safety equipment, including potentially a defibrillator.

The plan was due to be reviewed in November 2020 but The Daily Advertiser revealed in January that it hadn't been completed.

Council has implemented some of the recommendations including an "Outback Lifesavers" river swimming education program, as well as public safety awareness campaigning.

However, a council spokesman said the organisation would now wait until it received the results of a separate report, before making any decision on a defibrillator.

"A report to council will be prepared following the outcomes of a Royal Life Saving NSW safety audit which is expected to take place by the end of April," the spokesman said.

It comes as council prepares to start construction in June on the second stage of its Riverside development, a $9.93 million overhaul of the beach precinct.

Royal Life Saving NSW Riverina regional manager Mick Dasey confirmed the audit would take place, saying he would be guided by the results before making a call on any safety equipment.

"It's a difficult situation. For every challenge there'll be a benefit or vice versa," he said.

"It's not just a question of should we put [a defibrillator] down there. There's more to it than that."

Where to put a defibrillator, how to keep the approximately $2500 equipment safe from vandals and whose responsibility it would be to maintain would all need to be considered, Mr Dasey said.

He acknowledged there had been a "public outcry" for a defibrillator and said residents were entitled to their opinion.

The issue of water safety at the beach was thrown back into the spotlight after a near-drowning at Wagga Beach in December, where a man was resuscitated by four off-duty medical professionals who happened to be at the scene.

Felicity Benedyka, one of the nurses who saved the man's life, and her mother Jenny McKinnon campaigned for a defibrillator in the aftermath of the incident.

Dr McKinnon said she was "incredibly disappointed" that council hadn't already installed the potentially life-saving equipment at the "known danger spot".

"It's now the number 9 beach in Australia and it's becoming more and more popular. I think the fact [council] haven't made it an urgent priority is really disappointing," she said.