"It was good to have the presentation," Tasman mayor Richard Kempthorne told the Chronicle.
"Up until now we've heard there was a proposal but were not familiar with the detail."
Mr Kempthorne said there were environmental and engineering challenges that would need to be addressed if the service was to go ahead.
"We've got the Motueka sandspit," he said. "It's a very dynamic coastal environment and it's always changing. It's also an extremely important sandspit because it's the main landing point for migrating godwits."
A channel would have to be carved through the sandspit to cater for a ferry.
"It's a very special place, highly regarded by the local, national and international community," Mr Kempthorne said.
The overall impact on, not just the environment, but things like roading would need to be assessed in detail.
"It's got real potential - it would be a positive thing for employment," he said.
"We just want to look at the implications, so what we suggested is that Midwest formally write to us to seek engagement."
Read more:
•Ferry proposal points to 115 new jobs
•Let's get on board the ferry project
•Study shows single-ferry freight service is viable
The service would be a privately funded enterprise but Midwest has asked the Tasman District Council for $70,000 towards preparing the business case and project director Nik Zangouropoulos said it would be asking Whanganui District Council Holdings for the same amount.
Whanganui District Council has not committed to funding the proposal.
Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall said the council had been helping Midwest with technical and environmental information and with input from members of the Whanganui Port Revitalisation Team.
"We have asked Midwest Ferries to progress with the environmental and technical information needed," Mr McDouall said.
Meanwhile, Mr Kempthorne said there was yet to be a discussion between the two councils.
Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce chief executive Grant Kerr said the ferry proposal had not yet been raised.
"We haven't been approached by any of our members," he said. "But any business venture that is viable would be good for the region."