Ms Pockley, a committee member of the Yackandandah community committee, said the council had signed a contract to develop offices at Mayday Hills in Beechworth in July without addressing Yackandandah’s concerns.

Ms Pockley said the community deserved another consultation.

“We were all aghast at the duplicity of the council doing that,” she said.

The committee had already written to Victorian Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell.

The group will meet with member for Benambra Bill Tilley on Monday in a bid to address their concerns.

Ms Pockley said she received a letter from Mrs Powell yesterday stating it was a council issue.

“She said she does not have the authority to intervene in council decisions,” she said.

“We are concerned there has been no financial or social impact analysis done and I think the minister will write a letter to the mayor requesting advice on that concern and Bill Tilley will brief her further.”

The Yackandandah community committee formed following the council’s announcement about the new developments.

Indigo mayor Barbara Murdoch yesterday said there was a consultation process and they spent six months investigating if Mayday Hills would be a good option.

Cr Murdoch said Yackandandah would have the largest depot and 40 people would still be working for the council in the town.

“We are still working through all our plans and once we get that worked through we’ll be sitting down with all communities and consulting them,” she said.

Cr Murdoch said Yackandandah would benefit from the library that would be open five days a week.

She said the council was planning to look at the social effects.

Community committee member David Bishop accused the council of secretly making the plans for the offices.

“The council were secretive and did not say they were close to signing contracts,” Mr Bishop said.