Former councillors including mayor Fred Longmire and Franceco Bruinsma are disputing they moved and seconded a motion to allow five hectares within the Howlong tip to be leased to Cleanaway to build a compost plant.

Federation Council administrator Mike Eden, who had been resisting pressure for a probe on the festering issue, has asked the state government to intervene.

Mr Longmire and Mr Bruinsma have signed statutory declarations the council agreed only to approach Cleanaway and discuss a compost plant on the outskirts of Howlong.

Mr Longmire said he welcomed the investigation.

“This is what I wanted to see happen late last year,” he said.

“I will be happy to co-operate.”

Mr Longmire and Mr Bruinsma were original members of the Federation Council local representation committee.

They have since departed and joined the newly formed Federation Voices Inc which has the minutes issue among its grievances.

Another former councillor, Mark Shields from Howlong, was present at the final meeting, but said that he had departed before the confidential discussion on leasing the land due to work commitments.

Mr Shields is part of the Howlong committee opposing the establishment of the compost plant.

Mr Eden said the matter needed to be resolved.

“I did my own investigation before Christmas,” he said.

“I'm confident the previous council and officers have followed the correct process.”

Albury MLA Greg Aplin said the investigation would  not stop the independent Joint Regional Planning Panel from assessing the compost plant proposal.

“The matter needs some proper investigation to allay any fears people seem to have,” he said.

“(Former) councillors are coming forward with different recollections.

“If there is some disputation this is one way to investigate and get to the bottom of it all.”

Meanwhile, former long-serving Corowa Shire councillor Bill Bott has been appointed to the JRP panel which will determine the Cleanaway development application.