Mr Poidevin has written to council, member for Albury Greg Aplin, NSW local government minister Gabrielle Upton and the Office of Local Government asking that council take “appropriate steps” to prove Cr Whitechurch didn’t have a conflict of interest in the pool debate.

Cr Whitechurch moved the council build a 50 metre pool and splash park in preference to an indoor pool complex with a 5-4 vote in support.

The first-term councillor is also a member of an investment group wanting to lease community land near the Corowa pool site to build a fun park with water slides proposed.

“Any action taken by council in relation to a new swimming complex could have a financial impact on what the investment group has done, has purchased or has proposed for the future,” Mr Poidevin said.

“It has got to the stage where it needs to be investigated.

“Councillors need to be accountable for the decisions they are making.

“In my opinion there is definitely a conflict of interest.

“It’s a business Cr Whitechurch is involved in versus the council and he should not have made any judgment on the pool issue.

“He should not have been in the room when the matter was discussed.”

Mr Poidevin said if his complaint was proved correct the council resolution should become “null and void” which would re-ignite the chances of an indoor pool operating all-year round being built instead of an outdoor pool for 15 weeks of the year.

Cr Whitechurch couldn’t be contacted for comment.

Federation Council’s interim general manager Adrian Butler confirmed the conflict of interest complaint had been raised by Mr Poidevin.

Mr Butler said the matter had been referred to the Office of Local Government to determine the next steps in dealing with the complaint.

The proposed adventure park was last dealt with by council when under control of administrator Mike Eden and no development application had been submitted to date.

Council is pressing ahead with final designs for the new outdoor pool.