Just over three months after Wodonga Council walked away from a collaboration, Albury is going it alone on the project which was tied to the federal government-funded Twin Cities Regional Deal.

A behind closed doors motion passed this week by Albury Council "instructs" the city's chief executive Frank Zaknich to "re-enter negotiations with the vendors regarding the acquisition of riverside experience lands which were the subject of a confidential report".

That report was discussed privately by councillors at a meeting on March 22 and resulted in a motion that noted with "disappointment" a decision by Wodonga Council to no longer pursue the acquisition of the land on Gateway Island.

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The council declined to answer questions from The Border Mail on the land issue following Monday night's meeting.

A report on the progress of negotiations is required to be presented to the council by July 26 as part of the latest motion.

Wodonga Council has also had a secret discussion about Gateway Island land at its meeting this week.

It involved the transfers of property on the island from the federal government to the council.

It was stated a public discussion of the deal "may inhibit" a process which involves ministerial approval.

The Border Mail understands the motion related to land that previously came under the control of the now defunct Albury-Wodonga Corporation.

That includes areas that have been leased out for quarrying.

In February 2020, Wodonga Council baulked at taking control of federal land on Gateway Island due to the transfer details being excessively convoluted, according to then mayor Anna Speedie who likened the situation to an episode of bureaucratic television comedy Utopia.