TWEED Shire Council has imposed a 20-year moratorium on development of a dam at Byrrill Creek, but not before Mayor Barry Longland took some heat from his fellow councillors.

Cr Longland tried to get an amendment about raising the Clarrie Hall Dam on a notice of motion from Cr Dot Holdom at Tuesday's council meeting.

Cr Holdom wanted the 20-year moratorium on the controversial Byrrill Creek Dam proposal.

Cr Joan van Lieshout, an opponent of raising the Clarrie Hall Dam, was out of the room because of what she called a perceived conflict of interest in the Byrrill Creek Dam.

Her husband owns property near the proposed dam site.

"I firmly believe that we have a responsibility to provide the officers with the means to secure water augmentation," Cr Long- land said. "We have reached a stage now where there is no option.

"I think that is irresponsible and given another chance I would do it again."

Cr Longland said he thought he would receive the support of Councillor Katie Milne.

In a statement on Thursday Cr Milne said: "My concern is that there was no analysis in the council reports on whether it's possible to avoid dam building, or if we could achieve this with the major new developments."

Cr Kevin Skinner, who supported a dam at Byrrill Creek, was shocked at the Mayor's move to amend the motion while Cr Van Lieshout was absent from the chamber.

"You are excluding her from the opportunity to vote," Cr Skinner said.

"This is wrong."

Cr Warren Polglase was more measured in his response but was just as scathing on the Mayor's decision.

"What you have done here was that you combined the two and it looks bad to the community," he said.

"This proposal, if it is successful is a 14-week wonder (referring to the election in September).

"This will create conflict in the community from tomorrow."

- Cr Longland