A SECRET dossier compiled by a major developer accusing Tweed Shire Council of anti-development bias has prompted an official call by one councillor for a formal briefing from general manager Mike Rayner and a workshop session to discuss the allegations.

Cr Joan van Lieshout yesterday revealed she had asked for the briefing as well as the workshop, a request which requires the agreement of the majority of the councillors via a vote by email.

"I will be waiting to hear. We should not be kept in the dark," Cr van Lieshout said.

"It might be opening a can of worms but that's my job.

"If we have a major developer with these concerns, this could hurt our economy as well.".

Last week the Daily News revealed the developer behind the proposed Cobaki Lakes and Kings Forest townships, Leda, had sent senior council staff and councillors the thick dossier which alleged bias in the council's planning department and contained internal emails and other documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws.

However yesterday a council spokesperson said the document, which Leda has declared was not for publication, would not be available under those same laws unless Leda agreed.

"As it is not council's document, council would need to gain the consent of the author before releasing it," the spokeswoman said.

The dossier contains pages of information about environmentalists working outside the council, including details about their personal lives and academic qualifications.

The Daily News has sought comment from two of those people, one of whom was described as "a known Greens Party collaborator", without success so far.