In a question with notice to Thursday's meeting, Cr Whipper asked: "Is it the case that any councillors have in fact received election campaign donations from anyone associated with the Woolworths development, and if this is the case, wouldn't it be in the interests of those councillors and this council to be seen as transparent by the public, the government and ICAC and therefore declare any related interests and take no part in any debate relating to the development?"

The question prompted a heated response from councillors elected on Deputy Mayor Nick Campbell-Jones' Group D election ticket, which included Malcolm Murray, Penny George and May King.

The group received a contribution of $2000 from Copeland Development Pty Ltd, trustees for the owners of part of the proposed site for Woolworths' Mittagong Marketplace project.

Cr Whipper said that the question had been raised as a "matter of principal", in response to questions asked by members of the public and was not directed specifically at the Big W development or individual councillors.

But Cr Malcolm Murray described Cr Whipper's question as "just another Big W stunt".

"There is no doubt at all that this is all about the Big W issue," he said. "You don't want any development in this area, no progress, no growth.

"That's what you're all about and that is what this is about."

Cr Murray said that the Copeland Development contribution did not constitute a pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest under the model Code of Conduct for NSW councils.

Cr Campbell-Jones said the public was aware at the time of the election that 36 per cent of his team's campaign contributions came from development and real estate interests.

Cr Whipper's question was yet another way of stalling the Big W development, he said.