Under the previous council the matter saw a majority vote in support of the demolition of the whole of the old woolstore.

Alderman Finlay said she did not want to retain the whole building but new aldermen should be fully briefed on the plans and public consultation sought.

Under the original North Bank master plan, the old woolstore - which is not heritage listed - was to be partially retained.

Its full demolition has never gone to public consultation.

The council can only offer support for the demolition of the old woolstore, as the final say will be made by the federal government which retains ownership of the building.

Alderman Finlay amended her motion to ensure that works under way adjacent to the site could continue and a time caveat be added for any public consultation process to be concluded by April 27, 2015.

Alderman Hugh McKenzie said he raised the issue around community consultation previously and, after hearing council architectural services manager Matthew Skirving again speak, he was satisfied with the level of consultation.

Alderman Danny Gibson said that although he sought to defer the October decision, he did not see any point in revisiting the issue.

He believed there had been ample opportunity two years ago when the North Bank master plan was open for public consultation that any interested groups should have lobbied then to retain the whole site, but there was nothing.

Alderman Ted Sands said he never agreed with the plan from the start and would not do so now.

The amended motion was lost, as was the overall vote (9-3), with aldermen Finlay, Sands and Andrea Dawkins voting in favour.

Alderman Jim Cox declared once more that despite possible concerns over a conflict of interest that he may have with the developer who approached council to demolish the woolstore, on advice sought it was not a significant conflict.