Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast says a city councillor who has lodged an appeal with the Environment Court against a proposed indoor sports centre has abused his position.
Councillor Andy Foster is appealing against the planned venue in Kilbirnie on the basis it is not the best place for it.
Ms Prendergast says the council spent nearly $1 million looking at alternative sites which added another year's delay to a project that was first proposed nine years ago.
She says Mr Foster did not attend the meeting when councillors voted 14-0 in favour.
Ms Prendergast says the appeal will cause months of delay and cost ratepayers "hundreds of thousands of dollars".
However, Mr Foster says that, at a meeting last year, councillors were locked 7-7 over the issue, but quickly changed their tune at the crucial vote a few weeks later.
He says an indoor centre next to the Wellington Stadium is a better location and should be investigated openly and fully.
