Reports from Heritage Victoria and an auditing company clearing current management of blame did little to calm the storm, centred mainly around Loch Ard shipwreck lead ingots and copper sheets loaned to the Warrnambool maritime display centre in 1984.

Former mayor Jacinta Ermacora accused some of her colleagues of participating in an attempt to bring down a council staff member without going through proper process.

She said councillors should not try to ambush officers at open meetings, but work with staff as recommended under the code of conduct. “I can only assume the intent is to bring down an officer rather than work in the best interests of the city,” she said.

“This is another tawdry affair that could have been dealt with without accusations or aggression.

“A process is going on where Flagstaff Hill is in train to become a museum.

“No doubt there will be items that cannot be traced.

“These accusations have been detrimental to staff and hard-working volunteers.”

The investigations by the state heritage watchdog and auditors Crowe Horwath were instigated following controversy which erupted after a report to the December council meeting drew attention to discrepancies in the counting of the ingots.

The auditors’ report, which cost $4500, said: “It is reasonable to expect that a number of items have been legitimately disposed, lost or misappropriated over the life of Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village”.

Cr Rob Askew said he was sick of the scuttlebutt.

Cr Brian Kelson said he had concerns where it seemed if an item was missing for more than 10 years, it didn’t seem to count.

Cr Peter Sycopoulis said the loss of anything was not acceptable.

“Whether it was 10 years ago or 10 days ago why should it make a difference,” he said.

Cr Peter Hulin said he was disgusted with the Heritage Victoria report.

“This report is an embarrassment,”  he said.

“There are a considerable number of items that might be missing.”