The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Tuesday ruled it would hear Elise Chapman's application to summon 15 current and former councillors when it sits in Bendigo next week.

A four-day hearing for her appeal had been set down in the regional city from Monday, but this development means the schedule will blow out further, possibly until 2017.

Ms Chapman launched the appeal against an independent conduct panel's finding of misconduct in relation to a graphic image she tweeted last year that depicted young girls who appear to have mutilated genitals.

The former councillor sent the image to a supporter of the Bendigo mosque with the comment: "Oh we could have this here too? Would you like your fanny sliced off?"

Ms Chapman is pressing ahead with the appeal, despite not being re-elected in October.

Six other councillors she served with have also left the council.

She appeared by phone at the VCAT directions hearing in Melbourne on Tuesday, as did re-elected councillors James Williams and Rod Fyffe.

At one point, following a series of interruptions, tribunal vice-president Frances Millane asked Ms Chapman to stop talking over her.

When the tribunal heard that former Bendigo mayor Peter Cox no longer wanted to take part in the proceedings, Ms Chapman seemed to become incensed.

"Oh you've got to be kidding," she said.

"He was the mayor. You've got to be kidding."

Judge Millane cautioned Ms Chapman to "keep your comments to yourself".

Judge Millane said she would hear Ms Chapman's application for the summonses next week, but stressed that at this late stage it had the potential to further delay the hearing schedule.

Ms Chapman, who is representing herself, said she wanted to question the current and former councillors on the code of conduct.

She said she planned "to make everything relevant."

Judge Millane: "Well, I can tell you, you may have that view, but you need to know that the tribunal must manage its processes appropriately and that doesn't mean asking every single question that you ... think may be relevant.

"It will be a decision that I need to make."

Ms Chapman: "There'll probably be three or four questions that only need to be asked of each person and it shouldn't take all that long."

Judge Millane: "No, that's not the test is it. The test will be whether the evidence is relevant."

Cr Williams said he was concerned about the delays, which had caused "angst among council" and residents.

The hearing also heard that the council did not believe the new councillors were relevant to the proceedings.

Ms Chapman said she would "certainly do the best I can" to produce her submissions to the tribunal by close of business on Thursday, but that she believed the timeframe was "unreasonable".

"I haven't got representation, all the other parties are represented," she said.

"I will do everything humanly possible to give you what you need and to complete what you've asked for, but if it's not humanly possible, then it's not humanly possible. I'll do my best."

The hearing date has been vacated and a directions hearing is scheduled in Bendigo for 10am on Monday.