Kiama Council wishes to clarify recent community queries regarding its legal expenditure.
Council's total legal expenditure for the 2024-25 financial year was $2.275 million. This represents just over 2% of Council's overall annual budget, a modest proportion given the size and scale of Council operations.
The figure cited in the most recent Legal Matters Status Report (August 2025) represented cumulative costs across multiple cases, some dating back as far as 2020. It was not an accurate reflection of expenditure in the 2024-25 financial year alone.
Council's legal expenses include both lawyers' costs and settlement costs when Council is taken to court. It is important to note that Council rarely initiates proceedings against others. The majority of our legal costs arise from matters where Council is legally challenged and required to respond.
To provide greater clarity, Council will refine the way these figures are reported in future so that the community has a clear and accurate picture.
