Shoalhaven orders cost report on refused development court cases

Shoalhaven City Council has ordered a detailed report on the legal and consultant costs of development applications taken to the Land and Environment Court, after a 12-1 vote at its ordinary meeting on 26 May 2026.

The motion was moved by Clr Casmiri and seconded by Clr Steele. Clr Tribe was the only councillor to vote against it.

The CEO has been asked to furnish a detailed report on the costs involved in development applications referred to the court for determination between December 2019 and December 2024.

Council also wants the report to name the legal firms and consultants used in each case, and to list the cost to Shoalhaven City Council for every matter.

The request sits within a packed meeting that also covered water testing at Fisherman’s Paradise Boat Ramp, a condolence motion for Ballina Marine Rescue volunteers, funding for the Bay and Basin Sports and Community Hub, and changes to the paid parking business case.

That parking report is to be updated to include Mollymook Beach Car Park, Huskisson car parks, Hyams Beach on-street parking and Boongaree Park Car Park in Berry, with a preliminary report due back in August 2026 for possible non-resident paid parking from December 2026.

Councillors also agreed to provide an $8,000 matching contribution for the initial stage of the Bay and Basin Sports and Community Hub Project, with staff to help identify a funding source.

In the same meeting, council resolved to resume water quality testing at Fisherman’s Paradise Boat Ramp and to negotiate a 0.7m AHD Captains Call with Crown Lands.

For residents, the court-cost report should put a dollar figure on how much council has spent defending refused development applications and show which outside firms were engaged.

That is the kind of information ratepayers and applicants often want when disputes over planning decisions end up in court.