Kiama Councillor Erica Warren has asked for a full breakdown of how much Kiama Municipal Council is spending on councillor conferences and events, prompted by concerns that public funds may be stretched too thin to justify multiple attendees at external forums.

Her question with notice (Item 19.3 on the agenda for 15 April) seeks details on average costs per event, year-by-year totals, and what has been allocated in Council’s budget for these expenses.

Cr Warren says she’s particularly interested in whether multiple councillors need to attend the same conference, especially when those funds could be spent on community services.

“I understand that the Mayor or Deputy Mayor may be expected to attend some events,” she wrote, “but we have to ask: are these trips all necessary, or are we just used to saying yes to everything and are we coming in under budget annually?”

The CEO’s detailed response reveals that Kiama councillors have collectively spent:

• $21,992 in 2023–24
• $22,336 in 2022–23
• $37,112 in 2021–22
• And $13,369 so far in 2024–25 (with more events to come)

The 2025-26 budget allocates $15,000 to councillor conference attendance.

While some events involve online training or local meetings, others include flights, accommodation, and dinners across destinations such as Canberra, Tamworth, Newcastle, and the Adelaide Hills.

The response also notes that only one councillor has submitted a required professional development plan, despite all being asked in October 2024, something that determines what training or conferences are truly necessary.

Kiama Council has a policy requiring councillors to be endorsed by resolution to attend events, with reports and costings provided in advance. Still, the item raises broader questions about optics and priorities in an era of financial restraint.

Cr Warren also noted: “The new Councillors have already seen that there are many items coming up for the community that aren't in the budget but would benefit the community.

"Items that have been well supported, such as a disabled parking space at Kiama Med Clinic, or the pool cover at Jamberoo Pool. Funds are also needed to plan for a walking track in Jamberoo, which won't happen until we have the money to do the preparatory work so we can apply for grants.

"The list is ever growing and luckily, we are a group of Councillors that want to get things done, but without fine-tuning our spending habits, small but impactful changes won't happen.

"We will begin to see a positive change in our finances over the next 2-3 years, but we need to think about what we can do now, to make an impact.”