A man who defiantly disregarded court orders to dismantle an unauthorized backyard cheese production facility from his Adelaide home has been found in contempt and ordered to pay a staggering $120,000 in legal fees. The Environment, Resources, and Development Court ruled that John Kitsis, despite lacking the necessary approval from the City of Charles Sturt council, constructed a cheesemaking business at his West Croydon residence. The court issued an order for removal in March 2020, but it wasn't until June 2025 that Mr. Kitsis finally complied, several months after being found guilty of contempt in February. Senior Judge Michael Durrant emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, 'This contempt is at the higher end of seriousness.' The orders, issued in 2020, stipulated a 30-day compliance period. The council was first alerted to the unauthorized structures and dairy equipment in April 2018, following a complaint from a neighbor. Mr. Kitsis initially claimed he had approval to operate a cheese business but hadn't started yet. He had previously notified the council of his food business intentions. During an inspection in September 2018, council staff discovered a converted garage and rumpus room, now a self-contained residence with built-in cooking and laundry facilities. The March 2020 court orders mandated the removal of all built-in appliances associated with dairy production. Judge Durrant strongly condemned Mr. Kitsis's prolonged non-compliance, describing it as 'wilful.' Despite Mr. Kitsis's claim that the business was unsuccessful and hadn't generated any sales, the court found his actions to be deliberate. The court also addressed Mr. Kitsis's language barrier, noting that he arrived in Australia in 1990 from Greece and didn't speak English. However, the judge dismissed this as an excuse, citing Mr. Kitsis's ability to communicate with family members and correspond with the council and court in writing. The court also considered Mr. Kitsis's arrest for failing to appear in court and his three-day detention at Port Adelaide police cells as a necessary but regrettable step due to his ongoing disregard for the court's orders. While Mr. Kitsis offered a last-minute apology, the judge deemed it insufficient, as it lacked genuine remorse. Given Mr. Kitsis's limited income, age, and pension status, the judge decided against imposing additional penalties beyond the time already served in custody. However, he ordered Mr. Kitsis to pay significant costs to the council and the court registrar, totaling $123,266.36.
