Access to information
Council is committed to the proactive disclosure and dissemination of information about our operations, plans and decisions.
As a Local Government organisation it is required to provide appropriate access to information under the Local Government Act 1993, Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA), Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, Privacy and Personal Information Act 1998 and Health Records Information Privacy Act 2002.
Council publishes a range of information online under the GIPA Act free of charge. Other information may be accessed through either a formal or informal application process.
Open Access Information
The GIPA Act requires certain information to be published on Council’s website, known as open access information. Details and links to this information can be found in Council’s Access to Information Guide under the section ‘Open access information’. If you are seeking Open Access Information that does not appear to be on Council’s website, the below Informal Request application can be used to request the information.
Sometimes Council may determine that there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of some open access information. In accordance with section 6(5) of the GIPA Act Council must keep a record of the open access information it does not make publicly available.
Record of Open Access Information Not Publicly Available(PDF, 206KB)
Informal requests
Council is authorised to release government information held unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information. For information that is not readily available via our website, you can submit an informal request.
Examples of informal information include:
- Development Applications (for example, applications, planners reports, consents and plans)
- building related certificates
- plans of management
- local history material
There is no application fee for informal requests for information, however copying charges may apply. An applicant will be notified within 15 working days if the information requested is available for release.
If you lodge an informal access application, Council may require a formal access application form to be submitted in certain circumstances.
Make an informal information request
Formal requests
A formal GIPA request form will need to be completed if the information that is being sought:
- is not available via an informal release
- is of a sensitive nature that requires careful weighing of considerations in favour of and against disclosure
- contains personal information about a third party that requires consultation
- contains business (or commercial in confidence) information
- may involve a substantial amount of time and resources to produce
All formal access applications are subject to an application fee of $30. Additional processing fees may apply. You will be notified as to the validity of your application within five business days. Council must then decide and give notice of decision within 20 business days.
If you are unsure whether your request should be a formal GIPA or an Information request, please contact Council’s Governance team for assistance on 02 6378 2850.
Make a formal information request
Information held by Council
For details on Council’s structure and functions, the various kinds of information it holds and how that may be accessed please see Council’s Agency Information Guide.
The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA) requires agencies to keep a disclosure log of applications where access is provided (to some or all of the information applied for) and may be considered of interest to other members of public.