Access to Council Files and Documents

Council is committed to open government, and therefore any person may obtain access to Council documents.  An important element of accountability is open and transparent decision making.

Any person may obtain access to the current version of documents held by Council at any time.  Public access to information is dealt with under Section 12 of the Local Government Act (The Act).

Section 12 of the Act outlines those documents held by Council which are open to viewing on request.  Everyone is entitiled to inspect the current versions of the following documents, free of charge.  Where possible, links to electronic versions of these documents have been provided.

• Council's Code of Conduct
• Council's Code of Meeting Practice
• Council's Annual Report
• Annual Financial Reports
• Auditor's report
• Management Plan
• EEO Management Plan
• Payment of Expenses and Provision of Facilities to Councillors
• Council's Land Register
• Register of investments
• Returns of the interests of Councillors, Designated Persons and Delegates
• Returns as to candidates' campaign donations
• Agendas and Business Papers for Council and Committee Meetings
• Minutes of Council and Committee Meetings
• Any codes referred to in the Local Government Act
• Register of delegations
• Annual reports of bodies exercising delegated council functions
• Applications for approval to erect a building and associated documents
• Development applications on exhibition
• Local policies adopted by Council concerning approvals and orders
• Records of approvals granted, variations from policy and decisions made on appeals concerning approvals
• Records of building certificates
• Plans of land proposed to be compulsorily acquired by Council
• Leases and licences for use of public land classified as communiy land
• Plans of management for community land
• Environmental planning instruments, development control plans and contributions plans applying to land within Council's area
• The Statement of Affairs and the Summary of Affairs
• Departmental representatives' reports presented at a meeting of Council
• Register of graffiti removal work

If you would like to view a document which cannot be provided electronically, please contact Council's Citizens' Service Centre on 9335 2222 to arrange access.

Futher to those documents provided above, Council produces a full list of its standard publications, the majority are available from the form and publication finder on this site. In addition any other document produced during the course of a business transaction can be obtained (subject to the restrictions below), including, for example, reports on matters Council or staff have made decisions on, development approvals on properties etc.

The restrictions are limited to the following:

• release of the information that is not in the public interest;
• personal matters concerning particular individuals;
• the personal hardship of any resident or ratepayer;  
• trade secrets; and
• a matter the disclosure of which would: 
  - i   constitute an offence against any Act; or
  - ii  found an action for breach of confidence.

Copies of documents may be requested, subject to copyright restrictions.  These will be provided at Council's standard photocopying charge.

All requests will be dealt with as soon as practicable. Apply online here, and be sure to indicate if you require copies of the documents.

Links    Request for Access to Council Documents Accessing the Archives Form and Publication Finder

Related Sites    Local Government Act 1993: What Information is Publicly Available?