Request for information

Informal information applications are suitable for requests for information which are not complex and can be processed quickly. Though many applications involve requests for property information, informal applications can also be used to request other information held by Council, including your personal information. Where personal information is involved, we may request you to provide proof of identity eg driver’s licence, passport, rates notice etc. Under section 67 of the GIPA Act (2009), Council cannot impose any processing charge for the first 20 hours of processing time if the application is made for your personal information.

By providing specific and detailed requests, you can assist us in quickly determining what information is available to help you.

Informal information applications are not suitable for requests which:

• involve extensive searching, large volumes of information or would require a substantial amount of staff resources to process your request; or
• may involve the release of another person/s personal information, thereby requiring consultation with those person/s; or:
• may involve access to sensitive information requiring the careful balancing of public and private interests in determining disclosure.

If your request involves any of the above, consider lodging a formal access application. Formal access applications involve a lodgement fee and processing charges, whilst also having a right of review.

Upon receiving your request, Council will determine how the request will be processed and what information will be made available. This may involve us contacting you to clarify what information is sought. 

As per proactive release methods, Council is authorised to release information unless there is a public interest against disclosure. To enable the release of as much information as possible, Council is also authorised to redact content from a copy of information to be released, if the inclusion of the redacted information would otherwise result in an overriding public interest against disclosure.

Applications will be assessed in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 and any other relevant legislation. Please note the GIPA Act provides no statutory timeframe by which informal requests must be decided within.

Access to information such as internal residential diagrams is usually restricted to owners of those properties; therefore Council generally seeks consent of the owner prior to Council releasing this information.    

If Council determines that the request is unable to be processed as an informal release because it involves consideration of complex issues, significant resources or consultations with third parties, we will contact you to discuss lodging a Formal Application.

Important information:

• An approval to operate does not imply the system of sewage management meets Council’s current performance standards.
•  An approval to operate expires on the transfer or otherwise conveyance of the property in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005.

Any prospective purchaser of a property serviced by an On-Site Sewage Management System (OSM) should undertake their own due diligence to determine the state of the OSM system.

Following the transfer or otherwise conveyance of the property serviced by an On-Site Sewage Management System (OSM) Council’s Technical Officer (On-Site Wastewater) will undertake a site inspection to determine the state of the system. Any issues identified with the OSM system during this inspection will be the responsibility of the new owner.

Note: Occupation Certificates were introduced in NSW for development approvals issued after 1 July 1998 and therefore are not available prior to this date.

Any member of the public can check a swimming pool registration certificate or certificate of compliance at www.swimmingpoolregister.nsw.gov.au without needing to lodge a request for information.

Where documents are requested and able to be reproduced the applicant will be required to meet all costs associated with photocopying, as set out in our fees and charges schedule.