Access to Information

Access to Information is a right of access for members of the public to gain access to government information held by Council.

Information means any information contained in a record held by Council. This can be in hardcopy or digital format.

The GIPA Act is generally in favour of releasing information subject to Public Interest requirements.

1. Search Council’s website to see if information is already available
2. Check Council’s Agency Information Guide to see if the information is Open Access information 
3. If the information is not routinely available, i.e. not Open Access information, you need to make an Informal Application or Formal Access Application.

If you have any questions regarding Access to Information or to submit your request, please email gipa@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au

For more information on how to make an application, please read the Information and Privacy Commission's Fact Sheet - Simplified guide for information access

Under section 18 of the GIPA Act certain information is prescribed as Open Access information. This information must be made available free of charge on Council's website, this includes:

• Policy documents
• Disclosure Log of formal access applications
• Agency Information Guide
• Government Contracts Register
• Record of Open Access information that is not made available to the public on the basis of an overriding public interest against disclosure

The Government Information (Public Access) Regulation 2005 (GIPA Regulation) specifies additional Open Access information made freely available by Council. You can review Council's Additional Open Access information here.

Further information is available in Council's Agency Information Guide.

Similar to Mandatory release, City of Parramatta will review the information it holds and determine if it should be made available to the community e.g. information that is frequently requested will be made routinely available and released under Mandatory Release. Information will be made available free or at the lowest reasonable cost.

Information held by Council can include:

• Approved Strategy and Plans
• Community information directories, publications and service
• Council's events information
• Delivery Program and Operational Plan
• Development Application and relevant associated documents
• Environmental Sustainability 
• Government submissions
• Major projects updates
• Standing and Special Committee Terms of Reference
• Statement of Fees and Charges

You can now access Council's historic building and development application index cards from the 1940s to 1990s here.

• information that is not too complex to process
• information that does not require significant processing time
• details of a complaint (excluding the complainant details)

You can submit a request for Neighbour/Adjoining Owner details here.

An Informal Request for Access to Information may take 20 working days or more depending on the information requested.

Information will be made available for free or at minimum charge, i.e. photocopying fees.

For further fees refer to Council’s Schedule of Fees and Charges.

For information that is not available on Council’s website or the three (3) ways of access listed above. You can submit a formal access application by using the 'Lodge an Application' option on Council's Services Portal, which also includes payments options or submitting a Formal Access Application form.

A Formal Access application is a request for information where the information is of a type that includes:

• information that relates to the personal/business/commercial/financial interests of another party
• information that must be consulted with a third party
• confidential information
• information that requires significant research and will require significant Council resources
• a complex scope

Processing time for a Formal Access application is 20 working days. This can be extended by 10 to 15 days when information held by Council must be retrieved from an off-site storage facility or if third party consultation is required.

An application or other request for government information is not a valid access application unless it complies with the following requirements:

1. it must be in writing sent by post to or lodged at an office of the agency concerned or online
2. it must clearly indicate that it is an access application made under this Act
3. it must be accompanied by a fee of $30
4. it must state the name of the applicant and a postal or email address as the address for correspondence in connection with the application
5. it must include such information as is reasonably necessary to enable the government information applied for to be identified

If you are unhappy with the outcome of your Formal Access application, you can seek an internal review of the decision.

Legal processes apply to the copying of documents under the Commonwealth Copyright Act 1968. There may be documents that cannot be copied without the consent of the copyright owner e.g. certain building plans, publications and consultants reports. 

If Copyright consent cannot be obtained, ‘view only’ access will be provided to those particular documents. 

If you are applying for information as an individual, you may be providing Council with personal information (such as your name and address) within the meaning of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998.

The supply of information is voluntary. If you do not provide all details requested, Council may be unable to process your application.

The details you provide are stored at Council Offices and are not made publicly available unless there is an overriding public interest to do so under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) or as permitted by the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW).

Council is collecting this personal information from you in order to identify and process your application. You may make a request for access or amendment to information held by Council. You may also make a request that Council suppress your personal information from being made publicly available.

For further information

You can find out more about right to information and privacy by:

• visiting the Information and Privacy Commission NSW website
• calling City of Parramatta on 1300 617 058 or 02 9806 5050
• e-mail: gipa@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
• reading Council’s Privacy Management Plan