If the information you are looking for is not already available online, you can informally apply to have the information released by Council. We can release information if there is no overriding public interest against the disclosure of it.
There are limitations on the kind of information you can access this way. Information you can usually request this way includes:
- documents from development applications (DAs) (that are not already made available on Council’s website via the DA Tracker)
- information or documents that do not contain the personal information of third parties or confidential information
You can learn more about informal access applications on our page on applying for access to Council documents.
Important information
- informal release applications have an associated cost, so you should only request an informal release if the information you are looking for isn't already publicly available
- you are entitled to request personal information about yourself or apply on behalf of someone else that is seeking their personal information, but you can't apply for the personal information of another member of the community
Please note: We may decide that your request is too complicated for an informal request, and require a formal application to be lodged instead. Examples of these kinds of requests can be found in Council's Public Access to Information policy.
Steps to request
Requesting a review of our decision
If your request for information under an informal access application is refused by the Information and Privacy Officer, under the GIPA Act, you have a right to make a formal access application.
For more information on your rights to a review, please visit the Information and Privacy Commission's page on how to lodge an application for a review of a government information access decision.