An application to access documents can be made on the form provided below or in writing (i.e. a letter or email) to council. Email applications are also acceptable.
FOI Application Form(PDF, 454KB)
All requests for access to council documents under the FOI Act must provide such information as is reasonably necessary to enable the documents to be identified.
In accordance with Section 17(2B) of the FOI Act, you may request for the application fee to be reduced or waived. Evidence must be provided to support your application should the fee cause you hardship (e.g. Health Care of Pension Concession card or other concessional documentation).
Please note that your request may incur search and access charges in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Access Charges) Regulations 2014. You will be supplied with a statement of any applicable charges as your request progresses.
What documents are available?
Documents that council makes available are listed in the FOI Part II Statement.(DOCX, 450KB)
You can ask for any documents held by the council; however, not all documents will be able to be provided, some or parts thereof may be exempt under the FOI Act for personal or business reasons.
Examples of exempt documents include:
- law enforcement documents
- confidential matters considered by council
- some internal working documents
- documents covered by legal professional privilege such as legal advice
- documents with personal information about other people
- documents with Commercial-in-Confidence information or trade secrets
- information obtained in confidence.
Where a decision is made to refuse or defer access, you will be notified in writing of the reasons. If you are not satisfied with the reasons you can seek a review from the Victorian Information Commissioner.
Your application may be refused if it is considered to be ‘voluminous in nature’, i.e. it would interfere unreasonably with the operations or performance of Council.
Council may have made the document you are requesting publicly available so before making a request for access, first view the list of documents in the FOI Part II Statement as it may be available through a search on our website.