Holroyd City Council

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Government Information (Public Access)

In accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA) Holroyd City Council makes various information freely available to the public. This may be available on this website or in person at the Administration Centre.

Council is committed to open administration practices and encourages community access to information. Information may be obtained from Council in four ways:

Mandatory Disclosure

Council has the following open access information available to the public:

Publication Guide

Council's Publication Guide outlines the structure and functions of Council and the way in which the functions of Council (including any decision-making functions) affect the local community. It also outlines any ways in which the community can participate in the formulation of Council’s policies and how it carries out its functions. The Publication Guide also identifies the information held by Council, how to access that information and whether there are any associated costs.

Policy Documents

Please see Council's Policies page.

Disclosure Log of Applications

The Disclosure Log of Applications received by Council list formal access applications received by Council under GIPA, that Council feel are of interest to the public.

Register of Contracts

Council has a register of contracts that records information about each contract Council is a party to, to the value of $150,000 or more.

Additional Open Access Information

Information contained in the current version and the most recent previous version of the following records is considered Mandatory Disclosure:

Information contained in the following records (whenever created) is considered Mandatory Disclosure and most can be found by following the links below:

  • Returns of interests of Councillors, Designated Persons and Delegates (Returns are available for inspection at Council's Office) 
  • Agendas and Business Papers of Council (but not including Business Papers for meetings considered when part of a meeting is closed to the public)
  • Minutes of any meeting of Council, but restricted (in the case of any part of a meeting that is closed to the public) to the resolutions and recommendations of the meeting
  • Departmental representative reports presented at a meeting of Council in accordance with Section 433 of the Local Government Act.

Information contained in the current version of the following records is considered Mandatory Disclosure and most can be requested at the Customer Service Counter of Council’s Administration Building:

Information contained in the current version and the most recent previous version of the following records is considered Mandatory Disclosure and most can be found by following the link below:

Information contained in the following records (whenever created) will require an application form for processing:

Development Applications and any associated documents received in relation to a proposed development including the following:

NOTE: COPIES OF ANY PLANS CANNOT BE MADE WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER.

  • home warranty insurance documents,
  • construction certificates (this is a historical document – prospective purchases should consider applying for a s149A Building Certificate and s149(2) and (5) Zoning Certificate),
  • occupation certificates (this is a historical document – prospective purchases should consider applying for a s149A Building Certificate and s149(2) and (5) Zoning Certificate),
  • structural certification documents (this is a historical document – prospective purchases should consider applying for a s149A Building Certificate and s149(2) and (5) Zoning Certificate),
  • town planner reports,
  • submissions received on development applications,
  • heritage consultant reports,
  • tree inspection consultant reports,
  • acoustics consultant reports,
  • land contamination consultant reports,
  • records of decisions on development applications (including decisions made on appeal),
  • a record that describes the general nature of the documents that Council decides are excluded from the operation of this clause.
This does not apply to information regarding:
  • the plans and specifications for any residential parts of a proposed building, other than plans that merely show its height and its external configuration in relation to the site on which it is proposed to be erected, or
  • commercial information, if the information would be likely to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it or to reveal a trade secret.

Approvals, Orders and Other Documents (whenever created):

  • applications for approvals under Part 1 of Chapter 7 of the LGA (What activities, generally, require the approval by Council) and any associated documents received in relation to such an application,
  • applications for approvals under any other Act and any associated documents received in relation to such an application,
  • records of approvals granted or refused, any variation from local policies with reasons for the variation, and decisions made on appeals concerning approvals,
  • orders given under Part 2 of Chapter 7 of the LGA (What orders may be given, in what circumstances and to whom), and any reasons given under section 136 of the LGA,
  • orders given under the authority of any other Act,
  • records of building certificates under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979,
  • plans of land proposed to be compulsorily acquired by the local authority,
  • compulsory acquisition notices,
  • leases and licences for use of public land classified as community land.

Council will endeavour to expedite the release of the above information, as soon as possible within 10 working days after receipt of the application.

Proactive Release

Council will make available any information held by Council publicly available unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure. This information will be made available either free of charge, or at the lowest reasonable cost to Council. The information made available under this way will be reviewed annually.

Proactive Release information will require a completed application form and Council will endeavour to expedite the release of the requested information, as soon as possible within 10 working days after receipt of the application.

Informal Release

Council will release government information (not listed under Mandatory or Proactive Release) to the public unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure.

If you wish to obtain access to information under the Informal Release method, an application form will need to be completed. Council will release the information as soon as possible within 10 working days after receipt of the Informal Release application.

Formal Access

Any government information held by Council that does not fall under the three categories of obtaining information listed above will require a Formal Access application form.

A $30 application fee applies to all Formal Access applications.

Once the request for Formal Access is received by Council, a decision will be made within 20 working days.

If you are refused access, you may request a review or appeal the decision. Reviews are conducted either internally, by a complaint to the Administrative Decisions Tribunal and/or the Information Commissioner.

More information on GIPA is provided by the Office of the Information Commissioner.

A range of GIPA FAQs are available.

Overriding Public Interest Against Disclosure

For more information about Overriding Public Interest Against Disclosure of Council information, please contact Council’s Public Information Officer Mr Bert Leonard on 02 9840 9840 during Council’s business hours.