Our commitment to open government
We are committed to providing the community, and other outside agencies, with as much access as possible to information held by Council, consistent with the following principles:
- open and transparent government
- consideration of the overriding public interest in relation to access requests
- proactive disclosure and dissemination of information
- respect for the privacy of individuals.
Our Access to Council Information Policy outlines our approach to open government in more detail.
Our Agency Information Guide provides information about Council structure and functions, policy development, community involvement in local government, and public access to Council information.
The Guide has been created in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 - the GIPA Act, which states there are four ways to access information:
Mandatory disclosure of open access information
Council is required to publish information that has been defined by the Act as “Open access information”.
Open access information is be made publicly available free of charge on Council’s website, unless to do so would impose unreasonable additional costs on the Council, in which case it must be made available by other means.
Council publishes most open access information on our website, free of charge. However, some information is only available by inspection at Council offices.
The Guide provides information as to what appears on our website and the information that may be accessed via an inspection.
All information classified as “open access” will be available for inspection free of charge, however an Informal Access to Information Application needs to be filled out prior to release. Copying charges may apply in accordance with Council’s Schedule of Fees and Charges.
Pro-active release of Council information
The GIPA Act encourages government agencies to proactively release as much information as possible to the public, unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information.
North Sydney Council will regularly review information that it holds and determine the kind of information it will pro-actively release.
Informal release of Council information
Council is authorised to release other information that is held by it in response to an informal request. Members of the public may access information via this method Informal access applications should be made in writing. There is no fee payable, however charges may apply to cover reproduction costs.
Formal Access application
Under schedule 1, 3(2)(c) of the GIPA Regulation 2018, formal access to information applications are required for Development Applications and associated documents made before 1 July 2010.
Members of the public have a right to access information in this way unless the GIPA Act provides a reason to withhold the information. Formal access applications must be made in writing, accompanied by a $30 fee. Other charges may also apply to cover processing costs.
For more information about the GIPA Act, read our Access to Council Information Policy, or our Agency Information Guide or contact the Information and Privacy Commission NSW.