Access to Information

There are four ways in which government information is available under the GIPA Act:

1. Mandatory release:

State and local government agencies are required to publish specific Open Access Information on their website, free of charge, unless if doing so would impose unreasonable additional costs on the agency. This Open Access Information is listed below.

2. Proactive release:

State and local government agencies are encouraged to make as much other information as possible publicly available in an appropriate manner, including online. The information should be available free of charge or at the lowest reasonable cost. For example, frequently requested information or information of public interest may be made readily available.

3. Informal release request:

State and local government agencies are authorised to release other information in response to an informal request, subject to any reasonable conditions an agency imposes, without the need for an application to be lodged under Formal Access. Council encourages applications for access to information to be made, initially, under the informal request provisions set out in Section 8 of the GIPA Act. Council’s Access to Information Policy, Access to Information Guidelines and Agency Information Guide list the types of information that is available. Complete the Informal Request for Information Form(PDF, 261KB) to make an informal information request. (No fee is required for an Informal Request, however, fees not exceeding Council’s photocopying charges will apply in accordance with Council’s adopted Fees and Charges).

4. Formal release application:

Under Part 4 of the GIPA Act, Council can release information in response to a formal access application. This is the last resort for obtaining Council information if it is not available in any other way. Generally, a Formal Access Application is required if your application involves:

• a large volume of information,
• sensitive or confidential information;
• estimated processing time exceeds 1 hour;
• extensive research and substantial resources are required or
• the information requested relates to third parties who will need to be consulted prior to release of the information.

Complete the Application form for Formal Access to Government Information(PDF, 264KB) and submit to Council with a $30 Formal Application fee (statutory charge under the GIPA Act). Please note that $30 hourly processing charges may also apply.

Section 41 of the GIPA Act lists the formal requirements for making a valid access application:

• it must be in writing sent to or lodged at Council;
• it must clearly indicate that it is an access application made under the GIPA Act;
• it must be accompanied by a $30 application fee;
• it must state a postal address in Australia as the address for correspondence in connection with the application;
• it must include such information as is reasonably necessary to enable the government information applied for to be identified.

Upon receipt of a valid access application, Council must give the applicant notice of its decision within 20 working days, although this time can be extended under section 57(2) to consult with third parties or retrieve information from archives. Processing charges at a rate of $30 per hour may also apply as part of deciding the application.

Applicants aggrieved with a reviewable decision set out under section 80 of the GIPA Act have the right to request a review of that decision.

This Fact Sheet outlines your rights to access government information.

5. Property File General Enquiries

The Property File General Enquiry Form(PDF, 252KB) is used to access any open access information including Development Applications, Construction Certificates and any building applications, documentation and approvals relating to development consent or complying development consent.

If you require any assistance in completing this form, please contact Council’s Place and Growth Department on the details listed at the top of this form.

NOTE: Please be advised that fees may be applicable for this application. These fees are available in Council’s 2024/25 Operational Plan.

Council is required to publish the following open access information under section 18 of the GIPA Act:

Agency-Information-Guide.pdf(PDF, 763KB)

Policy Documents

Disclosure Log of Access Applications(PDF, 146KB)

Register of Contracts - November 2024(PDF, 139KB)

Designated Persons Disclosure of Interest Return

Record of Open Access Information not available on website(PDF, 222KB)

Council Staff Instruments of Delegation(PDF, 1MB)

Register of Political Donations/Affiliations(PDF, 22KB)

Register of Voting on Planning Matters(PDF, 156KB)

Other information as prescribed by the regulations as open access (see below)

Council is required to publish the following additional open access information under Schedule 1 to the Government Information (Public Access) Regulation 2018 (NSW) (GIPA Regulation):

Information about Council

Code of Meeting Practice

Code of Conduct for Council Staff

Code of Conduct for Councillors

Code of Conduct for Council Committee Members, Delegates of Council and Council Advisers

Council Meetings

Council Plans and Reports

Council Policies and Procedures

Information about Development Applications

Register of Public Land(PDF, 121KB) 

Information about Approvals, Orders and Other Documents.

Other open data information about Council can also be found at data.nsw.gov.au.

If you require the details of an adjoining property owner, these are the options available to you:

• Speak directly to your neighbour, tenant or the managing agent;
• If construction has commenced, speak with the builder;
• Do a title search through NSW Land Registry Services;
• Lodge a Request for Adjoining Property Owner Details(PDF, 159KB) with Glen Innes Severn Council;
• Lodge a Formal Access to Information Application(PDF, 264KB) with Glen Innes Severn Council.

For further information, visit NSW Department of Communities and Justice. 

Primary and Annual Returns

Under the Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW (the Model Code of Conduct), decision-making must be transparent, accountable and free from bias or conflicts of interest. Elected members and employees with delegated authority must disclose certain personal information in publicly available Disclosure of Interest Returns within 3 months of being elected or becoming a designated person and submit a new return annually.  

These disclosures are called primary returns and annual returns. A primary return is a snapshot of personal financial information as it exists upon the start date of an elected member or designated person. An annual return retrospectively discloses any changes to the information previously disclosed, or any new interest information to disclose since completing their last return.

In accordance with the Local Government Act 1993, local governments are required to publish a list of elected members and designated persons who lodged a primary return or annual return for each financial year. Further, under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 Council is required to publish these returns on its website as open access information.

Annual Disclosure of Interest Return - 2020

Annual Disclosure of Interest Return – 2021

Annual Disclosure of Interest Return - 2022(PDF, 73MB)

Primary Disclosure of Interests Return – March 2022

Annual-Disclosure-of-Interest-Return-2023.pdf(PDF, 36MB)

Primary Disclosure of Interest Return 2023(PDF, 605KB)

Primary Disclosure of Interest Return 2023(PDF, 113KB)

This Disclosure log(PDF, 146KB) identifies information and documents that have been released by a formal application process.

Formal access applications received that are likely to be of interest to members of the public, will be published in this disclosure log. The disclosure log contains non-personal information only.

Details of how to access the documents are listed within the disclosure log items below. Please note that details of an application will not be included within the disclosure log until the application has been decided.

As Council makes decisions about open access information that may not be disclosed due to an overriding public interest, it will note this information below. This will detail the information requested and the public interest considerations against disclosure that resulted in Council's decision not to release the information.

Record of Open Access Information (PDF, 222KB)