Freedom of information

You have the right to request access to any documents we hold, including those containing information about your personal affairs, through the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act). There are some exceptions to this under the Act.

You can also request that we amend or delete incorrect or misleading personal information that we hold about you.

There are many council documents that you can download, inspect or purchase without the need to make a formal Freedom of Information (FOI) request. See Publicly available documents.

You can submit an FOI request in person at the Council office, by email or by post.

How to make a Freedom of Information request

Email

Step 1.Make a written request

Your application must include a written request.

You can write an email or a letter, or use the Freedom of Information Request Form:

Download the Freedom of Information Application Form 2024 - 2025(PDF, 614KB)

Download the Freedom of Information Application Form 2024 - 2025 - Accessible(DOCX, 1MB) 

Step 2.Pay your fee

You need to pay a non-refundable application fee of $32.70.

We accept credit card payment, or you can request an invoice and pay by another electronic means.

You can ask us to waive or reduce the application fee if you are suffering financial hardship. You must provide evidence of financial hardship such as a concession or health care card, a bank statement, or a statutory declaration outlining why payment would cause you hardship.

Step 3.Submit your application

Email your completed application form with your payment details to info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au.

Step 4.Await our response

Under the Act, we have 30 days from receiving a valid request to:

  • make a decision on whether to release the document(s) 
  • make a decision to the correct or amend your own personal information.

We will notify you of this decision in writing.

Step 5.Appeal and review

If we deny access to any document (or need to defer our decision), we will explain our reasons.

We will also tell you how you can request a review of the decision.

Post

Step 1.Make a written request

Your application must include a written request.

You can write an email or a letter, or use the Freedom of Information Request Form:

Download the Freedom of Information Application Form 2024 - 2025(PDF, 614KB)

Download the Freedom of Information Application Form 2024 - 2025 - Accessible(DOCX, 1MB)

Step 2.Pay your fee

You need to pay a non-refundable application fee of $32.70.

We accept credit card payment, or you can request an invoice and pay by another electronic means.

You can ask us to waive or reduce the application fee if you are suffering financial hardship. You must provide evidence of financial hardship such as a concession or health care card, a bank statement, or a statutory declaration outlining why payment would cause you hardship.

Step 3.Submit your application

Mail your completed application form with your payment details to:

City of Whittlesea
Locked Bag 1
Bundoora MDC VIC 3083

Step 4.Await our response

Under the Act, we have 30 days from receiving a valid request to:

  • make a decision on whether to release the document(s) 
  • make a decision to the correct or amend your own personal information.

We will notify you of this decision in writing.

Step 5.Appeal and review

If we deny access to any document (or need to defer our decision), we will explain our reasons.

We will also tell you how you can request a review of the decision.

In person

Step 1.Make a written request

Your application must include a written request.

You can write an email or a letter, or use the Freedom of Information Request Form:

Download the Freedom of Information Application Form 2024 - 2025(PDF, 614KB)

Download the Freedom of Information Application Form 2024 - 2025 - Accessible(DOCX, 1MB) 

Step 2.Pay your fee

You need to pay a non-refundable application fee of $32.70.

We accept credit card payment, or you can request an invoice and pay by another electronic means.

You can ask us to waive or reduce the application fee if you are suffering financial hardship. You must provide evidence of financial hardship such as a concession or health care card, a bank statement, or a statutory declaration outlining why payment would cause you hardship.

Step 3.Submit your application in person

Bring your completed application form with your payment details to our Council offices:

25 Ferres Boulevard
South Morang

View map

Step 4.Await our response

Under the Act, we have 30 days from receiving a valid request to:

  • make a decision on whether to release the document(s) 
  • make a decision to the correct or amend your own personal information.

We will notify you of this decision in writing.

Step 5.Appeal and review

If we deny access to any document (or need to defer our decision), we will explain our reasons.

We will also tell you how you can request a review of the decision.

Other important information

Additional fees

We may need to charge additional fees to recover part of the cost of accessing the information, and/or time spent by our staff in providing the information. These include:

  • search fee for documents: $24.50 per hour (or part of an hour) rounded to nearest 10 cents

  • supervisor inspection of documents: $6.10 per quarter hour, rounded to nearest 10 cents

  • photocopying of documents (black and white): 20 cents per A4 page.

Fees are applicable as at 1 July 2024.

Acting on behalf of another person

Please note if you are acting on behalf of another person you are required to provide a document signed by them confirming you are authorised to act as their representative in relation to the Freedom of Information Application.

Correcting or deleting your personal information

If your request relates to correcting personal information we hold about you, you will need to provide specific details of the amendments that need to be made.

You may be required to produce ID when being provided access to certain documents. 

    

Contact Us

Phone

03 9217 2170

Email

info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Location

Council offices
25 Ferres Boulevard
South Morang
3752
View Map

Related Information

Back to top