How to access information

Some Council documents are considered ‘open access’ and will generally be published on Council’s website, free of charge. This information includes items such as Council policies, media releases and annual reports, meeting agendas and minutes, Council’s government contracts register and other information.

To access information, begin by searching our website:

For historical research requests (prior to 1920), please contact History at Willoughby.

For more information you can visit the Information and Privacy Commission website.

If you cannot find what you are looking for on our website, you may wish to apply for information via Council’s informal access application process.

Council can also release information in response to an informal request providing there is no overriding public interest against disclosure.  Requests for informal release do not involve any fees or charges, except copying charges (where relevant) and pre-2010 development information.

Informal GIPA requests usually involve house plans, development applications, complying development certificates, construction certificates, occupation certificates, engineering reports, and building certificates.

Council can determine how the request is processed and in what form the information will be supplied. Informal applications are not reviewable. 

The GIPA Act provides no time frame for the handling of informal requests. 

Informal access application form

More on informal access applications

Land title information

To obtain land title information, you can search the NSW Land Registry Services website.

Some applications by their nature are considered formal requests for information. These typically include:

• information that relates to the personal, business, commercial or financial interests another party
• information that must be consulted with a third party
• confidential information
• information that requires significant research and will require significant Council resources; or a complex scope.

Persons making a formal access application have a legally enforceable right to be provided with this access unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information.

Formal access applications only apply to information held at the time the application is received. Decisions are reviewable in certain circumstances.

The GIPA Act requires formal access applications to be decided within 20 working days of its receipt. This time may be extended by 10 to 15 days if Council is required to consult with third parties.

Formal access application form

More on formal access applications

Willoughby City Council is committed to the appropriate handling, storage and use of your personal and health information. This statement outlines our practices relating to personal information.

Council has adopted a Privacy Management Plan in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (the PPIP Act). It is recommended that you read the Privacy Management Plan prior to submitting any personal information to us.

You have the right to access and correct the personal information we hold about you.

If you want to know exactly what personal information Council is holding about you, you can request this information by contacting our Privacy Officer.

If you need to update your personal details including your name and address, you can submit the change of customer details application form.

Council processes subpoenas and notices to produce in accordance with legal requirements. These requests may involve retrieving, reviewing and providing Council records or arranging for Council Officers to attend court as witnesses. 

Please note that fees apply to cover administrative and processing costs associated with these requests.

Under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009, our disclosure log is updated after certain access applications have been decided. The log provides details of information we've released that may be of interest to other members of the public.

Council's disclosure log records the determination date, a brief description of the information, whether the information is available and, if so, how to access the information.

Download Council's disclosure log(PDF, 71KB)