Access to Information

Introduction

From 1 July 2010, the new Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) replaces the Freedom of Information Act 1989 (NSW). 

The new reforms:

• create new rights to information that are designed to meet community expectations of a more transparent and accountable government;
  
  
• State and Local Government agencies are proactively releasing to the public more information than ever before.  

More information concerning your right to information and the new ways to access NSW government information can be found on the Office of the Information Commissioner website at www.oic.nsw.gov.au.

Accessing Council Information 

Cowra Council is currently in the process of providing a range of information under the GIPA Act and is progressively adding more information to our website.  Currently, the following documents are available under Schedule 1 Part 2 Section 1 (1) of the Government Information Public Access Regulations 2009. 

If you would like a copy of a document not available for download below, please contact Council on (02) 6340 2000.  Alternatively, if a document is currently on public exhibition, it can be found on the Public Exhibition page.

• Code of Conduct 
• Code of Meeting Practice  
• Annual Report 
• Annual Financial Statements and Auditors Report 
• Management Plan and Budget Reviews
• Operational Plan (Old Management Plan Reporting Process)
• Fees and Charges
• Investment Portfolio

  EEO Management Plan
• State of the Environment Report 
• Council's policy concerning the payment of expenses incurred by, and the provision of facilities to Councillors. 
• Council's Land Register.
• Workforce Plan 2012-2014
• Returns of the interests of Councillors, designated persons and delegates.
• Returns as to candidates campaign donations. 
• Agendas and Business Papers for Council and Committee meetings (but not including business papers for matters considered when part of a meeting is closed to the public). 
• Minutes of Council meetings, 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. 
• Any Codes referred to in this Act.
• Noxious Weed Management Plan - Class 4
• Register of Delegation
• Annual Reports of bodies exercising delegated Council functions.
• Local Approvals - under Chapter 7 of the Local Government Act 1993, applications or approvals to erect a building, and associated documents.
• Development Applications (within the meaning of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979) including: applications that have not been determined, records of approvals granted, any variation from local policies with reasons for the variation, and decisions made on appeals concerning approvals. 
• Building Certificates are issued under Section 149(A) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
• Local policies adopted by the Council concerning approvals and orders.
• Plans of land proposed for compulsory acquisition by Council.
• Leases and licences for use of public land classified as community land.
• Plans of management for community land. 
• Environmental Planning Instruments, Development Control Plans and Plans made under Section 94AB of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 applying to land with in the Council's area.

• Cowra Cultural Plan 2009-2014.

• Sport and Recreation Plan 2009-2014.

• Register of graffiti removal work kept in accordance with Section 67C.

• Planning Decisions Votes Register - 2012 to 2013