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.  

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 that is not available for download from the Public Documents page, 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. For information that you wish to apply for under GIPA please use Council's GIPA Access Application form by clicking here. For a PDF version of the application form click here.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.

GIPA Disclosure Log

A disclosure log is a record containing details of government information already released under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act). A disclosure log is part of the open access information that Cowra Council is required to make publicly available.

Disclosure logs provide access to information for people who want the same or similar information as previous applicants, and would otherwise have to make formal access applications. A disclosure log also helps Cowra Council to identify information that could be proactively released.

Click here for the current disclosure log   

Publication Guide

Council’s new Publication Guide, which is required under the Government Information Public Access Act, is currently available for viewing at Council’s Customer Service Centre in Kendal Street. An electronic version is available below. The Act replaces the Freedom of Information Act and Section 12 of the Local Government Act dealing with access to Council’s records.

Click here to view the Publication Guide