Access to Information

General information

The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) details the obligations of agencies such as Council to provide access to certain information. The Act provides for Council to release information publicly on its website (called open access information); in response to a Special Access Request, an informal request for access or in response to a formal application for access. 

Find out more about your right to information and gaining access to information on the NSW Information and Privacy Commission website.

Copyright

Information in Council’s records subject to copyright.

If consent has been obtained from a copyright owner, or if it is a special access request, the information can be copied and released. Council will inform all applicants if information is subject to copyright. If an applicant still requires a hard copy of the information Council will then provide details of the copyright owner.

There may be certain circumstances where Council is not taken to have breached the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. For example, Council is not taken to have breached copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work by anything done for the purposes of a judicial proceeding.

Information contained on Council's website subject to copyright.

Council has a copyright disclaimer on its website where information about development applications is readily available to view. Please ensure that you read this disclaimer before accessing this information. 

Access directions on Council records

There are some Council records that are subject to authorised access in accordance with Section 51 of the State Records Act 1998. These records include the following:

• Early Access: Records available under the GIPA Act 2009 which include  publications, publicity and educational material in all formats.
• Closed to Public Access: This includes staff records (including registers and history cards closed 50 years), building and development plans (drawings) of current building and services. Applies only to plans of existing buildings, showing existing internal layouts and services. 
• Open to Public Access: All records not covered by Early Access authorisations or Closed to Public Access directions.

Requests for access

Council is required to make certain information publicly available. Where information is not publicly available you can submit a request to access the information.  Please have a read of our  Access to Information Factsheet for more information. 

1. Special access request

If you seek to access information which is closed to public access, you can apply for a Special Access Request. Applications for these requests should be lodged in writing on company letterhead providing specific details of the request. For more information about special access requests contact Council's Records Management Section on 4732 7777.

2. Development applications

Requests for information about development applications can be made by submitting an Informal Request for Access to Information Application Form. Please fill out this form and return it via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

3. Informal request 

There are different kinds of applications that you can make, depending on the information that you require. If you would like to request information that is not available on Council’s website you will need to complete and lodge an Informal Request for Access to Information Application Form. There is no fee to lodge an application and have it assessed, however there may be a fee associated with printing hard copies of documents not protected by copyright provisions.

4. Formal request

Council also holds a lot of information that is not listed as open access information. The release of this information is generally restricted due to considerations such as commercial confidence, legal privilege, security concerns and protection of privacy. You can apply for access to this information by submitting a Formal Request for Access to Information Application Form. There is an application fee of $30 to lodge a request.

5. Open access information

Council is required to make certain information publicly available. This information is called open access information or mandatory release information. Council will provide access to certain information on this website:

• Council maintains a delegations register that can be viewed by anyone by request.
• Documents tabled in Parliament (No documents have yet been tabled in Parliament by or on behalf of Penrith City Council. Should this occur, Council will provide links to these documents on this page).
• A Disclosure Log of access applications 
• register of government contracts - sale of land
• Open Access Information not Disclosed
• Council's Policy Register
• Code of Conduct
• Code of Meeting Practice
• Annual Report and Annual Financial Statements
• Auditor's Report
• Operational Plan
• Public Land Register - Council is required to keep a register of all land vested in it or under its control (s53 of the Local Government Act 1993). Visit the Public Land Register page for more information.
• EEO management plan
• Policy concerning the payment of expenses incurred by, and the provision of facilities to, Councillors
• Annual reports of bodies exercising functions delegated by the Council
• Any codes referred to in the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW).
• Council business papers and minutes (minutes of any meeting of the Council or any Committee of the Council, but not including Business Papers or minutes for matters considered when part of a meeting is closed to the public)
• Information in relation to Development Applications
• Statement of Business Ethics
• Information guide

6. Pecuniary Interest Register

Council as required maintains a Pecuniary Interest Register for councilors and designated persons. 

Pecuniary Interest Report 

Your right to review 

You have 20 working days after the notice of a decision has been posted or emailed to you to ask for an internal review by the agency that made the decision - use our GIPA Internal Review application form. Find out more Information from the Privacy Commission NSW website. Find out more about your right to information and gaining access to NSW Government information at the NSW Information and Privacy Commission website.

Information Registers 

• Government Contracts Register (GIPA)
• Previous Election Results and Application Form
• Tenders 
• DA Tracker
• Contributions Plans
• Information on what the Land Register is
• Voluntary Planning Agreements
• 2019-2020 Combined Staff First Pecuniary Interest Returns
• 2019-2020 Combined Councillor Pecuniary Interest Returns
• 2019-2020 Combined Staff Pecuniary Interest Returns
• 2020-2021 Combined Staff Pecuniary Interest Returns
• 2020-2021 Combined Councillor Pecuniary Interest Returns
• 2020-2021 Combined Staff First Pecuniary Interest Returns
• 2021-2022 Combined Councillor Pecuniary Interest Returns
• 2021-2022 Combined First Pecuniary Interest Return
• 2021-2022 Combined Staff Pecuniary Interest Returns
• IPC Audit Compliance Report - July 2021
• Pecuniary Interest Return - Procedure Document
• Privacy Management Plan
• Government Information (Public Access) GIPA Policy
• Register of Political Donations pursuant to s.328A of the Local Government Act

If you require these documents to be made accessible, please contact us 4732 7777

Disclosure Log

Penrith City Council’s Disclosure Log lists information provided by Council in response to Formal Access Applications under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. Penrith City Council’s Disclosure Log lists information provided by Council in response to Formal Access Applications under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. 

Applications that are likely to be of interest to members of the public are listed below. Only non-personal information is shown.

To request a copy of any information below, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us on 4732 7777. Please quote the reference number for the item you're interested in.