ACCESS TO INFORMATION

The Huon Valley Council has adopted a policy regarding access to information kept on Council's records.

The Huon Valley Council Access to Information Policy, June 2008 sets out the following matters:

• Information on Council records will be available for purchase subject to specified automatic exclusions.
• The procedure for purchasing information.
• Council will determine fees and charges for information with reduction of fees and charges for requests for information relating to a persons property or business dealing with Council by 50% for those persons.
• FOI requests can at all times be made for excluded information but will not otherwise apply to information available for purchase.
• Provision of information may be made in hard paper copy or electronic form as requested.
• Protection of personal information of the applicant for purchase of information.
• Publication of the Policy on Council's website.
• Terms for review of the Policy.

The Policy can be downloaded from this website below and is available for inspection at the Council Offices at 40 and 40A Main Street, Huonville.

Purchase of Information Procedure

To purchase information you will be required to complete an Access to Information application form which can be downloaded from this website below or is available from Council Offices at 40 and 40A Main Street, Huonville.

Depending on the information sought to be purchased fees and charges will apply and be required to be paid prior to provision of the information.

Every attempt will be given to provide the information to you on lodgement of the application but, depending on the nature of the information sought further search time may be required by Council and every endeavour will be given to provide the information within 15 working days or you will otherwise be notified of any delays.

Applications may be lodged in the following manner:

• in person at the Council Offices at 40 and 40A Main Street, Huonville
• sent by fax to: 03 62640399
• sent by email to: hvc@huonvalley.tas.gov.au
• sent by mail to: Huon Valley Council, PO Box 210,HUONVILLE 7109

Freedom of Information Act Requests

Under the Freedom of Information Act 1991 (the Act) a person may make a request in writing to the Council for access to information in a Council record (FOI request).

The right to obtain information under the Act does not apply to information that:

• is contained in a Council record that may be inspected by the public in accordance with any Act or
• may be purchased in accordance with arrangements made by the Council.

An FOI request will be dealt with in accordance with the Act however FOI requests can only be made for information that is not available for inspection under any Act or for purchase under Council's Access to Information Policy (June 2008).

An FOI Request will only be dealt with for information that is Excluded from purchase under the Policy, such information may be portions of a document or a whole document depending on nature of the information requested.

An FOI request for information which can be purchased will be refused and an Access to Information Application will be required to be completed in accordance with the above procedure.

A pro-forma Freedom of Information request form has been developed and can be downloaded from this website below or is available from Council Offices at 40 and 40A Main Street, Huonville.

FOI Requests are to be marked to the Freedom of Information Officer and may be lodged in the following manner:

• in person at the Council Offices at 40 and 40A Main Street, Huonville
• sent by fax to: 03 62640399
• sent by email to: hvc@huonvalley.tas.gov.au
• sent by mail to: Huon Valley Council, PO Box 210,HUONVILLE 7109

Fees and Charges

In accordance with the Policy Council has determined a general Schedule of Fees and charges relating to purchase of Council information.

Under State Government legislation some information is subject to fees and charges that have been set by the Government and some information may be also inspected free of charge.

If your application is for information that relates to your property, personal affairs or business dealing with Council the fees and charges will in some instances be reduced by 50%.

The Purchase of Information Fee Schedule can be downloaded from this website below and is available for inspection at the Council Offices at 40 and 40A Main Street, Huonville.

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