We hold a large amount of information about Sutherland Shire.

The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009, or GIPA Act, defines how this information can be made available to you as a member of the public.

There are several ways for you to access the information by us:

Search our website

Wherever possible, we’ll make useful information available through our website. We have a great search feature! Give that a go first to find news, policies, registers or information about a topic.

If you’re looking for information that relates to a Development Application, you may find what you’re looking for on Council’s DA Tracker website.

GIPA access to information request

If the information you're looking for is not on our website, you can make an informal GIPA access to information request. As per our Access to Information Policy - PDF - 220 KB, we process informal GIPA access to information requests in the order we receive them.

Please allow up to 20 business days for a response to your informal GIPA access to information request. Due to the large volume of GIPA access to information requests, we might take longer.

We may apply a processing fee to your informal information access request - it will be based on the fees listed under Administration and Governance and Copying and Printing.

If we aren’t able to give you the information under an informal GIPA access to information request, we will change your application to a formal access to information request.  We will then charge the legislated application fee and provide communication and further cost information under strict legislated timeframes.

Start your GIPA access to information request

Accessing personal information

Most information will fall under the GIPA access to information request. There is some personal information about your identity we hold, that needs a different application process.

You have the right to access personal information we hold about you. The definition of personal information is information about an individual whose identity is apparent or can reasonably be ascertained from the information for example physical or health records.

Information relating to a complaint about you, or your property, is not considered personal information and should be applied for by submitting an informal GIPA access to information request.

To request access to your personal information held by us, fill out this form - PDF - 49 KB.

There are processing fees that apply to access personal information if the request takes more than 20 hours to process.

We provide access to information as required by the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. The Copyright Act 1968 may also apply to accessing certain pieces of information. In some situations where we are not the copyright owner of the information, we must obtain the document owner’s permission to release copies of documents to members of the public. If you do not have copyright owner’s consent, you will be provided ‘view only’ access to the information. For example, building plans and development reports. We will organise an appointment to view the information at Council  as part of your information request.

If you require owner details to notify of a dividing fence, tree or Complying Development Neighbour Notification you must complete an Application for Adjoining Owners Details. Council does not release individual ownership details unless it has legal permission to do so. You can apply for individual property ownership information from NSW Land Registry Services.

We are committed to providing an open and transparent environment to enable members of the public to access government information held by us. The following information is defined as Open Access Information:

  • Council policies and management plans
  • disclosure log of access applications
  • register of government contracts
  • annual, financial and auditor reports, management plans and various codes
  • Business Papers and Minutes of meetings
  • land, investments, delegations, graffiti removal, declarations of disclosure of political donations
  • gifts and benefits register
  • disclosures of interest such as Councillors Political Donations Register  
  • proactively released documents.

Visit the NSW IPC website or email an enquiry toipcinfo@ipc.nsw.gov.au.