Making an Application (RTI and IP)

The Acts provide the formal basis to request access to council information that is not publicly available. Requests for access to documents under the Right to Information (RTI) and Information Privacy (IP) legislation exclude documents that are readily available by other means. For example, minutes of council meetings are mostly readily available public documents, which can be accessed by the community. Before making a formal Right to Information application, check council’s website or contact council about the location and availability of information.

The following Acts offer a formal way to request access to council information that is not publicly available.

  • The IP Act provides for:

    • access to personal information in council’s possession or under council’s control
    • amending personal information in council’s possession or under council’s control.

    Documents about council policies or actions that may affect you are not your 'personal information'. Only individuals can have personal information.

    Access is provided unless giving access or allowing an amendment is not in the public interest.

  • There are no fees to access or amend personal information under the IP Act.

  • You cannot apply online. You must download and complete an application form. Send the completed form to council. These forms are on the Right to Information website.

    You must prove your identity when asking for access to documents that contain your personal information. The types of identity you can supply are found on page 3 of the application form.

  • To access documents that do not contain your personal information, you need to lodge an RTI application. This includes:

    • documents which are not about you
    • documents about another person
    • a council decision or policy.

  • The application fee from 1 July 2023 is $55.75. 

    The application fee for RTI applications cannot be waived.

    You may also be charged for:

    • processing charge for documents:
      • Nil if Council spends no more than 5 hours processing the application; or
      • $8.65 per 15 minutes, of the time spent working on the application, including the first five hours.
    • access to documents (A4 photocopy black and white) - $0.25 for each page.

    Processing and access charges are payable when council notifies you of the decision about your application.

    If you have a valid healthcare card or concession card, a written application can be made to have the processing and/or access charges waived.

  • You cannot apply online. You need to download and complete an application form from the RTI website. Once the application has been reviewed and processed by Council, a payment link will be sent directly to the applicant.

  • Council is required to process your application within 25 business days from receiving a valid application. This timeframe can be extended in some circumstances (for example where council needs to consult with a third party, or council requests additional time to consider the application).

    Noosa Council
    PO Box 141
    Tewantin QLD 4565
    Ph: 07 5329 6500
    Fax: 07 5329 6501
    Email: mail@noosa.qld.gov.au

  • For more information please contact council's Governance Team:

About Council