Freedom of Information

Before you submit a Freedom of Information (FOI) request form to us, please read the steps below:

1. Is the document/information already publicly available on our website or by public inspection? If so, an FOI request cannot be made. Providing you with easily accessible information reduces the need to submit FOI request. 
2. Is the document/information available from us for a fee/charge? If so, an FOI request cannot be made. This is the case for many documents/information relating to planning and building permits or endorsed plans. Visit Property Information or planning advice for more information.
3. Does the document/information relate to planning and building permits or endorsed plans? If so, many of these are available for a fee under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and Building Act 1993. Visit Property Information, Building property information or Planning advice for more information.
4. Are you seeking documents/information relating to legal point of discharge or Council drains external to property information? If so, complete the Roads or drainage property information form.
5. Do you understand that some documents/parts of a document may be exempt from FOI requests?
   For example, we may:
   • refuse access to certain documents
   • only provide you with certain parts of a document
   • provide documents with exempt information deleted.

In these circumstances, your application fee will not be refunded.

Reasons for exemptions include:

• internal working documents
• law enforcement documents
• legal advice
• personal information about third parties
• private commercial information
• confidential documents or documents that are covered by secrecy provisions in other legislation.

This explains our powers and functions, the documents and information we keep and the ways you can access them. 

Freedom of Information Part II Statement: This explains our powers and functions, the documents and information we keep and the ways you can access them. 

Once you have read the steps above and understand them, please complete the FOI request form below.

Before you do, we recommend calling us on 03 9249 4000, so that our Freedom of Information Officer can talk to you about your requirements and provide advice on completing the form.

Application fee

$32.70 (non-refundable, no GST payable).

If you are experiencing hardship, you may be exempt from paying this fee if you provide evidence of a current concession card.

Possible additional fees: Access fees - including a search and retrieval fee and/or photocopying costs - may also apply. If your application cost is likely to be more than $50, we’ll contact you to ask you to pay a deposit and confirm that you want to continue with the request.

Payment methods

The easiest way to pay is by using the online form below, but if you can prefer you can pay by:

• Post: Cheque or money order made payable to Brimbank City Council, PO Box 70, Sunshine VIC 3020.
• In person:
  • Brimbank Community and Civic Centre, 301 Hampshire Road, Sunshine
  • Keilor Community Hub, 704b Old Calder Highway, Keilor.
• Invoice: To request an invoice please email FOIRequest@brimbank.vic.gov.au

What you need to provide with your application

• Proof of your identity (if the application relates to your personal information)
• If you are applying on behalf of another person you’ll need to provide:
  • Written consent to apply on their behalf
  • Proof of their identity if the application relates to their personal information
• Evidence of hardship (if applicable).

This form takes about 5 minutes to complete.

Freedom of Information (FOI) request form

When we receive your request, our Freedom of Information Officer will:

• determine if it is a valid request
• write to you to acknowledge receipt of your request
• forward your request to the relevant area to search for the requested documents
• review the discovered documents to make sure they meet the search criteria
• remove irrelevant documents or sections of documents in accordance with the Act.

Under the Act, Council has 30 days to process a valid request, from the day we receive your request and payment of the application fee or deposit.

If an application to waive or reduce the application fee on the grounds of financial hardship is not accepted by Council you have the right to seek review of that decision to the Information Commissioner.

If you wish to challenge a decision as to the amount of a charge, the review right is to appeal to VCAT, but only if a certificate is first obtained from the Information Commissioner that the matter is of sufficient importance for VCAT to consider.

If you are not satisfied with the decision made by our FOI Officer, you can request a review. Your request must be in writing and within 28 days of receiving the decision and should be addressed to:

Freedom of Information Commissioner
Office of the Freedom of Information Commissioner
PO BOX 24274
Melbourne VIC 3001

More info: Freedom of Information Commissioner website