Request freedom of information

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) gives the public a legal right to access many documents in Council’s possession.

We will consider all requests in accordance with the FOI Act. Please note that some documents cannot be accessed to protect the public interest and some private and business affairs.

The Manningham Council Freedom of Information Part II Statement outlines the powers and functions of Manningham Council and provide a non-exhaustive list of the types of information and documents we may hold in relation to our functions and powers.

How much does a FOI request cost?

Please note that the following payment options are available for FOI fees and charges:

1. In person at our Customer Service centre, located at Manningham Civic Centre, 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster
2. By cheque or money order, payable to 'Manningham City Council'.
3. Electronic payment options. Council will provide an invoice to you outlining the available electronic payment options.

All FOI requests should be addressed to:
The Freedom of Information Officer
Manningham City Council
PO Box 1
DONCASTER VIC 3108

An applicant may request to have the application fee waived or reduced on the basis of financial hardship. Such matters are handled on a case-by-case basis and may require evidence of hardship.

Please note that further access charges may be applied to cover the costs of locating and providing access to the documents being requested under the FOI Act.

How to apply for a FOI request

For a Freedom of Information request to be considered valid it must:

• Be in writing;
• Provide sufficient information to identify the document(s); and,
• Be accompanied by an application fee of $30.60 (from 1 July 2022). This fee is non-refundable.

What happens once your application is recieved

On receipt of a valid FOI application, a decision must be made within thirty (30) days. Please note that this timeframe may be extended. This may include, but not limited to:

• An additional 15 days if third-party consultation is required to seek their views over the disclosure of documents; or,
• Up to an additional 30 day time extension by agreement with you.

You will be notified if there is any change to this timeframe for a decision to be made.

When a decision is made to refuse access or defer access to part or all of a document, the applicant will be notified in writing of the reasons for refusal/deferral. If the applicant is not satisfied they can seek a review by writing to the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner within 28 days of receiving the decision.

Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner
PO Box 24274
Melbourne Victoria 3001

For more information on the FOI Act and procedures, call Council's FOI Officer on 9840 9333 or contact them by email.

Information is also available on the Victorian Information Commissioner's website.