Request City records

Before you start

1. Self-search

   • You can search the website by clicking in the search bar on the top of every webpage.
   • To access information about development applications including applications, planners reports and consents from 2004 onwards, first use the DA search facility.
   • For older records going as far back as 1842, City Archives is the best place to begin your search.

What you need to do

1. View our directory of open access information

   Under the GIPA Act certain information, known as open access information, must be disclosed by us unless it is not in the public interest to do so.

2. Submit a request for records

   For information that’s not readily available, you can request the information simply by describing it in an email addressed to [email protected] or you can also submit a request online or in person at one of our customer service centres.

   Request City records

   When submitting your request, it’s important to provide an accurate description of the required information.

   Examples of information you can usually request in this way include:

   • development applications: applications, planners reports, consents and plans, but, as mentioned above, for DAs from 2004 onwards, first use the DA search facility.
   • building related certificates
   • photographs
   • plans of management
   • local history material
   • submissions and complaints with information that would tend to identify third parties removed
   • infrastructure maintenance records.

3. Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009

   On rare occasions, access to certain records may require an access application under section 41 of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act). Such records may contain private information about people, organisations, or businesses other than you or your organisation or business, or be sensitive, requiring a balancing of public interest considerations for and against disclosure.

   Decisions on section 41 applications have review rights for applicants and third parties. Section 41 applications require an application fee and we charge hourly rates in accordance with the GIPA Act.

   If you believe a section 41 access application may be necessary, please call our Information Access team to check before making the application.

After you finish

We aim to respond to requests within 10 working days. Response times will vary depending on the current levels of demand on our services and the type of information being requested.

We provide access via digital copy whenever we can or by viewing in the Town Hall House reading room. For copyright material which is not in our archive (a rough test is if the material is less than 10 years old) we’ll only provide copies if you have the copyright owner’s consent. There’s usually no application fee for requests for information, however scanning charges may apply.