To promote open, accountable, fair and effective government in NSW, members of the public have a right to access government information. This right is restricted only when there is an overriding public interest against disclosing the particular information.
The Department publishes a large amount of information on this website and through the Information Centre. Our publication guide gives some guidance about the other kinds of information the Department holds and releases publicly.
You can also access the Department’s information via:
The Information Centre
The Information Centre provides a single, coordinated customer interface between our specialists in planning and other government agencies, local government, developers and the community at large.
Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPAA)
You have the right to access certain government information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPAA), which replaced the Freedom of Information Act 1989 on 1 July 2010. This information is called open access information. The Act also gives you the right to make a formal access application for other information. more..
Informal access
If we haven’t published the information you seek we may be able to release it to you without the need for a formal access application. more..
Formal access
If the information you are looking for is not published by the Department or available by informal request, you may wish to make a formal access application in writing (which you have the right to do under GIPAA).You are not legally required to use any particular form to make an access application however the Department has created an application form that you may wish to use for convenience. more..
Disclosure log
Our disclosure log is a record of (non-personal) information that the Department has released (often in response to a specific request from an individual or organization) that the Department thinks could also be of interest to other members of the public. The disclosure log shows whether this information is now publicly available and how it can be accessed. more..
Policy documents & tabled documents
Policy documents guide our decisions, actions and procedures. The Department makes available on request any of its policies which affect or are likely to affect members of the public. These policies will also be available on this website in the near future.
From time to time, documents relating to the Department are tabled in the Parliament. Copies of these tabled documents, which include our Annual Reports, will also be available. more..
Publication guide
The Department’s publication guide will tell you about the Department, the kinds of government information we hold, and how you can access that information. It is presently being prepared. more..
Register of government contracts
Certain contracts that the Department enters with the private sector, as well as certain tender information, is made publicly available on the Government’s tenders website. more..
Lobbyists Contact Register
The Registered Lobbyist Contact protocol operates from 01/07/2011. This protocol guides all staff in their communication with registered lobbyists about specific planning matters or development proposals.
Open access information not publicly available
If there is an overriding public interest against the disclosure of any open access information we do not have to make it publicly available. In this case we keep a record which indicates the general nature of that information. At present all open access information is publicly available.