The Victorian Planning Authority, formerly the Growth Areas Authority, is committed to meeting its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and to extending, as far as possible, the community’s right to access information in a timely manner. This includes information about the VPA’s operations and making available to members of the public the rules and practices affecting them when dealing with the VPA.
Background
The VPA is governed by the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act, which gives any member of the public the right to:
- Access documents about their personal affairs and the activities of the VPA, and
- Request that incorrect or misleading information held by the VPA about them be amended or removed.
Guidelines for Accessing Information
All requests for access to documents under the Act must be made in writing and must clearly give enough information to enable the VPA to identify the document(s) to which access is sought. You can write a letter or email or download the Freedom of Information Application Form (Word). You can email your application to info@vpa.vic.gov.au, or post it to:
Freedom of Information
Victorian Planning Authority
Level 25, 35 Collins Street,
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
An application fee of $32.70 applies to all requests. This fee is non-refundable. Other charges may apply to the release of some documents. The VPA will advise you whether any other charges apply and these will have to be paid prior to the release of the documents. It is the VPA’s preference that payments be made by cheque or money order.
Application Process
Under the Act, the VPA usually has 30 days from the date it receives a valid request to process the request and advise the applicant of its decision to release the documents or to withhold them. In some cases this timeframe can be extended. If the VPA decides not to release the documents, you will be advised of the reasons and the appeals process.
Further Information
Click here for more details about the Freedom of Information Act.