Information Guide

 A list of open access information is provided in  section 18 of the GIPA Act and Schedule 1 of the GIPA Regulation.

Proactive release

As part of CN’s commitment to open and transparency and best practice, we undertook the following initiatives as part of our proactive release program

• Increased use of social media to share information and interact with our community.
• Various e-newsletters covering a range of areas including:
  • The Community Sector News (for subscribers and applicants who have lodged more than one development application in the last 3 years);
  • Food safety sent to food businesses;
  • 'Natural Connections’ (rehabilitating our environments) and information about Newcastle 500 Supercars event; and
  • An increase in information available on CN’s website that is relevant to changed timeframes of works contracts and works that have been completed in our city 
• COVID-19 information – dedicated section on CN’s website to provide timely and accurate updates, Rapid Response Community Grants, Community Recovery Grants, and community distribution partnership of Personal Protective Equipment with Resilience NSW
   
• My Community Directory, hosted on CN website, a database and search engine of community contacts, services and activities
   
• Community engagement and published public exhibitions for feedback on CN’s dedicated Have Your Say webpage, including:
  • CN’s strategies and plans, including the Newcastle 2040 CSP, Delivering Newcastle 2040 2022/2023, Fees and Charges 2021/2022, Annual Report 2020/2021, End of Term Report 2017/2021
  • updated CN’s strategies on the website to include Newcastle 2040 informing strategies and supporting strategies
  • Parks, recreation and public spaces projects and plans (Lambton off-leash dog areas, National Park Plan of Management, Gregson Park Masterplan, Harbour Foreshore Masterplan
  • Preliminary concept, Georgetown Local Centre, Kotara Local Character Study, Local Social Strategy, Newcastle After Dark - Phase 2 Trial)
  • Coastal management and planning (Love Our Coast survey regarding coastal visitation and values, Stockton Coastal Management Plan, Newcastle Ocean Baths upgrade)
  • CN facilities, services and programs, including surveys to measure customer satisfaction and /or to assist with reporting to the community
  • Transport planning including Wallsend proposed parking changes, Cycling and Parking Plans, walking and cycling on Wharf Road (Foreshore Masterplan), consultation related to development of Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan projects, Local Area Traffic Management projects, cycleways projects (The Junction to Merewether cycleway), and other traffic and parking projects
• Our customer service charter was placed on the CN website; this includes the addition of our customer TRuST principles
• Web content has been uplifted so key call driver pages are easily accessible including Pets and Animals, Parking and Contact Us

• Increase of e-services with forms, enquiries and payment available through our website

• Reports – quarterly and six-monthly performance reports on our achievements; Annual Report 2021/2022 highlights, with a brief video and infographic
   
• Tourism – release of information about initiatives and actions in the Destination Management Plan, development and distribution of visitor information collateral and sharing of data and research to support the visitor economy, use of social media to engage visitors with local history and science at Newcastle Museum and Fort Scratchley, promotion of Newcastle venues (upcoming events, booking information) and use of the visitor website (www.visitnewcastle.com.au)
   
• City events – program updates about New Annual Cultural Festival as well as major events hosted in Newcastle, NAIDOC Week, Youth Week, Seniors Week, beach and water safety programs
   
• Promotion of Open Space projects and plans: Islington Park off-leash area; Harbour Foreshore Masterplan concept; Dixon Park fencing of playground; various playgrounds across the LGA; new and renovated facilities (such as playgrounds, dog parks, sporting facilities), including dedicated letterbox drops to nearby residents and businesses
   
• Trees – Q&A in relation to street and park tree replacement planting
   
• Landcare volunteer promotional and community engagement events delivered as part of the environment education program
   
• Environmental rehabilitation – project planning information and community consultation for stormwater projects delivered over several platforms, such as CN webpage and social media
   
• Stockton – monthly updates to the website, Stockton Works update, foreshore rehabilitation works and sandscraping activities, onsite signage, suburb-wide letterbox drops and onsite meetings with residents to share information about emergency erosion works and long-term planning through the Coastal Management Plan
   
• Smart city and innovation initiatives – Newcastle City app, public events (such as the IQ series) and workshops
   
• Information about funding programs – Economic, Art and Community Grants and Sponsorships
   
• Regulatory, Planning & Assessment - Development Activity Map recording the location and details of all DAs and Complying Development Certificates determined from an interactive map; online Development Contributions Register relating to approved development; exhibitions on proposed legislative changes and important planning documentation; Public Notices for designated, integrated and nominated integrated development, outdoor trading applications and road naming proposals
   
• Updates are also provided after each Council meeting via our website and social media channels collating items on the agenda and social media posts during the meeting as decisions are made
   
• Art Gallery - exhibition and program information and Art Gallery expansion updates released via website and social media, surveys to capture data from our outreach programming, social media channels have continued to grow with Instagram and Facebook
   
• Civic Services - operation of Civic Theatre website, which provides details of all coming attractions and forthcoming performance events of significance, launch event conducted digitally, technical and booking information published online for information of ticket purchasers and venue

Informal release

Sometimes information is not publicly available (such as on our website) but can be quickly and easily collated where it does not include other’s personal or business information and in this case it will generally be released informally upon request. There may be a cost associated with informal release as provided in our  fees and charges.

To make an informal request visit our Contact Us page.

Formal release

Release subject to a formal access application - in some circumstances and to protect the privacy, safety and financial and business information of everyone who interacts or does business with CN, a GIPA-Access Application (Formal request)

A formal application will need to be lodged to seek access to information held by CN (usually where the information contains a third-party’s information).

An application fee of $30 and a further hourly processing fee may apply to cover administrative costs  (please see our fees and charges.- 50% discount on the processing fee may be available).

CN will release information unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure.

Disclosure log

Our Disclosure Log ⁶ gives details about information that has already been released in response to a formal access application that may be of interest to other members of the public, and may save you time in your request.

We will notify the community when we want to talk about projects, strategies or plans.

This depends on the subject matter and might include a notice on our website, social media, some local newspapers, or in any way deemed appropriate by Council.

This may also include direct notification to parties we think will be most impacted.

Below is a list of other mechanisms we use to consult with our community:

Newcastle Voice

Newcastle Voice is one way we consult with the community. Newcastle Voice is CN’s community reference panel made up of over 2,500 residents from all ages and walks of life⁸ who give feedback to assist us in making informed decisions.

Newcastle Voice is actively involved in providing information and advice through:

• community workshops;
• face to face meetings;
• quick polls;
• surveys; and
• online discussions.

Members also receive regular newsletters, feedback from consultations and updates about CN. For more information, or to participate,go to: 

http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Community/Get-Involved/Newcastle-Voice

Community participation in the planning system

Our Community Participation Plan covers how and when we will engage with the community across the planning functions we perform under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW). This helps us to achieve better placing outcomes for the community.