We aim to make our information and documents easily accessible by members of the public. The information provided here outlines the functions of the Council and provide a non-exhaustive list of the types of information and documents we hold in relation to those functions.
View our Freedom of Information Policy
Freedom-of-Information-Policy.pdf(PDF, 134KB)
If you cannot find the information you are searching for after reviewing this information and conducting a search of our website, we encourage you to either phone 03 5722 0888 or email council@wangaratta.vic.gov.au or create a customer request and ask if the information or document you are seeking is available. In many instances we will be able to provide you with the information you are seeking without requiring you to make a formal request for access.
The following pages go into more depth about our information and documents and how you may be able to access them.
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) provides you with the right to request access to documents held by us.
The object of the FOI Act is to extend as far as possible the right of the community to access information in the possession of the Government and other bodies constituted under the law of Victoria.
Before you make a request for access
You are encouraged to check if the information or document you are seeking is already publicly available such as in our annual report, policies and procedures or other resources on our website.
Where you cannot find the information or document you are seeking, we encourage you to contact us and ask if the information or document you are seeking is available or can be provided to you. In many instances we will be able to provide you with the information you are seeking without requiring you to make a formal request for access.
Making a request for access
You can make formal request for access by emailing council@wangaratta.vic.gov.au, or alternatively you can mail it to us - Attention: FOI Officer, Rural City of Wangaratta, PO Box 238, Wangaratta Vic 3676.
We have provided an application form for you to use (DOCX, 109KB)FOI-Request-Application-Form-2023-24.docx(DOCX, 105KB)
To be a valid request, the request must be made in writing, clearly describe the information or document you are seeking access to and accompanied by payment of an application fee of $32.70. If the payment of the application fee would cause you hardship you can request us to waive the fee in full or in part. If we cannot clearly identify the information or documents you are requesting, we will contact you to clarify your request.
We will not apply any charges to requests for the correction or amendment of your own personal information that we hold.
Please contact us by phone on 03 5722 0888 or email council@wangaratta.vic.gov.au if you have any queries regarding these arrangements.
Processing your request
Once we understand what information or document you are seeking, we will process your request and provide you with a decision as soon as possible but no later than 30 days after the date of your request and payment. Note that we may extend the 30-day period by up to an additional 15 days if consultation with third parties is required.
Our role is set out in the Local Government Act 2020. It is to provide good governance in our municipal district for the benefit and wellbeing of our municipal community. In performing our role, we strive to:
- give priority to achieving the best outcomes for our municipal community, including future generations
- promote the economic, social and environmental sustainability of our municipal district, including mitigation and planning for climate change risks
- engage our municipal community in strategic planning and strategic decision making
- pursue innovation and continuous improvement
- seek collaboration with other Councils and Governments and statutory bodies
- ensure our ongoing financial viability
- take into account in strategic planning and decision making, regional, state and national plans and policies
- ensure the transparency of Council decisions, actions and information
We provide a wide variety of services to our municipality which include:
- Planning
- Building
- Roads and parking
- Health services
- Community services
- Waste management
- Animal management
- Recreation and culture
- Local laws
- Emergency management
Community infrastructure maintained by us is estimated to be valued at over $500 million and includes roads, bridges, drains, halls, libraries, recreation facilities, parks and gardens.
We also enforce various federal, state and local laws for our community. These powers and functions are derived from other acts of parliament, regulations and local laws including the followin: Laws-enforced-by-Council.pdf(PDF, 92KB)
Our organisation is made up of our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), four directors, and staff.
The CEO is responsible for establishing and maintaining an appropriate organisational structure for the Council and overseeing the daily management of operations in line with the council plan.
Our organisation chart(PDF, 402KB) illustrates how we are set up to perform our functions.
We create and store a broad range of electronic and hard copy documents.
Document types
The types of documents that we have in our possession include:
- rules, policies and procedures
- briefings and reports
- correspondence
- meeting agendas and minutes
- financial records
- training and education material
- employee records
- operational records
- images and videos
- contracts
- registers
Document categories
Documents are organised under the following categories:
- Animal management
- Assets and infrastructure
- Building
- Business support
- Cemetery
- Committees and groups
- Community and economic development
- Community relations
- Community services
- Emergency management
- Environment
- Environmental health
- Equipment and stores
- Facilities parks and gardens
- Financial management
- Fleet management
- Governance
- Government relations
- Human resources
- Information management
- Land use planning
- Legal services
- Occupational health and safety
- Policies standards and guidelines
- Procurement
- Project management
- Property management
- Publication
- Rates and valuations
- Recreation and cultural services
- Reporting
- Risk management
- Staff development
- Strategic management
- Technology and telecommunications
We produce a number of publications which can be accessed and downloaded from our website.
You can search all of our resources on the website through the search function.
If you need assistance finding a publication please contact us by phone on 03 5722 0888 or email council@wangaratta.vic.gov.au or create a customer request.