Jump to topic
The Freedom of information Act (1982) (the Act) aims to promote openness, accountability and transparency within the Victorian public service by giving members of the public the right to access official documents created by the Victorian Government and its agencies.
The Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) has more information about your rights regarding Freedom of Information (FOI) and our obligations as a Victorian Government Agency.
How to make an FOI request in Victoria
As a Victorian Government Agency, we publish and permit access to a large amount of information outside of the Act. Please read our Part II Statement to find out more about free, quick and convenient access to the information you require.
If you wish to request correction of personal information we hold about you, please refer to our Privacy Policy or contact our Privacy Officer.
If your request sits outside of these options, you must apply for access under the Act.
How to make a valid FOI request
FOI requests are completed quicker and easier when the applicant and the FOI Officer work together. Our FOI Officer is bound to administer the Act in a specific way and required to keep you informed on your request throughout the process.
The following include requirements and helpful ways to ensure your request is resolved as quickly as possible;
- Your request must be in writing.
- You must pay the application fee, however if payment of this fee would cause you hardship, you can request to have the fee waived full or in part with a health care or pension card.
- You must provide sufficient information about the documents you are requesting to help us identify and locate relevant documents.
- We cannot create any new record/s to suit your request. Example: ‘I would like to know the amount of money spent on xx’ cannot be granted as it does not refer to a particular document.
- Where possible identify record types and time frames. Example: ’a report about xx created between 1 January 2019 to 8 June 2019.
- Avoid phrases like ‘all documents in relation to’ and ‘including but not limited to’, as these will almost certainly require further correspondence from our FOI Officer to narrow down the request.
- If you ask for documents on behalf of another person, we may ask you for a signed consent form.
- Specify the format you would like to receive the records. Example: copies sent via post, emailed or inspect originals at our Traralgon office.
- Specify whether you would like complete documents or would like irrelevant or exempt material removed.
- You must include enough detail for us to contact you for further information/ clarification is required. Example: an email is a quicker form of correspondence then a postal address.
Payment and fees
After you submit a request, our FOI Officer will get back to you with payment options. They will also let you know of any other expected charges relating to the request.
A non‑refundable application fee of $34.50 applies to requests made from 1 July 2026, unless the fee is waived or reduced on hardship grounds (for example, where the applicant holds a valid health care or pension card).
The following charges may also be required depending on the request;
- Searching for information - $25.90 per hour.
- Supervision (if requesting physical access to original records) - $25.90 per hour. ($6.50 for up to 15 minutes, $13.00 per 15-30 minutes, $19.40 per 30-45 minutes and $25.90 per 45 -60 minutes).
- Photocopying – 20 cents per black and white A4 page.
Should we estimate the charge to be greater than $70, we will ask you to provide a deposit, or we can work together to narrow down and modify the request.
Further details on these FOI charges are available on OVIC’s website.
After you submit a request
Our FOI officer will guide you through the FOI process, keep in regular contact about the status of your request and inform you on your rights and responsibilities.
We have 30 days from receipt of a valid request to fulfil your application, however we may extend the time up to 30 days for lengthy requests. Should we require this, we will contact you with details for the extension.
Part II Information Statement
We make a wide range of information available to the public. We prepare this information statement under the Act to help you:
- find out about us;
- understand the types of information and records we create and publish on our website;
- understand how we manage FOI requests;
- identify information and documents you may be able to access without making an FOI request; and
- decide whether you need to make an FOI request.
Where we can, we make information available without needing a formal FOI request. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact us first and we’ll let you know whether we can help outside the FOI process.
Information Statement
Our organisation and functions
We are a statutory water corporation providing water and wastewater services to customers and communities across central Gippsland. This includes planning, operating and maintaining water and wastewater infrastructure, managing customer services, supporting environmental and public health outcomes, and meeting our regulatory and reporting obligations.
Our Board is supported by committees that help provide oversight across key areas including audit and risk, safety, health and environment, executive remuneration and capability, and infrastructure and assets.
You can find more information about our role, governance arrangements, leadership, legislation and strategic direction through the corporate information on our website, including our annual reports, governance information and Statement of Obligations.
We create and manage records about our services, decisions, operations and governance.
This includes records about customers, assets, projects, procurement, finance, people and culture, risk, safety, environmental management, regulation, Board and Committee governance, and community engagement. These categories may also include documents held by others on our behalf, where we have the right to obtain and control them.
We manage many records in our electronic document and records management system. We also use specialised systems for operational, asset, customer, financial and workforce information.
The types of documents we create and manage include policies, procedures, guidelines, briefings, reports, registers, databases, correspondence, applications, permits, agreements, leases, licences, meeting records, financial records and audio-visual material.
|
Information about making an FOI request, including fees and contact details, is set out on this page. If you’re looking for information, please contact us before making a formal FOI request. Where we can, we may be able to provide access informally. Some documents may be available for inspection by appointment. If you would like to inspect a document, please contact us first so we can confirm whether it is available and arrange a suitable time. Some historical archives and records about our predecessor agencies may be available through Public Record Office Victoria. The table below lists our predecessor agencies and their PROV reference numbers.
|
We publish a wide range of information about our services, projects, decisions and performance to help our customers and communities stay informed. This includes, or may include, annual reports, public notices, tender information, customer information, consultation material, media releases and updates about our projects and services.
We also provide opportunities for community participation and regular updates through our Sounding Board program and Community News publications.
Because this information sits across several pages, our website gives you practical entry points rather than listing every document here. We also share updates through our social media channels Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Instagram.
Our work is shaped by the Water Act 1989, our Statement of Obligations and other laws that apply to Victorian public authorities and water corporations.
Our rules, policies and procedures help guide how we make decisions, deliver services, manage customer matters, protect privacy, procure goods and services, respond to disclosures and meet our environmental and regulatory responsibilities.
Some rules, policies and charters are published on our website where they are relevant to customers, suppliers, developers or the broader community. You may also be able to access some internal policies and procedures by contacting us, depending on any exemptions or restrictions that apply.
Examples of publicly available rules, policies and charters include our Water restriction requirements, Privacy Policy, Customer Charter, Public Interest Disclosure information, digital metering data requirements, procurement complaints information, trade waste requirements, social media guidelines, sponsorship information, and environment and drinking water quality policies.
We publish reports, strategies, plans and other documents that explain what we're doing, how we're performing and our plans for the future. These may include annual reports, corporate plans, water planning documents, pricing and regulatory submissions, consultation reports, project reports and other material we prepare for the public.
Many of these documents are available through the corporate information and publications areas of our website. If you can’t find a report or document, please contact us and we’ll let you know whether it is available informally or whether a formal FOI request is needed.
Submit a request
To submit an FOI request, please fill out the Freedom of Information request form and email it to foi@gippswater.com.au .
You can use this form to request information on behalf of another person.
If you have any other questions about making an FOI request, our FOI Officer can help.
You can contact our FOI Officer at:
Freedom of Information Officer
Gippsland Water
55 Hazelwood Road
Traralgon VIC 3844
Phone: 1800 050 500