Right to Information

Publication Scheme

The RTI Act requires Council to publish a list of information on its website that is routinely available to residents, known as a 'publication scheme.'

Read more about the current scheme on the Publication Scheme page.

CCTV Surveillance Systems

Council has camera surveillance systems across the City, and the below document outlines their general location and purpose. The community can apply for access to the surveillance footage captured by Council by submitting a right to information application.

• CCTV Camera Justification (PDF, 145.6 KB)

Administration Access Applications

Council administratively releases information in many different ways including the Townsville Dashboards, Open Data portal and Planning & Development websites. Sometimes however it is important and efficient to release information to applicants without the need for a right to information application. Administrative access applications are ad hoc requests for a Council document or part of a document. An administrative access request must be referred to Legal Services for consideration. Legal Services must assess the request to determine if the document can be released administratively. The administrative release of a document is at the discretion of the Chief Legal Officer subject to legislative provisions and Council policy.

The administrative release of information is to be in accordance with open and transparent governance and reduces the need for formal applications.

Access Applications

If a Council document is not publicly available or available via an administrative access application, an individual can make a formal application to Council to access a Council document under the provisions of the RTI Act. An access application must:

• be in writing and accompanied by the prescribed application fee; and
• give sufficient information to enable the identification of the documents requested; and
• state an address where notices issued under the RTI Act are to be sent.

For an application for access to a document containing personal information of the applicant, the application must also be accompanied by:

• evidence of identity of the applicant; and
• if an agent is acting for the applicant – evidence of the agent’s authorisation.

There is no application fee payable for an application for access to a document if the document contains personal information of the applicant.

The access application applies only to documents that are, or may be, in existence on the day the application is received.

Access application forms are available from Council’s website, at Council’s administration centres or by requesting a copy to be posted.

Processing Period and Requirements

The RTI Act provides Council with 25 business days from Council’s receipt of a compliant application to provide a written decision. At any time before the processing period ends, Council may ask the applicant for an extension of the processing period with a view to making a considered decision.

If an access application is outside the scope of the legislative provisions, Council will advise the applicant within 10 business days after receiving the application. If the application does not meet all the requirements of a valid application, Council will advise the applicant within 15 business days.

There is a fee for an access application for documents that do not contain the applicant’s personal information.  Additional Processing and access costs may be incurred for printing or additional administration. Where formal applications under the RTI Act are made, the fees and charges specified in the Right to Information Regulation 2009 (“the Regulation”) will be applied by Council.

Before the end of the processing period, Council will provide the applicant with a schedule of relevant documents (unless this requirement is waived by the applicant), a charges estimate notice and the applicant's option to consult with a view to amending the application to reduce the charges.

Assessment and Decision

The CEO or delegated officer assesses each application in accordance with the public interest test, and other exemptions prescribed by the RTI Act. If the delegate considers on balance, that disclosure of the information would be contrary to the public interest, or a prescribed exemption applies, the information will not be released. The applicant will be with the reasons for such a decision.

Council may refuse to deal with an access application if it would substantially and unreasonably divert Council’s resources. Council can also refuse to deal with an access application if the application was previously made for access to the same documents.

Once an access application has been assessed, the delegate provides the applicant with a written notice of its decision and, if certain information is denied, a statement of reasons in accordance with the RTI Act.

Fees and Charges as at 1 July 2025

Our fees and charges increase on 1 July each year. You can contact us to find out details about specific fees, charges or prices.

Lodgement and Payment

A payment processing fee applies to credit card payments. The rate is 0.5% of the payment amount for Visa and MasterCard. Exemptions may apply. AMEX and Diners Club are no longer accepted.

Payment can be made in the following forms:

• EFTPOS and credit card payment;
• cheque (crossed, marked 'not negotiable' and payable to Townsville City Council); or
• cash (do not send through mail). Not available at Townsville Citylibraries locations.

Applications can be submitted in the following methods:

By Post

Address to:

By Email

Email rtienquiries@townsville.qld.gov.au with attention to Right to Information Legal Services.

In Person

SERVE Centre – Townsville City

• Opening hours: 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (Closed public holidays)
• Location: 103 Walker Street, Townsville City
• Payment: Accepted in cash, card, cheque, or money order. No cash can be given on debit cards or cheques.

SERVE Centre – Citylibraries Riverway

• Opening hours: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (Closed public holidays)
• Location: Citylibraries Riverway, 20 Village Boulevard, Thuringowa Central
• Payment: The Townsville Citylibraries location is card only – no cash.

Third Party Consultation

If the documents requested contain information that may reasonably be expected to be of concern to a government, agency or relevant third party, the documents may not be released until consultation with the third party occurs. Should consultation be required, a further 10 business days is added to the processing period to allow for such consultation.

The applicant is advised in writing if third-party consultation is required.

Disclosure Log

Council provides access to documents released following a decision pursuant to the Right to Information Act 2009. The Disclosure Log contains a summary of the documents released including a brief description, release type and number of pages. Please note that documents containing personal information will not be included in the disclosure log.

Should you wish to access any of the information contained within these disclosures, please contact Legal Services by email at legals@townsville.qld.gov.au.

• 2024/25 Disclosure Log (PDF, 102.8 KB)
• 2023/24 Disclosure Log (PDF, 116.8 KB)
• 2022/23 Disclosure Log (PDF, 134.7 KB)
• 2021/22 Disclosure Log (PDF, 162.0 KB)
• 2020/21 Disclosure Log (PDF, 141.4 KB)
• 2019/20 Disclosure Log (PDF, 73.8 KB)

Information Privacy Amendments

A person may apply to Council for an amendment of information relating to their personal information that they claim is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading.

An application for an amendment of information must:

• be made in writing; and
• provide sufficient information concerning the document to enable Council to identify the document; and
• state an address to which notices may be sent to the applicant; and
• be accompanied by –
  • evidence of identity for the applicant; and
  • if an agent is acting for the applicant – evidence of the agent’s authorisation; and
• state the information the applicant claims is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading; and
• state the way in which the applicant claims the information to be inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading and the grounds for the applicant’s claims; and
• if the applicant claims the information to be inaccurate or misleading – state the amendments the applicant claims are necessary for the information to be accurate or not misleading; and
• If the applicant claims the information to be incomplete or out of date – state the other information the applicant claims is necessary to complete the information or to bring it up to date.

• Information Privacy Personal Information Amendment Form (PDF, 128.4 KB)

Review Process

The delegated officer will provide the applicant with a decision notice outlining the matters considered as part of their application including the reasons to fully release the documents, not to release documents, to give only partial access to documents, or to refuse to amend personal information.

The applicant can request an internal review, which will be undertaken by an internal review officer within Council. The application for internal review must:

1. be in writing; and
2. state an address to which notices may be sent to the applicant for internal review; and
3. be made within 20 business days after the date of the written notice of the decision or within the further time the Council allows; and
4. be lodged at an office of the Council.

The applicant can also request an external review, which will be undertaken by the Queensland Information Commissioner. The application for external review must:

1. be in writing; and
2. state an address to which notices may be sent to the applicant for external review; and
3. give details of the decision for review; and
4. be made within 20 business days from the date of the written notice of the decision  or within the longer period the information commissioner allows; and
5. be lodged with the Queensland Information Commissioner.

International Access to Information Day

On 28 September every year, we celebrate International Access to Information Day (IAI Day).

IAI Day raises awareness of every individual's right of access to government-held information; and the public sector’s responsibility to release information if it is in the public interest to do so.

Visit the Office of the Information Commissioner Queensland website for more information on International Access to Information Day.