Planning and your privacy
Privacy Statement
How we handle your personal information
The City of Port Phillip collects personal information to assess and process planning permit applications in accordance with the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
We use this information to:
- correspond with you about your application
- undertake statutory notification to affected parties
- make application documents available for public inspection as required by law
- administer and manage the planning process
- carry out any other directly related or reasonably related functions.
If you do not provide all required information, Council may not be able to process or assess your planning application.
How your information will be made available
To meet our statutory obligations, certain planning documents must be publicly accessible. Council manages this in two ways:
1. Advertising documents (during the public notice period)
Planning documents (such as plans and reports) are made available online on Council’s website during the public notice period.
Before any document is published online, Council redacts all personal information, including names, residential or postal addresses (other than the address of the subject land), contact details and other identifying information.
The address of the subject land must remain visible under the Planning and Environment Act 1987, even where this is also the applicant’s residential address. Publishing the subject land address is required under that Act and is an authorised disclosure under privacy legislation.
Only redacted documents (other than the subject land address required by law) are available to the public.
These documents remain accessible until the planning process is concluded, including any review at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
2. Statutory Planning Permit Register
Council maintains a statutory register under section 49 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
The register is accessible online, does not display names or personal details, and contains the mandatory information prescribed by the Act, including the address of the subject land.
Further disclosures
Your personal information may be shared with:
- relevant Council officers involved in the planning process
- other government agencies where required for assessment or referral
- persons accessing information in accordance with the Public Records Act 1973, the Planning and Environment Act 1987, or the Freedom of Information Act 1982
- VCAT where a review is lodged.
Council does not disclose personal information to any other person unless required or authorised by law.
Access or correction
You may request access to, or correction of, your personal information by contacting the Planning Department at 03 9209 6424 or planhelp@portphillip.vic.gov.au.
If you have concerns about how your personal information has been handled, you may also contact Council’s Privacy Officer at helpprivacy@portphillip.vic.gov.au