Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) provides members of the public with a right of access to documents held by government entities, including East Gippsland Water.

A decision to release information is made by an authorised officer in accordance with the Act.

Before making a request

We encourage you to first check whether the information you are seeking is already publicly available through our website, annual reports or other published materials.

In some cases, information may be available without the need to lodge a formal Freedom of Information request. Applicants are encouraged to contact East Gippsland Water to discuss their enquiry before submitting an application.

How to make a request

Freedom of Information requests must be made in writing and sent to:

Freedom of Information Officer

East Gippsland Water

PO Box 52

Bairnsdale VIC 3875

Enquiries can also be made via:

foi@egwater.vic.gov.au

Phone: 1800 671 841

What to include in your request

To assist us in processing your application, please:

• Make your request in writing.
• Clearly describe the documents or information you are seeking.
• Provide sufficient detail to assist in identifying the relevant records.
• Include your contact details.
• Pay the applicable application fee or provide information supporting a request for fee waiver or reduction.

Application fee

From 1 July 2026, an FOI application fee of $34.50 applies.

The application fee may be paid:

• In person at East Gippsland Water, 133 Macleod Street, Bairnsdale Victoria 3875.
• Over the telephone by credit card 131 816

Fee waiver or reduction

Under section 17(2B) of the Act, the application fee may be waived or reduced if payment of the fee would cause financial hardship to the applicant.

Applicants requesting a waiver or reduction should provide information supporting their request at the time of lodgement.

Requests for personal information

If you are seeking access to documents containing your personal information, East Gippsland Water may request proof of identity before releasing records.

Where a request relates to another person's personal information, written authority from that individual may be required.

Correction of personal information

Under the Act, individuals may apply to East Gippsland Water to amend personal information held about them if it is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading.

Information available on request

The following information is available on request, subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act:

• A statement that declarations of pecuniary interests have been duly completed by all relevant officers (this is also covered in our Annual Report).
• Shares held by a senior officer as nominee or held beneficially in a statutory authority or subsidiary.
• Publications produced by East Gippsland Water about itself and how these can be obtained (this is also covered in our Annual Report).
• Changes in prices, fees, charges, rates and levies charged by East Gippsland Water.
• Any major external reviews carried out on East Gippsland Water.
• Major research and development activities undertaken by East Gippsland Water.
• Overseas visits undertaken, including a summary of the objectives and outcomes of each visit.
• A general statement on industrial relations within the entity and details of time lost through industrial accidents and disputes (also covered in our Annual Report).
• Major promotional, public relations and marketing activities undertaken by East Gippsland Water to develop community awareness of the corporation and its services (also covered in our Annual Report).
• Assessments and measures undertaken to improve the occupational health and safety of employees (also covered in our Annual Report).
• A list of major committees sponsored by East Gippsland Water, the purpose of each committee and the extent to which the purpose has been achieved.
• All consultancies and contractors including consultants/contractors engaged, services provided and expenditure committed for each engagement.

Review of decisions

If you are dissatisfied with a decision made under the Act, you may have the right to seek a review by the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC).

Information about review rights and the FOI process is available from OVIC.

Further information

Further information about Freedom of Information in Victoria can be found on the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner website.

We want people to find and use our information easily.

In these statements we explain:

• what East Gippsland Water does

• what information and documents we have.

View the Freedom of Information Part II

Information Statement