Health and safety monitoring of former ARL
Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,
I am requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) related to radiation monitoring of Building 164 (also known as the former Australian Radiation Laboratory) at the University of Melbourne's Parkville campus.
Walls, ceilings, floors and soil surrounding Building 164 were contaminated with Ra-226.
As I understand, the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services is the state radiation regulator and would have been responsible for monitoring this building for health and safety purposes.
I request copies of any reports related to the monitoring of this building from the period 1978 - 2018.
Yours faithfully,
Else Kennedy
Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information unit at the Department
of Health and Human Services.
Your email has been received and you will receive a response regarding your
Freedom of Information or subpoena enquiry as soon as possible.
If you are seeking further information regarding Freedom of Information,
please refer to our website at
<http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individual...>
In response to:
Freedom of Information request - Health and safety monitoring of former
ARL
Else Kennedy
to:
FOI requests at Victorian Department of Health and
Human Services
19/0
6/20
19
13:5
3
Show
Deta
ils
Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,
I am requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI
Act) related to radiation monitoring of Building 164 (also known as the
former Australian Radiation Laboratory) at the University of Melbourne's
Parkville campus.
Walls, ceilings, floors and soil surrounding Building 164 were contaminated
with Ra-226.
As I understand, the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services is
the state radiation regulator and would have been responsible for
monitoring this building for health and safety purposes.
I request copies of any reports related to the monitoring of this building
from the period 1978 - 2018.
Yours faithfully,
Else Kennedy
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #5479 email]
Is [Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Victorian Department of Health and Human Services? If so,
please contact us using this form:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url...
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More
information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url...
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
Dear Ms Kennedy.
I refer to your application under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the
Act) requesting access to:
'I am requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (FOI Act) related to radiation monitoring of Building 164 (also known
as the former Australian Radiation Laboratory) at the University of
Melbourne's Parkville campus. Walls, ceilings, floors and soil
surrounding Building 164 were contaminated with Ra-226. As I understand,
the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services is the state
radiation regulator and would have been responsible for
monitoring this building for health and safety purposes. I request copies
of any reports related to the monitoring of this building from the period
1978 - 2018.'
Your application was received on 19 June 2019.
The Act provides that an application fee of $28.90 must accompany each
request. Please forward a cheque or money order for $28.90, made payable
to the Department of Health and Human Services (GPO Box 4057, Melbourne
3001)
The Act also provides that the application fee may be waived or reduced if
payment of the fee would cause financial hardship. If you consider this to
be the case the fee may be waived or reduced on production of a statement
of how the payment of the application fee would cause you hardship.
Please note your request cannot proceed until the application fee or your
statement of hardship has been received as it is not a valid request. I
would appreciate it if you would respond by 24 July 2019, otherwise I will
assume that you do not wish to proceed with your request and no further
action will be taken by the department.
If you have any queries please contact our office via email at
[Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email] or on (03) 9096 2004. Please quote our reference
number F19/0932 in any correspondence.
Regards,
Authorised Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
03 9096 2004 | [Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email]
Executive Services | Legal and Executive Services
Department of Health and Human Services | 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
VIC 3000
From: Else Kennedy <[FOI #5479 email]>
To: FOI requests at Victorian Department of Health and Human Services
<[Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email]>,
Date: 19/06/2019 01:53 PM
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Health and safety monitoring of
former ARL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,
I am requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI
Act) related to radiation monitoring of Building 164 (also known as the
former Australian Radiation Laboratory) at the University of Melbourne's
Parkville campus.
Walls, ceilings, floors and soil surrounding Building 164 were
contaminated with Ra-226.
As I understand, the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services is
the state radiation regulator and would have been responsible for
monitoring this building for health and safety purposes.
I request copies of any reports related to the monitoring of this building
from the period 1978 - 2018.
Yours faithfully,
Else Kennedy
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #5479 email]
Is [Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Victorian Department of Health and Human Services? If so,
please contact us using this form:
[1]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url...
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[2]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url...
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,
I would like to do an electronic funds transfer. Please provide information on how to transfer funds electronically.
Yours faithfully,
Else Kennedy
Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information unit at the Department
of Health and Human Services.
Your email has been received and you will receive a response regarding your
Freedom of Information or subpoena enquiry as soon as possible.
If you are seeking further information regarding Freedom of Information,
please refer to our website at
<http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individual...>
In response to:
Re: Our ref: F19/0932 Freedom of Information Application
Else Kennedy
to:
FOI requests at Victorian Department of Health and
Human Services
30/0
6/20
19
09:4
6
Show
Deta
ils
Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,
I would like to do an electronic funds transfer. Please provide information
on how to transfer funds electronically.
Yours faithfully,
Else Kennedy
Good afternoon Ms Kennedy.
Thank you for your email.
If you are unable to forward a cheque or money order, we can accept
payment of the application fee if you submit your request through the
following website:
[1]https://online.foi.vic.gov.au/foi/reques...
Should you wish to pay the application fee in this way, you will be
allocated the same reference number and the request will be treated as
though it was received on 19 June 2019.
Please advise as to how you wish to proceed.
Regards,
Authorised Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
03 9096 2004 | [Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email]
Executive Services | Legal and Executive Services
Department of Health and Human Services | 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
VIC 3000
From: Else Kennedy <[FOI #5479 email]>
To: FOI requests at Victorian Department of Health and Human Services
<[Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email]>,
Date: 30/06/2019 09:46 AM
Subject: Re: Our ref: F19/0932 Freedom of Information Application
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,
I would like to do an electronic funds transfer. Please provide
information on how to transfer funds electronically.
Yours faithfully,
Else Kennedy
Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,
I have sent a money order by post (sent July 8). Can you please confirm this has been received and the request is in progress?
Yours faithfully,
Else Kennedy
Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information unit at the Department
of Health and Human Services.
Your email has been received and you will receive a response regarding your
Freedom of Information or subpoena enquiry as soon as possible.
If you are seeking further information regarding Freedom of Information,
please refer to our website at
<http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individual...>
In response to:
Re: Our ref: F19/0932 Freedom of Information Application
Else Kennedy
to:
FOI requests at Victorian Department of Health and
Human Services
22/0
7/20
19
08:3
7
Show
Deta
ils
Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,
I have sent a money order by post (sent July 8). Can you please confirm
this has been received and the request is in progress?
Yours faithfully,
Else Kennedy
Dear Ms Kennedy
I refer to your application under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
(the Act) requesting access to:
'I am requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
(FOI Act) related to radiation monitoring of Building 164 (also known as
the former Australian Radiation Laboratory) at the University of
Melbourne's Parkville campus. Walls, ceilings, floors and soil surrounding
Building 164 were contaminated with Ra-226. As I understand, the Victorian
Department of Health and Human Services is the state radiation regulator
and would have been responsible for monitoring this building for health
and safety purposes. I request copies of any reports related to the
monitoring of this building from the period 1978 - 2018.'
I also refer to our correspondence of 24 June 2019 requesting payment of
the application fee. Thank you for your cheque received on 16 July 2019. I
have attached a copy of the receipt.
In responding to your application, it is our policy to make preliminary
enquiries to determine:
* if the department is in possession of the documents you are requesting
* how many documents are involved
* the effort required in retrieving and assessing the documents.
These enquiries may have several different outcomes.
* Your application can proceed towards resolution in its original form.
* Your application may require some form of clarification to proceed,
for example, it may become apparent that an application does not
comply with section 17(2) of the Act, which requires that the request
should provide sufficient information for an officer to identify the
subject documents. Please note that should your application be unclear
in terms of section 17(2) of the Act, the statutory time period of 30
days does not commence until we have received an effective
clarification from you.
* You may be required to vary your application in order to avoid refusal
under section 25A of the Act. In particular, section 25A(1) of the
Act states that the request may be refused if the work involved in
processing the request would substantially and unreasonably divert
the resources of the agency from its other operations.
Should either of these situations seem likely, I will contact you to
discuss how refusal may be avoided.
When the documents you have requested have been identified you may be
required to pay charges for access to the documents. The Act provides that
if we are of the opinion that these access charges are likely to exceed
$50.00, you are to be notified of the calculated charge and required to
pay a deposit if you choose to proceed with the request. Please note that
if a deposit is required and you decide to proceed with your request, the
statutory time period of 30 days does not commence until we have received
your deposit. I will contact you if access charges are applicable to this
request.
We endeavor to undertake these initial enquiries as quickly as possible,
however in some situations they may take longer than anticipated.
I can be contacted via email at [Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email] or on (03) 9096 2004.
Please quote our reference number (F19/0932) in any correspondence.
Yours sincerely,
Authorised Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
03 9096 2004 | [Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email]
Executive Services | Legal and Executive Services
Department of Health and Human Services | 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
VIC 3000
From: Else Kennedy <[FOI #5479 email]>
To: FOI requests at Victorian Department of Health and Human Services
<[Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email]>,
Date: 22/07/2019 08:37 AM
Subject: Re: Our ref: F19/0932 Freedom of Information Application
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,
I have sent a money order by post (sent July 8). Can you please confirm
this has been received and the request is in progress?
Yours faithfully,
Else Kennedy
Good morning Ms Kennedy.
Please find attached correspondence in relation to FOI request F19/0932
Regards,
Authorised Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
03 9096 8449 | [Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email]
Executive Services | Legal and Executive Services
Department of Health and Human Services | 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
VIC 3000
From: Else Kennedy <[FOI #5479 email]>
To: FOI requests at Victorian Department of Health and Human Services
<[Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email]>,
Date: 22/07/2019 08:37 AM
Subject: Re: Our ref: F19/0932 Freedom of Information Application
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,
I have sent a money order by post (sent July 8). Can you please confirm
this has been received and the request is in progress?
Yours faithfully,
Else Kennedy
Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,
Thank you for your response.
I would like to narrow my request to the following:
Copies of reports prepared by ARPANSA (formerly the Australian Radiation Laboratory) or the University of Melbourne in relation to the monitoring of building 164 that have been provided to the department. The narrowed time periods I am interested in are 1978-1982 and 2010-2014.
Please advise regarding cost for obtaining these documents.
Yours faithfully,
Else Kennedy
Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information unit at the Department
of Health and Human Services.
Your email has been received and you will receive a response regarding your
Freedom of Information or subpoena enquiry as soon as possible.
If you are seeking further information regarding Freedom of Information,
please refer to our website at
<http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individual...>
In response to:
Re: Our ref: F19/0932 Freedom of Information Application
Else Kennedy
to:
FOI requests at Victorian Department of Health and
Human Services
30/0
7/20
19
16:1
8
Show
Deta
ils
Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,
Thank you for your response.
I would like to narrow my request to the following:
Copies of reports prepared by ARPANSA (formerly the Australian Radiation
Laboratory) or the University of Melbourne in relation to the monitoring of
building 164 that have been provided to the department. The narrowed time
periods I am interested in are 1978-1982 and 2010-2014.
Please advise regarding cost for obtaining these documents.
Yours faithfully,
Else Kennedy
Good afternoon Ms Kennedy.
Thank you for your email.
Based on your suggested re-scope, further enquiries have been made with
the relevant program area and it has been estimated that it may take eight
hours to locate the relevant documents.
As advised in our correspondence dated 25 July 2019, search time is
charged at the rate of 1.5 fee units per hour which equates to $22.22 per
hour.
The total estimate of charges for access to the documents would therefore
be $177.76.
In accordance with Regulation 9 of the Access Charges Regulations, if the
estimate of charges exceeds $100.00, the deposit is 50 per cent of the
estimate of charges. Consequently if you wish to proceed on the basis of
your suggested re-scope, you would be required to pay a deposit of $88.88.
Please advise as to how you wish to proceed.
Regards,
Authorised Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
03 9096 2004 | [Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email]
Executive Services | Legal and Executive Services
Department of Health and Human Services | 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
VIC 3000
From: Else Kennedy <[FOI #5479 email]>
To: FOI requests at Victorian Department of Health and Human Services
<[Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email]>,
Date: 30/07/2019 04:18 PM
Subject: Re: Our ref: F19/0932 Freedom of Information Application
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,
Thank you for your response.
I would like to narrow my request to the following:
Copies of reports prepared by ARPANSA (formerly the Australian Radiation
Laboratory) or the University of Melbourne in relation to the monitoring
of building 164 that have been provided to the department. The narrowed
time periods I am interested in are 1978-1982 and 2010-2014.
Please advise regarding cost for obtaining these documents.
Yours faithfully,
Else Kennedy