Good Afternoon,

I refer to your request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), dated , received by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (the department) on 11 November 2022, seeking access to:

“information about the storm clean up and hazard reduction works planned by DELWP at Brickhouse Rd and South Barkstead Road, Wombat State Forest [FRW - Barkstead - BrickhouseRd - 195-520-0008 & FRW - Barkstead - Barkstead-south Rd - 195-521-0026], including any survey data, maps, plans, and any works specifications or similar documentation setting out the location and nature of the works to be undertaken."

Your request is currently invalid. Section 17 of the FOI Act requires payment of an application fee of $30.60 (two fee units).

This fee may only be waived if payment would cause hardship to the applicant. If you believe that payment of the application fee will cause you financial hardship, you may request a waiver. This request must be accompanied by suitable evidence of hardship, such as a copy of a pension or Centrelink benefit card.

If you wish to proceed with your request, please forward payment of $30.60. A payment form is attached.

Please complete this payment form and return by email.

Please contact me if you have any questions or require assistance.

Regards,
Veronica
 
Veronica Finn (she/her)
Senior FOI Officer | Governance
Legal and Governance Division | Corporate Services | Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
 
PO Box 500, East Melbourne VIC 3002
T: (03) 8508 2763 E: [email address]
 
Please note that I work Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
 

We acknowledge Victorian Traditional Owners and their Elders past and present as the original
custodians of Victoria’s land and waters and commit to genuinely partnering with them and
Victoria’s Aboriginal community to progress their aspirations.
 

OFFICIAL-Sensitive

show quoted sections

Hi Gayle,

Thanks for your email.

Unfortunately, I didn't received the previous email that you refer to. I have also checked the department's FOI Unit inbox but haven't been able to locate it. Did you send it directly to me?

As you have now confirmed payment, your request is valid and can be processed.

Could you please forward me a copy of the original payment email for our records.

I will advise if any further clarification is required. In the meantime, please contact me for any matters regarding your request.

Regards,
Veronica
 
Veronica Finn (she/her)
Senior FOI Officer | Governance
Legal and Governance Division | Corporate Services | Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
 
PO Box 500, East Melbourne VIC 3002
T: (03) 8508 2763 E: [email address]
 
Please note that I work Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
 

We acknowledge Victorian Traditional Owners and their Elders past and present as the original
custodians of Victoria’s land and waters and commit to genuinely partnering with them and
Victoria’s Aboriginal community to progress their aspirations.
 

OFFICIAL-Sensitive

show quoted sections

Dear Ms Osborne,

 I refer to your request for documents under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act), received by the Department of Environment, Land, Water
and Planning (the department) on 11 November 2022, seeking access to:

              “information about the storm clean up and hazard reduction
works planned by DELWP at Brickhouse Rd and South Barkstead Road, Wombat
State Forest [FRW - Barkstead – BrickhouseRd    - 195-520-0008 & FRW -
Barkstead - Barkstead-south Rd - 195-521-0026], including any survey data,
maps, plans, and any works specifications or similar documentation setting
out the location and nature of the works to be undertaken."

The FOI Act provides that where a charge for access may exceed the amount
of $50.00 I am required to ascertain whether or not you wish to proceed
with your request and if so, inform you of the requirement to pay a
deposit.  

Preliminary investigations indicate that access charges will be payable
for your request. The estimate has been calculated as follows: 

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type of charge  | Rate  | Quantity  | Amount  |
|-------------------------+---------------+----------------+-------------|
|Search time  |$22.20  | 4  | $88.80  |
|-------------------------+---------------+----------------+-------------|
|Estimated total  |  |   | $88.80  |
|-------------------------+---------------+----------------+-------------|
|Deposit required  |  |   | $25.00 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

This is just an estimate at this stage as the final cost will be known
once the processing of the FOI request has been finalised. 

If you wish to proceed with your request, please pay the deposit of
$25.00. Please complete and return the attached form to advise that
payment has been made.

After the deposit is paid, I will further advise you of when the balance
of the charges will become payable.

Should you be dissatisfied with the calculation of the anticipated charge,
you have the right to apply for a review of that charge (within 60 days)
to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. However, prior to
doing this you must refer the matter to the Office of the Victorian
Information Commissioner who will determine whether the matter is of
sufficient importance for the Tribunal to consider.

The address of the Information Commissioner is PO Box 24274, Melbourne,
Victoria, 3001. 

Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner 

PO Box 24274 

MELBOURNE  VIC  3001 

Email: [1][email address] 

Please contact me if you wish to discuss alternatives for reducing the
anticipated charge (for example, amending the scope of the FOI request). 

Please note that I will be on leave from tomorrow, 23 December 2022, until
9 January 2023. During this time please contact the FOI Unit
[2][email address].

Regards,

Veronica

Veronica Finn (she/her)

Senior FOI Officer | Governance

Legal and Governance Division | Corporate Services | Department of
Environment, Land, Water and Planning

PO Box 500, East Melbourne VIC 3002
T: (03) 8508 2763 E: [3][email address]

Please note that I work Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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[5]A picture We acknowledge Victorian Traditional Owners and
containing sitting, their Elders past and present as the original
holding, table, custodians of Victoria’s land and waters and commit  
person Description to genuinely partnering with them and
automatically Victoria’s Aboriginal community to progress their
generated aspirations.

OFFICIAL-Sensitive

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www2.delwp.vic.gov.au/aboriginal...

I am currently on leave and will return on Monday 9 January 2023. For any
urgent matters during this time please email the FOI Unit at
[email address]

Dear Gayle,

Thank you for your email and payment of the deposit of access charges deposit. I will continue to process your request.

I'm sorry about the issues with the form, you should be able to fill it in without having to print out. I had not heard of any problems filling it in before but I will make enquiries.

Regards,
Veronica

Veronica Finn  (she/her)
Senior FOI Officer | Legal and Governance Division
Corporate Services | Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

PO Box 500, East Melbourne VIC 3002
T: (03) 8508 2763 E: [email address]
 
Please note that I work Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
 

We acknowledge Victorian Traditional Owners and their Elders past and present as the original custodians of Victoria’s land and waters and commit to genuinely partnering with them and Victoria’s Aboriginal community to progress their aspirations.

OFFICIAL-Sensitive

show quoted sections

Dear Ms Osborne,

  I refer to your request for documents under the Freedom of Information 
Act 1982 (FOI Act), received by the Department of Environment, Land,
Water  and Planning (the department) on 11 November 2022, seeking access
to:

               “information about the storm clean up and hazard reduction 
works planned by DELWP at Brickhouse Rd and South Barkstead Road, Wombat

State Forest [FRW - Barkstead – BrickhouseRd    - 195-520-0008 & FRW -
 Barkstead - Barkstead-south Rd - 195-521-0026], including any survey
data,  maps, plans, and any works specifications or similar documentation
setting  out the location and nature of the works to be undertaken."

The FOI Act requires that I consult with the relevant third parties with
respect to personal affairs information (section 33 of the FOI Act),
commercial information (section 34(1) of the FOI Act) and information
provided in confidence (section 35 of the FOI Act) as their opinions will
be required to determine whether the documents sought are exempt.  

As the documents requested contain personal information and information
provided in confidence, in accordance with section 21 of the FOI Act, the
department has extended the period within which to notify you of its
decision by 15 calendar days from 30 January 2023 to 14 February 2023.  

With respect to personal information, under section 33(3) of the FOI Act,
if practicable, I must consult with the third parties who have personal
information contained in the documents. If I determine that it is
reasonable to release the personal information and the third party does
not agree to the information being released, I will need to provide
“reverse FOI rights” to the third party. This means that the agency cannot
release the documents to the applicant until a 60 day appeal period has
concluded.  

Can you please advise if you agree to allow us to remove personal affairs
information from the documents (such as names, titles and contact
information)? This would mean that we would not need to provide the above
appeal period and may speed up the process of providing you with
documents.

If you do agree to allow us to remove personal information from the
documents, I will only have to consult with relevant parties about the
commercial information in the documents. 

Please contact me if you would like to discuss. 

Regards,

Veronica

Veronica Finn  (she/her)

Senior FOI Officer | Legal and Governance Division

Corporate Services | Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

PO Box 500, East Melbourne VIC 3002
T: (03) 8508 2763 E: [1][email address]

Please note that I work Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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We acknowledge Victorian Traditional Owners
[8]Aboriginal and and their Elders past and present as the [9]Mirring
Torres Strait original custodians of Victoria’s land and artwork and
Islander flags waters and commit to genuinely partnering link
with them and Victoria’s Aboriginal
community to progress their aspirations.

OFFICIAL-Sensitive

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.deeca.vic.gov.au/
3. https://www.facebook.com/DEECAVictoria
4. https://twitter.com/DEECA_Vic
5. https://www.linkedin.com/company/departm...
6. https://www.instagram.com/deeca_vic/
7. https://www.youtube.com/DEECAVictoria
9. https://www.delwp.vic.gov.au/aboriginals...

Hi Gayle,

Thank you for your email. I will continue processing your request on that basis and will consult only in relation to information obtained in confidence.

Regards,
Veronica

Veronica Finn  (she/her)
Senior FOI Officer | Legal and Governance Division
Corporate Services | Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

PO Box 500, East Melbourne VIC 3002
T: (03) 8508 2763 E: [email address]
 
Please note that I work Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
 

We acknowledge Victorian Traditional Owners and their Elders past and present as the original custodians of Victoria’s land and waters and commit to genuinely partnering with them and Victoria’s Aboriginal community to progress their aspirations.

OFFICIAL-Sensitive

show quoted sections

Dear Gayle,

I refer to your request for documents under the Freedom of Information 
Act 1982 (FOI Act), received on 11 November 2022, seeking access to:

“information about the storm clean up and hazard reduction  works planned
by DELWP at Brickhouse Rd and South Barkstead Road, Wombat State Forest
[FRW - Barkstead – Brickhouse Rd    - 195-520-0008 & FRW -  Barkstead -
Barkstead-south Rd - 195-521-0026], including any survey data,  maps,
plans, and any works specifications or similar documentation setting  out
the location and nature of the works to be undertaken."

A decision on your request is due on Monday 13 February 2023. 
Unfortunately, while we are endeavouring to process your request as soon
as possible, I will not be able to finalise your request by this date. I
apologise for the delay.

The FOI Act allows for extensions in time where the applicant agrees.
Could you please advise whether you agree to a 30 day extension. A
decision would then be due on 14 March 2023 and remaining access charges
for this request would be waived.

Please contact me if you would like to discuss.

Regards,

Veronica

Veronica Finn  (she/her)

Senior FOI Officer | Legal and Governance Division

Corporate Services | Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

PO Box 500, East Melbourne VIC 3002
T: (03) 8508 2763 E: [1][email address]

Please note that I work Monday to Thursday.

[4]A picture
[2]Shape, [3]Icon containing [5]Icon [6]Icon [7]Icon
rectangle Description text, wheel, Description Description Description
Description automatically gear automatically automatically automatically
automatically generated Description generated generated generated
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We acknowledge Victorian Traditional Owners
[8]Aboriginal and and their Elders past and present as the [9]Mirring
Torres Strait original custodians of Victoria’s land and artwork and
Islander flags waters and commit to genuinely partnering link
with them and Victoria’s Aboriginal
community to progress their aspirations.

OFFICIAL-Sensitive

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.deeca.vic.gov.au/
3. https://www.facebook.com/DEECAVictoria
4. https://twitter.com/DEECA_Vic
5. https://www.linkedin.com/company/departm...
6. https://www.instagram.com/deeca_vic/
7. https://www.youtube.com/DEECAVictoria
9. https://www.delwp.vic.gov.au/aboriginals...

Dear Gayle,

Thank you for your email and for agreeing to a 30 day extension. I will continue to process your request accordingly.

Regards,
Veronica

Veronica Finn  (she/her)
Senior FOI Officer | Legal and Governance Division
Corporate Services | Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

PO Box 500, East Melbourne VIC 3002
T: (03) 8508 2763 E: [email address]
 
Please note that I work Monday to Thursday.
 

We acknowledge Victorian Traditional Owners and their Elders past and present as the original custodians of Victoria’s land and waters and commit to genuinely partnering with them and Victoria’s Aboriginal community to progress their aspirations.

OFFICIAL-Sensitive

show quoted sections