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Freedom of Information

Freedom of Information ActFreedom of Information StatementOur structure and functionsCommunity engagementDocuments available to requestApply to access or amend documentsReleased FOI documentsProactive disclosure
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Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act 1991 (FOI Act) provides members of the public with a legally enforceable right of access to documents held by the Government of South Australia, subject only to such restrictions as are reasonably necessary for the proper administration of the state government.

The FOI Act also enables people to apply for the amendment of records concerning their personal affairs if they consider them to be incomplete, incorrect, out-of-date or misleading.

Freedom of Information Statement

The following information statement for Renewal SA is published pursuant to Section 9 of the FOI Act.

An overview of how Freedom of Information operates in South Australia is available from the State Records website.

Our structure and functions

As the government’s urban development agency, we are charged with leading and coordinating development and urban renewal activity to ensure South Australia’s future employment and housing needs are met through well-planned, affordable and vibrant urban developments.

Our Renewal SA Strategic Plan 2020-23 aligns our work to four strategic pillars and associated goals:

  • People – Renewal SA is an inclusive and dynamic working environment that drives high levels of engagement, market­leading capability and results-driven performance.
  • Partnerships – Renewal SA’s strong and collaborative partnerships unlock new opportunities and produces exceptional market-leading results for the State.
  • Pipeline – We are constantly initiating and contributing to a strong pipeline of development opportunities that enable growth and attract additional investment for the State.
  • Projects – Alongside our partners, Renewal SA leads the market to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits through excellence in project delivery.

 The key functions of Renewal SA as outlined in the Urban Renewal Act 1995 are to:

  • initiate, undertake, support and promote residential, commercial and industrial development in the public interest.
  • acquire, assemble and use land and other assets in strategic locations for urban renewal.
  • promote community understanding of, and support for, urban renewal by working with government agencies, local government, community groups and organisations involved in development.
  • undertake preliminary works (including the remediation of land) to prepare land for development and other functions such as planning and coordination.
  • encourage, facilitate and support public and private sector investment and participation in development of the State.
  • acquire, hold, manage, lease and dispose of land, improvements in property.

Find further information about how these functions contribute to delivering an inspiring urban future for South Australia on our About Renewal SA page

Renewal SA Organisational Chart

Community engagement

As the state government’s key urban development agency, Renewal SA recognises that communities can contribute critical insight into elements of projects and potential risks which will impact on Renewal SA’s ability to deliver successful project outcomes.

We engage extensively and inclusively to bring community voices into decision-making for better outcomes and pride ourselves on making a genuine attempt to engage and bring people along on the journey.

Our Engagement Policy and Engagement Guidelines are consistent with the state government’s Better Together principles-based approach and are based on the core values and practices recommended by the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2), which is recognised internationally as best practice.

Renewal SA’s engagement comprises some or all of the levels of public participation from the IAP2 spectrum, for different communities across the different stages of our projects.

Engagement therefore can include members of the public being encouraged to assist in developing a project’s vision, contributing ideas towards planning, reviewing building and public realm design options, providing feedback on specific proposals, and partnering to deliver and manage specific elements such as community gardens.

Reports on our past engagement projects are available to download from our Community page and on our individual project pages.

Documents available to request

Documents held within Renewal SA

Documents held by Renewal SA fall broadly into categories described below, either in hardcopy or electronic formats.
  • Corporate files containing correspondence, memoranda and minutes
  • Policies and procedures
  • Personal information
  • Finance, expenditure, procurement and contracts
  • Annual reports
  • Administrative records
  • Documents relating to the functions of Renewal SA.

Policy documents

Renewal SA’s policy documents can be broadly classified in the following subject areas:
  • Asset Management
  • Commercial & Industrial
  • Communications & Engagement
  • Corporate Governance
  • Environment
  • Finance
  • ICT Management
  • Office of the Chief Executive
  • People & Culture
  • Planning & Design
  • Project Delivery.

Downloads

Documents available for inspection (whether as part of a public register or otherwise)

Renewal SA currently hold many series and consignments of permanent records at State Records of South Australia’s permanent repository. Some of these include, but are not limited to:

  • Land Disposal dockets
  • Urban Project Site files
  • Land acquisition dockets
  • Allotment sales – South Australian Land Commission and successor
  • Corporate files
  • Land Management dockets
  • Land Development dockets
  • Factory construction program files
  • Project files
  • Infrastructure development projects.

Documents available free of charge

The following types of documents and information are available on the agency’s website or upon request:

  • Reports and publications
  • Annual reports
  • Policies
  • Newsletters
  • Media releases
  • Brochures
  • Fact sheets.

Documents available for purchase

Renewal SA does not have any documents available for purchase.

Apply to access or amend documents

In accordance with the FOI Act, applications for access to documents held by an agency must:

  • be made in writing (you may choose to use the application form or write a letter)
  • specify that the application is made under the Freedom of Information Act 1991
  • be accompanied by the application fee (exemptions apply for Members of Parliament and pensioners or health care card holders)
  • specify an address in Australia to which information can be sent
  • clearly identify the documents being sought or the matter to which they pertain
  • specify whether the documents contain information of a personal nature
  • specify the desired type of access to the document, such as inspection of the document at an arranged location or having a copy made.

Applications can be made to amend a record held by the agency concerning personal affairs if they are incomplete, incorrect, misleading or out of date. In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1991, applications for amendment of documents held by an agency must:

  • be made in writing (you may choose to use the application form or write a letter)
  • specify that the application is made under the Freedom of Information Act 1991
  • specify an address in Australia to which information can be sent
  • clearly identify the record to be amended
  • provide such information as is necessary in order for the records to be amended.

FOI application information

Where to send applications

Accredited FOI Officer Renewal SA
GPO Box 698
ADELAIDE SA 5000

Email: RenewalSA.FOI@sa.gov.au

Application to review a determination under FOI

If you are dissatisfied with a determination made under the FOI Act, an application must be made in writing in accordance with Section 29 or Section 38 of the FOI Act or by using the application form.

Contact details for Ombudsman SA

Phone: 8226 8699
Toll Free: 1800 182 150 (within SA)
Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.sa.gov.au

Contact details for South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT)

Phone: 1800 723 767
Email: sacat@sacat.sa.gov.au

Released FOI documents

In accordance with the Premier and Cabinet Circular PC045, Renewal SA is releasing non-personal Freedom of Information (FOI) applications received from 1 October 2017 that have already been disclosed to the applicant, unless the information:

  • contains the personal affairs of an individual
  • can be claimed as exempt material pursuant to Schedule 1 of the FOI Act
  • is considered defamatory or a breach of confidentiality or could be expected to cause harm to a person.

You can access the non-personal FOI applications using the PDF links in the disclosure log below.

If you are experiencing difficulty accessing these documents, please email renewalsa.foi@sa.gov.au or contact 08 8207 1350.

Disclosure log

Date of determination
Reference
Application summary
Document (click to download), or advice on how to access
15 June 2021
RSA2021/00526
Copies of all emails sent from Mr Richter to Renewal SA from 2014 to 2021
Please contact Renewal SA for access at: RenewalSA.FOI@sa.gov.au
05 January 2021
RSA2020/00069
Documents pertaining to the Renewal SA Lot Fourteen Demolition and Remediation Tenders.
Please contact Renewal SA for access at: RenewalSA.FOI@sa.gov.au
05 June 2020
RSA2020/00063
List of documents pertaining to the Mawson Lakes Child Care Centre
(please contact Renewal SA for copy of the documents)
PDF 388KB
5 March 2020
RSA2019/01632
Lot Fourteen Telecommunications Advisory and Project Management Support Services
PDF 15.75MB
26 October 2018
RSA2018/01929
Documents pertaining to the Expression of Interest for Elizabeth Vale Central Shopping Centre from 18 March 2018
PDF 945KB

If you should have problems downloading any FOI documents, please contact Renewal SA for other ways of obtaining a copy.

Proactive disclosure

The Government of South Australia has committed to making more government-held information available to members of the public without requiring them to make a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

Renewal SA proactively discloses the overseas travel expenses of all staff, including the Chief Executive.

You can access itemised reports for each month in the current financial year using the PDF links below.

Where the total expenditure is ‘Nil’, no agency budget was spent on overseas travel in that month/year and there is no document to download.

Date of disclosure
Cost
Document (click to download)
Financial Year 2019-20
Nil
–
June 2019
Nil
–
May 2019
Nil
–
April 2019
$14,917
PDF 2MB
March 2019
Nil
–
February 2019
Nil
–
January 2019
Nil
–
December 2018
Nil
–
November 2018
Nil
–
October 2018
$6,777
PDF 158KB
September 2018
Nil
–
August 2018
Nil
–
July 2018
Nil
–
June 2018
$6,988
PDF 149KB
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