Privacy Policy and Website Privacy Statement

This privacy statement applies to Towong Shire Council website.

For information about the broader collection, use and disclosure of personal information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

Website privacy statement

Towong Shire Council is committed to protecting the privacy of those visiting our website. We handle your personal information in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 [Vic] (PDP Act) and other applicable legislation.

Collection, Use and Disclosure of Information

The following non-personal information is automatically recorded by our website’s server for administrative and statistical purposes:

• The domain name of the account you are using to access the internet
• The Internet Protocol (IP) address
• The time and date of your visit to the website
• The pages you accessed and downloaded during your visit
• The address of the last site you visited
• Approximate geographic location
• The operating system you are using (e.g.: Windows, Mac iOS, etc.)
• The type of browser you are using (e.g.: Chrome, Internet Explorer, Edge)

We use this data to accumulate information about the length and number of visits to our site and the trends of various areas of our website. We will not attempt to identify individuals from the above records the server automatically generates, unless we are directed to in order to investigate a breach of law or regulation.

We will only use the personal information provided by you for the purposes for which it was collected and any other authorised use. The information we collect may also be used for our own planning and research purposes to improve the services to the community.

We will not reveal personal information we collect to third parties, unless disclosure is required or authorised by law. Third party entities we may need to forward your personal information to include but are not limited to the following:

• Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
• Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
• Department of Transport and Planning
• Public Records Office Victoria
• Victoria Police
• VicRoads

In addition to web analytics data, we may also collect other personal information that you choose to give us, or which may be required to access a particular service. This can include information collected through the creation of an online account, details provided on online forms, events registration, complaints, requests for service, or when subscribing to receive our newsletters. For further information on how we manage your personal information, please refer to our privacy policy.

Links to other websites

This privacy statement does not apply to any external websites that are linked on Council's website, as we are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites. When you visit other websites, we recommend you read the privacy statements or policies of the subject website before providing your personal information.

Security of your personal information

We have a responsibility to protect your personal information under the PDP Act.

We have implemented various initiatives to enhance the protection of personal information under our control, such as technology and security policies, as well as practical rules and measures. However, you should be aware that there are residual risks in transmitting information through the Internet. While we aim to protect such information, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information transmitted to us online. Once any personal information comes into our possession, we will take reasonable steps to protect that information from misuse, loss and from unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.

If you are concerned about conveying personal material to us over the Internet, you might prefer to contact us by telephone or mail. We will remove personal information from our system where it is no longer required (except where legislative obligations exist).

Access and Correction

You may request access to, or correction of, documents that contain your personal information which are in our possession. For information on how to make a request for access or correction, please contact us.

In some cases, requests for access or correction will be managed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

Contact us

For more information about this privacy statement, or how Council manages personal information, please contact us.