Bathurst Regional Council is required to provide access to the following Open Access information, free of charge, to members of the public in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act).

• Code of Conduct 
• Code of Conduct Complaints - Principles & Procedures  
• DLG Model Code of Conduct Guidelines
• DLG Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils
• Code of Meeting Practice
• Annual Report
• Annual Financial Statements and Auditors Report
• Management Plan
• EEO Management Plan
• State of the Environment Report 
• GIPA Act Publication Guide provides information on accessing Council documents 
• Council's Policy Manual
• Gifts and Benefits Policy concerning the payment of expenses  incurred by, and the provision of facilities to Councillors.
• Land Register - this information can be viewed by contacting the GIS Section within the Corporate Services and Finance Department. 
• Register of Investments - this information can be viewed each month at Item 1 of the Director of Corporate Services and Finance Report to the Ordinary Meeting of Council.
• Returns of the interests of Councillors, designated persons and delegates - this information can be viewed at the General Manager's Department.
• Register of current donations and expenditure declarations lodged by Councillors with the Election Funding Authority of NSW can be viewed at www.efa.nsw.gov.au
• Register of Councillor voting on planning matters.  
• Agendas and Business Papers for Council and Committee meetings (but not including business papers for matters considered when part of a meeting is closed to the public).
• Minutes of Council and Committee meetings, but restricted (in the case of any part of a meeting that is closed to the public), to the resolutions and recommendations of the meeting. 
• Any Codes referred to in this Act - this information can be viewed at the Corporate Services and Finance Department.  
• Register of Delegations    
• Annual Reports of bodies exercising delegated Council functions - this information is available in the Councils Annual Report.
• Local Approvals - under Chapter 7 of the Local Government Act 1993, applications or approvals to erect a building, and associated documents can be viewed at the Environmental Planning and Building Services Department.
• Development Applications (within the meaning of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979) including: applications that have not been determined, records of approvals granted, any variation from local policies with reasons for the variation, and decisions made on appeals concerning approvals can be viewed at the Environmental Planning and Building Services Department. 
• Building Certificates are issued under Section 149(A) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The register of building certificates can be viewed at the Environmental Planning and Building Services Department. 
• Local policies adopted by the Council concerning approvals and orders - this information can be viewed at the Environmental Planning and Building Services Department.
• Plans of land proposed for compulsory acquisition by Council - this information can be viewed by contacting the Development and Traffic Engineer within the Engineering Services Department.
• Leases and licences for use of public land classified as community land - this information can be viewed by contacting the Property Officer within the Corporate Services and Finance Department.
• Plans of management for community land - this information can be viewed at the Engineering Services Department.
• Environmental Planning Instruments, Development Control Plans and Plans made under Section 94AB of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 applying to land with in the Council's area - this information can be viewed at the Environmental Planning and Building Services Department.
• Departmental representatives' reports presented at a meeting of the Council in accordance with Section 433 - this section is not applicable to Bathurst Regional Council.
• Register of graffiti removal work kept in accordance with Section 67C - this register can be viewed by contacting the Maintenance Supervisor within the Engineering Services Department.

Other Open Access Information 

In November 2007 the Department of Local Government undertook a review of Council under their Promoting Better Practice Program. The results of that program were presented to Council at its meeting held on 16 May 2007.

Bathurst Regional Council is in the process of developing the Bathurst 2036 Community Strategic Plan via a community engagement program which includes a discussion paper.

Council from time to time undertakes strategic planning in various areas of its operations. 

The term social and community planning refers to the process of investigating and responding to the social needs and aspirations of all the people who live or work in a local government area.  The Bathurst Social & Community Plan 2011 – 2016 has been developed in partnership with key stakeholders in our community.

Bathurst Regional Council is a large financial and multi-faceted organisation that provides services to its constituents and the surrounding region.