REFERENCE DOCUMENTS - RAL25/0004 (As Published)

                 In assessing whether the documents are non-existent, an agency may also conduct searches.
                 Where searches are conducted, an agency must demonstrate that it has taken all reasonable
                 steps to locate responsive documents, prior to deciding that documents are non-existent. 3

                 After carefully considering the terms of your application, I requested searches be undertaken
                 by the Environmental Services Regulation division. On 6 March 2023 I received advice from
                 that business unit that searches were made of the following systems using the key words Lot
                 105 on SP118458, 62 Lake Mc Donald Drive Cooroy Qld 4563:

                           •     Contaminated Land Register
                           •     eDOCS
                           •     emails
                           •     Environmental Management Register
                           •     network drives
                           •     hard copy files
                           •     Ministerial and Executive Correspondence System; and
                           •     QLD Globe.

                 I was advised that no documents were located by these searches. In addition, that an
                 extensive search had also revealed that neither the Contaminated Land Unit, nor the Waste
                 Assessment Team held any documents associated with the relevant address.

                 I have considered the searches undertaken by the Environmental Services Regulation division
                 and am satisfied that the searches performed were appropriately targeted and that, if the
                 information you requested existed within the agency, the documents would have been located
                 by the searches that were performed.

                 Conclusion

                 I am satisfied on reasonable grounds that the documents you have requested access to do
                 not exist and that the agency has taken all reasonable steps to locate the requested
                 information. I have therefore decided to refuse access to the requested information under
                 sections 47(3)(e) and 52(1)(a) of the RTI Act on the basis that the requested documents are
                 nonexistent.




                 3
                     Mewburn, at [20].

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Document Set ID: 23717062
Version: 0, Version Date: 01/01/1900