The purpose of GA39 is to identify records created and maintained by NSW councils and county councils which are required as State archives, and to provide approval for the destruction of certain other records after minimum retention periods have been met. It applies to all records of council business and administration.
Statement of authority
| GA No | GA39 |
|---|---|
| Scope | This authority applies to common administrative and functional records created and maintained by local government from 1920. |
| Public office |
This authority applies to all councils and county councils under the Local Government Act 1993. This authority may also be used by NSW public offices listed as water supply authorities under the Water Management Act 2000 and whose responsibilities include the provision of local water supply and sewerage services in respect of records relating to the provision, management or operation of those services. This authority may also be used by NSW public offices whose responsibilities include the provision of local government services, such as the Lord Howe Island Board and the Cobar Water Board, in respect of records relating to the provision, management or operation of those services. |
| Approval |
Original approval 7 February 2011 |
Amendments
There have been a number of amendments to GA39 since it was first issued. These are listed in the front section of the GA39 PDF.
Numbering of entries
When GA39 was being developed, State Records NSW was asked to retain the numbering from the previous disposal authority (GDA10) to avoid resentencing. Where additional activities were required these were added at the end of the relevant function to avoid renumbering. This means that some activities within a function are in alphabetical but not numerical order.
Records required as State archives
To assist Councils with developing transfer plans we have prepared an Excel spreadsheet of entries from GA39 that are required as State archives. Pleae note that the sections of the State Records Act relating to transfer plans do not come into effect until 2024. For further information regarding transfer plans please contact transfer@mhnsw.au
Exposure draft of revised GA39
In 2022 we announced that we were reviewing GA39 as it is over 10 years old. The intention is to remove entries that are not unique to local government and to use the General retention and disposal authority: administrative records (GA28) for these records. An exposure draft of a revised authority is now available. Feedback is due by 15th December 2023. Emails were sent to local government Senior Responsible Officers and records management contacts on 16 October 2023.
Downloadable files
GA39 and the index are available for download below as a PDF and Excel (HTML is not available). The mapping table from the former disposal authority for local government records (GDA10) is also available as a pdf. Please email govrec@staterecords.nsw.gov.au if you would like an XML version of GA39.
Please note that State Records NSW does not make software- specific loadable formats of disposal authorities available. Please contact your vendor or service provider for assistance.
GA39 Local government records July 2022 (PDF, 2361kb)
GA39 Local government records July 2022 Excel (131kb)
GA39 Local government records Index (PDF, 2025kb)
Updated November 2023
Back to top