Privacy Policy

1. Scope of this policy

This policy applies to personal information handled through developingsouthernthornlands.com.au and its associated website services. Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified person, or a person who is reasonably identifiable.

You can browse most of the website without creating an account. We do not currently offer general user accounts. If accounts or other personalised services are introduced later, this policy will be updated before or when those features begin operating.

2. Information we collect

The information we collect depends on how you use the website and may include:

• Enquiry information, such as your name, email address, message and any property, business or development details you choose to provide.
• Subscription information, such as your email address, subscription preferences, consent record and unsubscribe status.
• Technical and usage information, such as browser and device information, approximate location, pages viewed, referring pages, timestamps, cookie identifiers and interactions with the website.
• Correspondence, including messages you send and our responses.

3. How we use information

We may use collected information to:

• respond to enquiries, corrections and feedback;
• send updates that a person has chosen to receive;
• operate, secure, troubleshoot and improve the website;
• understand which information is useful to visitors;
• measure website traffic, communications and future advertising performance;
• prevent misuse, spam, fraud or security threats;
• comply with legal obligations and resolve disputes; and
• carry out another purpose that is disclosed when the information is collected.

We do not add a person to a marketing list merely because they sent a general enquiry. Marketing and subscription messages are sent where the person has consented or where otherwise permitted by law.

4. Google Analytics and cookies

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors find and use the website. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to collect and process usage information and produce reports for us. These reports are generally used in aggregated form to improve content, navigation and website performance.

Cookies are small files stored by a browser. You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings, although doing so may affect some website functions. You can also use the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.

Google explains how it processes information from websites using its services in its information for partner sites and Privacy Policy.

5. Advertising

The website may display paid listings, sponsorships or advertisements. We may use information about website traffic and advertising interactions to measure performance and provide reporting to advertisers.

If a third-party advertising provider is introduced and it uses additional cookies, pixels or personalised advertising technology, we will update this policy and introduce any notices or choices required for that service before or when it is enabled.

We do not sell contact-form messages or subscriber email addresses to advertisers.

6. Email subscriptions

When you subscribe, we use your email address and preferences to send the updates you requested. Messages will identify the sender and provide a clear way to unsubscribe.

You may unsubscribe at any time using the link in an email or by contacting us. We will action marketing unsubscribe requests as soon as practical and within the period required by Australian law. We may retain a minimal suppression record so that an unsubscribed address is not accidentally added again.

7. Disclosure and overseas processing

We may disclose relevant information to:

• website hosting, security, analytics, email and technical service providers;
• professional advisers where reasonably necessary;
• authorities or other parties where required or authorised by law; and
• a successor if the website or its operating business is transferred.

Some providers, including Google and email or hosting providers, may process or store information outside Australia. The locations used can change as providers operate global systems. We take reasonable steps when selecting and working with providers, but overseas recipients may be subject to different privacy laws.

8. Security and retention

We take reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. No internet transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

We retain personal information only for as long as it is reasonably required for the purpose for which it was collected, to maintain necessary records, or to comply with legal obligations. Information that is no longer required is deleted or de-identified where reasonably practicable.

9. Your choices and requests

You may contact us to:

• ask what personal information we hold about you;
• request access to or correction of that information;
• withdraw a consent you previously gave;
• unsubscribe from marketing communications; or
• raise a question about our handling of personal information.

We may need to verify your identity before providing access or making a change. Some requests may be limited where retention or refusal is permitted or required by law.

10. Privacy concerns and complaints

Please first send your concern through our Contact page, including enough detail for us to understand and investigate it. We aim to acknowledge and respond within a reasonable period.

If the Privacy Act 1988 applies and you are not satisfied with our response, you may be able to complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. The OAIC generally expects a person to complain to the relevant organisation first and allow it time to respond.

11. Children, changes and contact

The website provides general property and development information and is not directed specifically to children. We do not knowingly seek personal information from children through the current website services.

We may update this policy when the website, its providers or legal requirements change. The current version and its last-updated date will remain published on this page.

Questions about this policy can be sent through our Contact page.