Yarra council in ‘serious’ double data breach after leaking residents’ names, addresses online

These inner-city residents had their names and addresses leaked online by their council, then a councillor made things worse.

Bungling Yarra council has committed a double privacy breach by publishing online the names and addresses of more than 200 Richmond residents who had lodged a petition over a street closure.

The private information was on the council website for a large part of Thursday, and it wasn’t until a resident alerted governance boss Phil De Losa that the information was removed from public view about 5pm.

The petition had been attached to an agenda item for Tuesday’s council meeting.

But the blunder was then compounded when Cr Herschel Landes, who represents the Melba ward that covers Richmond, published on his Facebook page an aerial map of the area highlighting where the residents who signed the petition lived.

Residents are up in arms over a proposed park development at Charlotte St, Richmond. Picture: City of Yarra

Cr Herschel Landes only made the matter worse after publishing a map identifying the homes of residents who signed the petition. Picture: Kylie Else

Residents are objecting to the creation of a park on Charlotte St, Richmond, saying the road closure was diverting traffic into neighbouring streets.

A pop-up park on the street near Richmond Library was trialled for three months earlier this year.

Cr Landes later removed the map.

“I deleted a spatial summary of the public petition lodged by residents objecting to the proposed road closure of Charlotte St,’’ Cr Landes said.

“Elm Grove residents claimed I was breaching their privacy.’’

One resident told the Herald Sun that people were distressed that their privacy had been compromised and that council had breached their trust.

“We believe the council will be writing letters of apology – and so they should. This is such a serious breach.’’

Several ratepayers filed complaints with Yarra on Friday, prompting Mr De Losa to report the error to state privacy watchdog, the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner on Friday.

Yarra Mayor Edward Crossland represents ratepayers in Melba ward.

Yarra council apologised for the mistake.

“The document was online for a period of four hours before council was made aware of the issue. As soon as the issue was brought to our attention, we immediately removed the details from our website,’’ a spokesperson said.

“Council takes these matters very seriously and apologises for the error. The issue has been reported to the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner.’’

Melba ward is also represented by Greens mayor Edward Crossland who has not commented.

The privacy howlers come a day after the controversial council announced plans to include kids play equipment in Collingwood’s Cambridge St park, previously dubbed “Melbourne’s saddest playground”.