Welcome to the Australian Local Food System Policy Database. This is a collection of policies from New South Wales (NSW) and Victorian local governments that relate to healthy, sustainable, and equitable food systems.
For further information about using the database and how it was created see How to use the database. You can search the database by using the fields below. Domain refers to eight broad categories under which various topics are situated. The domains and topics are based on a framework of recommendations for local government action on creating a healthy, sustainable, and equitable food system (also located on the ‘How to use the database’ page linked above).
To cite the database: Reeve B, Carrad A, Rose N, Charlton K & Aguirre-Bielschowsky I (2021) Australian Local Food System Policy Database. Available at: https://law-food-systems.sydney.edu.au/policy-database (access date).
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Hold Ctrl to select multiple terms. Using ‘any words’ functions as an “OR” search. Using ‘all words’ functions as and “AND” search.
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| Document title | Relevant text in the policy | Domain | Topic | State | Local Government name | Council type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinia Shire’s Liveability Plan 2017–29 | 4.4 Reducing and diverting food waste from landfill and reusing water to grow food. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Shire’s Liveability Plan 2017–29 | 4.2 Growing a vibrant local food economy which supports growers and enables people to access locally produced food. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Shire’s Liveability Plan 2017–29 | 4.4 Reducing and diverting food waste from landfill and reusing water to grow food. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Shire’s Liveability Plan 2017–29 | Housing Cardinia Shire encourages diverse, high quality and sustainable housing, affordable for all, in close proximity to employment, education, goods and services and open space, which is connected by active travel infrastructure and meets the needs of a growing and diverse community. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Shire’s Liveability Plan 2017–29 | In the medium term we expect to see: 6. We will do this by: 6.1 6.2 6.3 An increase in access to appropriate and affordable housing. Supporting and facilitating affordable and flexible housing which caters for different households and meets the needs of all people. Encouraging diversity in housing to meet the needs of existing and future residents across all life stages, including those with specific housing requirements. Supporting high quality residential developments that respond to best practice in sustainability, environmental, safety and healthy by design guidelines. 6.4 Identifying opportunities to work with housing organisations to encourage development of sustainable community housing across the municipality. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Shire’s Liveability Plan 2017–29 | 4.3 Enhancing food knowledge, skills and culture within schools, workplaces, clubs and the wider community. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Shire’s Liveability Plan 2017–29 | 4.3 Enhancing food knowledge, skills and culture within schools, workplaces, clubs and the wider community. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Shire’s Liveability Plan 2017–29 | In the medium term we expect to see: 4. An increase in access to affordable, nutritious food. We will do this by: 4.1 Protecting and utilising fertile land as a source of fresh food for current and future generations. 4.2 Growing a vibrant local food economy which supports growers and enables people to access locally produced food. 4.3 Enhancing food knowledge, skills and culture within schools, workplaces, clubs and the wider community. 4.4 Reducing and diverting food waste from landfill and reusing water to grow food. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Shire’s Liveability Plan 2017–29 | 4.2 Growing a vibrant local food economy which supports growers and enables people to access locally produced food. 4.3 Enhancing food knowledge, skills and culture within schools, workplaces, clubs and the wider community. 4.4 Reducing and diverting food waste from landfill and reusing water to grow food. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Shire’s Liveability Plan 2017–29 | Liveability policy domains: Food Cardinia Shire’s healthy, delicious, sustainable and fair local food system promotes the health of people, strengthens the local economy and enhances the natural environment. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Fact sheet published and content available via Council’s website. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Prepare a fact sheet on the history of the Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge to emphasise the importance of its engineering feats, the importance of its agricultural pursuits as well as the environmental values of the landscape and the broader region. 1 | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | The soil type and terrain (relatively flat) of this area are key elements to the success of the growth of asparagus. It is critical that the soil and the landscape are appropriately protected to safeguard the asparagus industry. Southern Area (Lang Lang) The east area consists of sandy soils similar to those in the west. Much of this land is on steeper terrain which means that it may not be accessed easily; however, it is in great demand for quarrying for sand and gravel to provide for Melbourne’s cement industry. The capability of these soils for agricultural production has been assessed taking into account soil qualities, topography, drainage and climate as part of the Assessment of climate change impacts on agricultural production in the Western Port Green Wedge (January 2012) report prepared by DPI. The results of this assessment (versatility 20DPI, Assessment of climate change impacts on agricultural production in the Western Port Green Wedge, January 2012. 21 (ABS: Agriculture 2007-08). Cardinia Shire Council analysis) is included as Map 5 (Figure 5) and shows that the whole area is at least moderately suitable for growing a range of agricultural and horticultural commodities, and that much of the area has very high versatility (i.e. it has capacity to sustain multiple agricultural uses). This flexibility will increase in value as the progressive impacts of climate change and higher temperatures are felt in the coming decades. The versatile soils will allow for changes in farming practice with respect to crops and plant varieties. The land versatility map (Map 5, Figure 5) should be used to guide the formulation of planning controls that reflect the suitability of different parts of the area for different agricultural uses and practices. The process should review the existing schedules to the Green Wedge Zones and the SUZ1 in order to develop more comprehensive and customised controls for the entire study area that reflect the capability of local soils. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | agricultural businesses and the potential for agricultural diversification and production in the future | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | encourage sustainable farming activities based on whole farm and catchment planning principles on an individual and community basis. It is acknowledged that this work is now more than 20 years old and a review of the soil types and the extent of the SUZ1 are required. Research was commissioned through the former Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to investigate and map the soil capabilities in the area. The research found four types of soil groupings | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | A21: Continue to work with the WPCMA and DEDJTR to develop a sustainable planning and management framework for food production, agriculture and other uses on green wedge soils. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | A23: Continue to apply for grants (when the opportunity arises) that assist in protecting the horticultural assets of the green wedge. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | A26: Advocate to the Victorian Government for the inclusion of a statement of planning policy for the Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge in the State Planning Policy Framework, reflecting the vision for the green wedge and the primacy of agriculture in the area. A statement should also appear in the Metropolitan Planning 4 | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | A27: Support farmers to stay on the land by facilitating information sessions and educate farmers by addressing matters such as improving farm and land management; generating additional farm income through programs such as EcoTender, discuss alternative farming methods, succession planning and other relevant topics. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | A28: Cardinia Shire Council to have a presence at the annual Farm World agricultural event as a way to engage with farmers. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | A29: Support Agribusiness Gippsland in providing information in relation to improving farm and land management; discuss alternative farming methods, succession planning and other relevant topics. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | A41: Address the future directions/ preferred land uses within Precinct 1 as part of a local green wedge policy in the Cardinia Planning Scheme. A | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Action 3.5.4 of the Council Plan seeks to ensure the planning of rural (green wedge) areas protects and enhances important agricultural, environmental, natural 3 | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Actions A19: Undertake soil type mapping of the land within and adjacent to the SUZ1. A20: Based on the findings of the soil mapping, review the extent of the SUZ1 and the schedules to the Green Wedge Zones. Undertake a planning scheme amendment to adjust the boundaries of the SUZ1 and amend the Schedules to the Green Wedge Zones. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Actions A32: Continue to support and upskill farmers in relation to climate change, its impacts and how to respond to climate change, providing information through Agribusiness Gippsland and its fortnightly newsletter. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Actions A33: Pursue the implementation of a UGB for those townships without a boundary as part of the development of a full township strategy. A34: Continue to lobby the Victorian Government to ensure the implementation of a permanent UGB as part of the submission process to any relevant strategic documents. A35: Address locations for places of worship and schools in the green wedge as part of a local Green Wedge policy in the Cardinia Planning Scheme. Figu | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Actions A39: Encourage lot consolidation over time in order to increase the economic agricultural viability of land by addressing matters with farmers such as improving farm and land management, discussing alternative farming methods and the production outcomes of consolidated land. A40: Continue to provide support to Landcare to develop farm efficiency programs which will improve farm productivity. This will include the use of bio-link corridors which will promote ecosystem services to farm properties. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Actions A45: Prepare a township strategy for Nar Nar Goon. A46: Prepare a residential development strategy for Tynong. A47: Undertake a review of the Bunyip Township Strategy (2009). A48: Undertake a review of the Garfield Township Strategy (2002). A49: Undertake a review of the Koo Wee Rup Township Strategy (2015). A50: Undertake a review of the Lang Lang Township Strategy (2009). A51: Monitor the take-up of land for horse training and related activities. A52: Address the future directions and preferred land uses in Precinct 3 in the green wedge as part of a local green wedge policy in the Cardinia Planning Scheme. A53: Continue to provide support to Landcare to develop farm efficiency programs which will improve farm productivity. This will include the use of bio-link corridors which will promote ecosystem services to farm properties. Figure 12. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Address the future directions/preferred land uses within Precinct 1 as part of a local green wedge policy in the Cardinia Planning Scheme. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Advocate to the Victorian Government for the inclusion of a statement of planning policy for the Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge in the State Planning Policy Framework, reflecting the vision for the green wedge and the primacy of agriculture in the area. A statement should also appear in the Metropolitan Planning Strategy and any other key planning publications. 2 | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |