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).
Suggested search terms
Hold Ctrl to select multiple terms. Using ‘any words’ functions as an “OR” search. Using ‘all words’ functions as and “AND” search.
Search Criteria:
| Document title | Relevant text in the policy | Domain | Topic | State | Local Government name | Council type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | A18: Promote the business opportunities of the Bunyip Food Trail to local agribusiness via industry associations. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | There may also be opportunities to provide better access to nutritious, healthy food for disadvantaged Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan and low-income households in Cardinia Shire. Opportunities to improve access to local vegetables and produce could be investigated through councils’ food security initiatives through specialist outlets, farm sales, a local produce section in supermarkets and new community markets | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | This precinct has recently obtained the ability to access Class A recycled water, is in close proximity to the Melbourne market, Port of Hastings, the transport network and urban services. It has high biodiversity values, with high value habitats for the southern brown bandicoot and growling grass frog. The success of this precinct relies heavily on a healthy eco system and it is important that agricultural activities are undertaken with consideration and implement mitigation techniques in order to reduce the negative impact on the biodiversity values of the precinct. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Western Port’s internationally recognised environment, its established agriculture industry, rich agricultural soils, ready access to water, and its extensive transportation network (connecting farmers with nearby local markets | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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 | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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 | Food supply and food system resilience | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Cardinia, Casey and Mornington Peninsula councils are collaborating with Melbourne Water, Southern Rural Water and South East Water to build on this agricultural strength. They are investigating in the feasibility of an intensive agricultural precinct, the Bunyip Food Belt, which includes agricultural areas within the green wedge. The project proposes to irrigate these areas through a gravity-fed system using Class A recycled water from the Eastern Treatment Plant. If this project proceeds, then it would have a guaranteed water supply that could withstand drought and would improve the area’s competitive advantages for intensive agriculture. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Climate change is expected to increase flood risks due to more frequent intense rainstorms and rising sea levels. Although the precise impacts are unknown38 , it is important to start planning ahead to assist in preserving the ecological, agricultural and biodiversity important of the green wedge. The former DPI’s research described in Section 7.5 (Soils and Land Capability) examined the impacts of rising temperatures and reduced rainfall on existing and potential agricultural products in the Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge. Five varieties of vegetables and herbs were tested, as well as two types of fruit, and a pasture grass (perennial rye grass). | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Cardinia Shire Council to have a presence at the annual Farm World agricultural event as a way to engage with farmers. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Continue to support and upskill farmers in relation to climate change, its impacts and how to respond to climate change by providing information through Agribusiness Gippsland and its fortnightly newsletter. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Clause 21.04 Economic Development is also of relevance. The objective of sub Clause 21.04-2 Agriculture is to maintain agriculture as a strong and sustainable economic activity within the municipality. The following key issues are also identified:  Maintaining and protecting high value of agricultural land within the municipality.  Protecting productive agricultural land from incompatible uses and inappropriate development and subdivision, including non-soil based farming on lands with high soil quality.  Accessing sustainable water supplies for agricultural activities. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | he IWMP encompasses the anticipated growth in population and the impact of 24 Cardinia Shire Council Integrated Water Management Plan 2015-25, September 2015. 42 urbanisation on Cardinia Shire’s water cycle and seeks to ensure that the water cycle can support productive land uses, particularly in the context of climate change. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | In order to achieve the above, the following actions are listed: 4.2.1 Support our farmers and growing agricultural industry in adapting to the changing economy and climate. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Continue to support and upskill farmers in relation to climate change, its impacts and how to respond to climate change by providing information through Agribusiness Gippsland and its fortnightly newsletter. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | It should be emphasised that although the land suitability for all tested commodities decreased from a high rating, in no case did the rating drop below a moderate rating. This means that with appropriate management measures, all agricultural land in the green wedge is expected to remain suitable for agriculture. The findings from this research will be useful to local farmers and rural producers to inform their decision making and succession planning, and should be the subject of an education and information program to assist the rural community. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Key strategies included in the management plan are: promoting soil-based agriculture and horticulture protecting the Green Wedge’s valued environment and landscape, and improving its biodiversity providing strategic directions for the Green Wedge’s townships planning for climate change. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Establishment of the Bunyip Food Trail. Council is a member of a number of industry associations, such as the Australian Asparagus Council. Council will continue to promote the Bunyip Food Trail through the meetings held by the associations. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | 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 | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | In order to assist with waterway health, the Rural Land Program is an incentive program providing assistance and funding opportunities for landholders to undertake works that will keep soil and nutrients on their farm and out of the waterways. The program has been designed to help 23 Melbourne Water, Healthy Waterways Strategy, Melbourne Water, November 2013. Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan 41 landholders improve on farm management practices through financial and technical assistance. Benefits include increased productivity for the property owner and improved waterway health for the broader community. The Rural Land Program is about improving the management of water sensitive areas such as waterways, drains, dams wetlands, gullies, seeps, soaks springs and low lying and seasonally wet areas and applies to priority catchments such as the Lang Lang catchment. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | The capability of soils in the Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge for farming was assessed by the former Department of Primary Industries in 2012 and showed that the high versatility of land in the green wedge means that the area is very well suited to growing a range of vegetables and that this capability will generally be retained despite the impacts of climate change. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | It should be emphasised that although the land suitability for all tested commodities decreased from a high rating, in no case did the rating drop below a moderate rating. This means that with appropriate management measures, all agricultural land in the green wedge is expected to remain suitable for agriculture. The findings from this research will be useful to local farmers and rural producers to inform their decision making and succession planning, and should be the subject of an education and information program to assist the rural community. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | The Cardinia Western Port Green Wedge is a highly productive agricultural and horticultural area that plays a vital role in providing food for Victoria’s population and food security. Its strategic importance as a food supply for the metropolitan area will increase over time as Melbourne grows and rainfall patterns change with increasing uncertainty over rainfall and water allocations to Australia’s traditional food bowl, the Murray Darling Basin. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |