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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Lake Macquarie Waste Strategy 2015-2023 | Strategies to avoid and reduce waste generation and reuse waste Council intends to continue to support activities that avoid and reduce the amount of waste that is generated within the City and encourage the reuse of waste. Specific strategies include: • support for industrial ecology initiatives across the Hunter, where relevant to Lake Macquarie business interests; • advocacy for reduction in waste generated across the supply chain of goods and services used in the City; • community education and support to avoid the generation of waste (eg. food waste avoidance, lifecycle assessment of goods and services etc) | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| City of Lake Macquarie Waste Strategy 2015-2023 | The preferred solution that Council took to the local community in late 2010 involved the following key elements: 1. Introduction of a phased 3-bin kerbside waste service. Phase 1 involved a new kerbside green bin for garden waste only, collected fortnightly. Phase 2 involved adding food waste to the green bin, collecting the green bin weekly, and collecting the garbage bin fortnightly. 2. Construction of a new organics composting plant to process the City’s garden and food waste into high quality mulch and compost | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| City of Maribyrnong Community Centres CONDITIONS OF USE BOOKLETS JULY 2019 – JUNE 2020 | 2 Maribyrnong City Council is striving to be plastic and Styrofoam free. To assist us with this we ask that hirers avoid the use of plastic crockery, cutlery and Styrofoam cups and to seek other options to avoid single use plastic products ie glad wrap and straws. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Community Centres CONDITIONS OF USE BOOKLETS JULY 2019 – JUNE 2020 | Maribyrnong City Council is striving to be plastic and Styrofoam free. To assist us with this we ask that hirers avoid the use of plastic crockery, cutlery and Styrofoam cups and to see other options to avoid single use plastic products ie wrap and straws. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Community Centres CONDITIONS OF USE BOOKLETS JULY 2019 – JUNE 2020 | Maribyrnong City Council is striving to be plastic and Styrofoam free. To assist us with this we ask that hirers avoid the use of plastic crockery, cutlery and Styrofoam cups and to seek other options to avoid single use plastic products ie glad wrap and straws. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Community Centres CONDITIONS OF USE BOOKLETS JULY 2019 – JUNE 2020 | Maribyrnong City Council is striving to be plastic and Styrofoam free. To assist us with this we ask that hirers avoid the use of plastic crockery, cutlery and Styrofoam cups and to seek other options to avoid single use plastic products ie glad wrap and straws. We | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Community Centres CONDITIONS OF USE BOOKLETS JULY 2019 – JUNE 2020 | 11.1 The hirer is responsible for leaving the facility in a reasonably clean and tidy condition. This includes: All rubbish to be taken from the facility after each hire. Do not dispose rubbish in surrounding public bins. The hirer is to provide their own plastic garbage bags and cleaning products All surfaces including tables, chairs, stove, bench tops and sinks to be wiped clean All floors to be swept, mopped and/or vacuumed All chairs are to be stacked in the storage area or respective rooms after wiping All brooms and cleaning equipment to be returned to kitchen area All toilet areas to be lightly cleaned Clean all whiteboards if applicable | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Community Centres CONDITIONS OF USE BOOKLETS JULY 2019 – JUNE 2020 | Kitchen facilities 10.1 Equipment available in the kitchen includes: microwave, stove and oven ( x 1), dishwasher and refrigerator. If a hirer is using any of this equipment, it must be cleaned by the end of each hire. This includes unpacking the dishwasher. 10.2 For commercial hire, Braybrook Community Centre Kitchen is compliant for activities as a Class 3 food premise. Class 3 food premises are those whose main activities involve the sale of foods not commonly associated with food poisoning. This includes the supply or handling of unpackaged low risk foods. Please note: The hire of this kitchen space is short term only. The aim is to test a food business within a three month period and then have an additional one month option (to relocate) the business to a more permanent location. A hire arrangement will only be entered into for an initial 3 month period. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Community Centres CONDITIONS OF USE BOOKLETS JULY 2019 – JUNE 2020 | 14 Any group planning to sell food to either their members or the general public must apply to Maribyrnong Council’s Environmental Health Services Unit for the appropriate food permit. A copy of the permit must be presented to the Centre Facilitator before the activity can commence | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Community Centres CONDITIONS OF USE BOOKLETS JULY 2019 – JUNE 2020 | Any group planning to sell food to either their members or the general public must apply to Maribyrnong Council’s Environmental Health Services Unit for the appropriate food permit. A copy of the permit must be presented to the Centre Facilitator before the activity can commence. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Community Centres CONDITIONS OF USE BOOKLETS JULY 2019 – JUNE 2020 | Any group planning to sell food to either their members or the general public must apply to Maribyrnong Council’s Environmental Health Services Unit for the appropriate food permit. A copy of the permit must be presented to the Centre Facilitator before the activity cancommence. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Community Centres CONDITIONS OF USE BOOKLETS JULY 2019 – JUNE 2020 | Kitchen facilities 10.1 Equipment available in the kitchen includes: microwave, stove and oven ( x 1), dishwasher and refrigerator. If a hirer is using any of this equipment, it must be cleaned by the end of each hire. This includes unpacking the dishwasher. 10.2 For commercial hire, Braybrook Community Centre Kitchen is compliant for activities as a Class 3 food premise. Class 3 food premises are those whose main activities involve the sale of foods not commonly associated with food poisoning. This includes the supply or handling of unpackaged low risk foods. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | Existing community gardens located in public open space are: • Braybrook Community Garden in Braybrook Park • Maribyrnong Edible Garden in McDonald Reserve, Maribyrnong, located on the former bowling green. • Anders Triangle, West Footscray • Victoria University Urban Green Living and Learning Hub with community gardens on part of Pilgrim Street Reserve. Located as part of community centre/neighbourhood house: • Braybrook Maidstone Neighbourhood House Community Garden, Melon Street in Braybrook • Maidstone garden, Maidstone Community Centre located in Ern Shepherd Gardens. Located on church land: • Yarraville Baptist Church garden. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | Some community gardens in Maribyrnong are located in public open space and others are located on ancillary open space or other public land. In total there are four located either wholly or in part in open space, two on community centre/neighbourhood house land and one on church land. A new community garden is planned at McNish Reserve in Yarraville, with no further community gardens proposed in public open space within the municipality at this stage. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | The Strategy includes criteria to be used for determining suitable locations for community gardens in open space, with consideration for other uses | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | Urban horticulture The following guidelines may be applied to existing and future proposals for urban horticulture, particularly community gardens in open space and the future assessment for potential sites for urban horticulture. Guidelines for existing and future proposals for urban horticulture in open space: a) Demonstrate the use of land for urban horticulture and/or community garden benefits and is supported by local residents from within the City of Maribyrnong. b) The land area is large enough to sustain a viable community garden including areas for plots, compost, sheds and water storage. c) Meets the multiple-use and sustainability principles, for example is colocated with a Neighbourhood house to share facilities and resources such as rainwater harvesting, water supply and secure storage. d) There is adequate public open space available in the surrounding area or on the remainder of the site to retain adequate access to open space for the broader community into the future. e) Compatible with adjoining land use for amenity and health risks associated with growing food, and consideration of environmental values of adjoining open space. f) The site is suitable for vegetable growing including adequate sunlight access, water, visible and complements and potentially improves the open space character. g) The community gardens are run by an incorporated organisation that meets regularly. h) The land does not currently have a recognised public open space use or value that benefits the broader community. The proposed location does not negatively impact on heritage or identified environmental values. i) The assessment criteria for allocation of plots to give priority to applicants who do not have access to their own gardens. j) Demonstrate adherence to agreed land management practices and access arrangements as stipulated by Council. k) Maintain an agreed edge treatment between the community garden and the public open space reserve. l) All infrastructure and plants established as part of the community garden be removed if the land is being returned to Council. m) If the land is identified to be required for an alternative public open space use, Council have the right to reclaim the land for that purpose. n) Apply sustainable management principles and provide educational opportunities to interpret environmental sustainability principles and practices in the open space. o) Demonstrate how the site will adequately provide for car parking to service the community garden. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | Urban horticulture is already located in existing open space, ancillary open space and publicly accessible private open space. As described in Section 7, productive plantings have many positive features including encouraging people to grow their own food, socialise and be outdoors. They also create a single use of open space as they are generally fenced and dedicated to this specific use. No. 5.3W Action Undertake an assessment of potential suitable sites for productive plantings/community gardens in ancillary open space, publicly accessible private open space and where no other options are available, public open space. Refer to the guidelines included in Section 7 to assess suitability particularly in relation to public open space. This will allow Council to identify a set of appropriate sites that can be promoted for use in the future if required. The assessment will include other Council owned sites such as neighbourhood houses, community facilities, railway land, road reserves, schools and church land consistent with guidelines included in Section 7 of this Strategy. Responsibility Priority MCC | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | b) The land area is large enough to sustain a viable community garden including areas for plots, compost, sheds and water storage. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | n) Apply sustainable management principles and provide educational opportunities to interpret environmental sustainability principles and practices in the open space. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | ) Meets the multiple-use and sustainability principles, for example is colocated with a Neighbourhood house to share facilities and resources such as rainwater harvesting, water supply and secure storage. d) There is adequate public open space available in the surrounding area or on the remainder of the site to retain adequate access to open space for the broader community into the future. e) Compatible with adjoining land use for amenity and health risks associated with growing food, and consideration of environmental values of adjoining open space. f) The site is suitable for vegetable growing including adequate sunlight access, water, visible and complements and potentially improves the open space character. g) The community gardens are run by an incorporated organisation that meets regularly. h) The land does not currently have a recognised public open space use or value that benefits the broader community. The proposed location does not negatively impact on heritage or identified environmental values. i) The assessment criteria for allocation of plots to give priority to applicants who do not have access to their own gardens. j) Demonstrate adherence to agreed land management practices and access arrangements as stipulated by Council. k) Maintain an agreed edge treatment between the community garden and the public open space reserve. l) All infrastructure and plants established as part of the community garden be removed if the land is being returned to Council. m) If the land is identified to be required for an alternative public open space use, Council have the right to reclaim the land for that purpose. n) Apply sustainable management principles and provide educational opportunities to interpret environmental sustainability principles and practices in the open space. o) Demonstrate how the site will adequately provide for car parking to service the community garden. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | Urban horticulture The following guidelines may be applied to existing and future proposals for urban horticulture, particularly community gardens in open space and the future assessment for potential sites for urban horticulture. Guidelines for existing and future proposals for urban horticulture in open space: a) Demonstrate the use of land for urban horticulture and/or community garden benefits and is supported by local residents from within the City of Maribyrnong. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | Existing community gardens located in public open space are: • Braybrook Community Garden in Braybrook Park • Maribyrnong Edible Garden in McDonald Reserve, Maribyrnong, located on the former bowling green. • Anders Triangle, West Footscray • Victoria University Urban Green Living and Learning Hub with community gardens on part of Pilgrim Street Reserve. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | Some community gardens in Maribyrnong are located in public open space and others are located on ancillary open space or other public land. In total there are four located either wholly or in part in open space, two on community centre/neighbourhood house land and one on church land. A new community garden is planned at McNish Reserve in Yarraville, with no further community gardens proposed in public open space within the municipality at this stage. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | The Strategy includes criteria to be used for determining suitable locations for community gardens in open space, with consideration for other uses | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | Urban horticulture The following guidelines may be applied to existing and future proposals for urban horticulture, particularly community gardens in open space and the future assessment for potential sites for urban horticulture. Guidelines for existing and future proposals for urban horticulture in open space: a) Demonstrate the use of land for urban horticulture and/or community garden benefits and is supported by local residents from within the City of Maribyrnong. b) The land area is large enough to sustain a viable community garden including areas for plots, compost, sheds and water storage. c) Meets the multiple-use and sustainability principles, for example is colocated with a Neighbourhood house to share facilities and resources such as rainwater harvesting, water supply and secure storage. d) There is adequate public open space available in the surrounding area or on the remainder of the site to retain adequate access to open space for the broader community into the future. e) Compatible with adjoining land use for amenity and health risks associated with growing food, and consideration of environmental values of adjoining open space. f) The site is suitable for vegetable growing including adequate sunlight access, water, visible and complements and potentially improves the open space character. g) The community gardens are run by an incorporated organisation that meets regularly. h) The land does not currently have a recognised public open space use or value that benefits the broader community. The proposed location does not negatively impact on heritage or identified environmental values. i) The assessment criteria for allocation of plots to give priority to applicants who do not have access to their own gardens. j) Demonstrate adherence to agreed land management practices and access arrangements as stipulated by Council. k) Maintain an agreed edge treatment between the community garden and the public open space reserve. l) All infrastructure and plants established as part of the community garden be removed if the land is being returned to Council. m) If the land is identified to be required for an alternative public open space use, Council have the right to reclaim the land for that purpose. n) Apply sustainable management principles and provide educational opportunities to interpret environmental sustainability principles and practices in the open space. o) Demonstrate how the site will adequately provide for car parking to service the community garden. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | Urban horticulture is already located in existing open space, ancillary open space and publicly accessible private open space. As described in Section 7, productive plantings have many positive features including encouraging people to grow their own food, socialise and be outdoors. They also create a single use of open space as they are generally fenced and dedicated to this specific use. No. 5.3W Action Undertake an assessment of potential suitable sites for productive plantings/community gardens in ancillary open space, publicly accessible private open space and where no other options are available, public open space. Refer to the guidelines included in Section 7 to assess suitability particularly in relation to public open space. This will allow Council to identify a set of appropriate sites that can be promoted for use in the future if required. The assessment will include other Council owned sites such as neighbourhood houses, community facilities, railway land, road reserves, schools and church land consistent with guidelines included in Section 7 of this Strategy. Responsibility Priority MCC V | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| City of Maribyrnong Open Space Strategy | • The Footscray Trugo Club is closed. Investigate options to redesign this site as open space. Given its proximity to the busy road and railway to the north, options such as community garden that retains and converts the club building may be a more viable option for future use of this site as open space. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Maribyrnong | Metropolitan |
| CITY OF MELBOURNE ANNUAL REPORT 2017–2018 | 13. Affordable housing | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Melbourne | Metropolitan |
| CITY OF MELBOURNE ANNUAL REPORT 2017–2018 | Continue the Queen Victoria Precinct Renewal Program including the New Market Pavilion, the provision of essential infrastructure under the sheds, Munro Development in Therry Street, including affordable housing, childcare and community infrastructure outcomes. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Melbourne | Metropolitan |
| CITY OF MELBOURNE ANNUAL REPORT 2017–2018 | Indicator The number of affordable housing units in City of Melbourne projects.* 96 | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Melbourne | Metropolitan |