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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Engagement Strategy | Involve • Yarram Hub development • Cultural Hub development • Agricultural Position Paper | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Wellington | Regional |
| Community Events | Our responsibilities for each event can vary ranging from statutory responsibilities for traffic control and food handling | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Canterbury Bankstown | Metropolitan |
| Community Facilities | Where decommissioning of an asset is recommended, alternative use of the site shall be explored having reference to site attributes and context, e.g. provision of affordable housing; | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Liverpool | Metropolitan |
| Community Facilities | At present, the Community Kitchen and Hub located in a church hall has limited operational hours due to other users. This and other important service providers will be positioned to increase their impact on the issue of homelessness if adequate facilities exist for them to operate from. KEY ACTIONS: > Explore opportunities for a homelessness services hub and identify potential sites | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Liverpool | Metropolitan |
| Community Facilities | Meals on Wheels (within 10 years) | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Liverpool | Metropolitan |
| Community Facilities | Meets identified need (preparing approx. 300 meals per day) > Assistance required for tenant to relocate > Timing is contingent on future Woodward Park masterplan > Rationalise and direct resources to a new multi-purpose facility in city centre > Investigate rehousing of Meals on Wheels elsewhere | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Liverpool | Metropolitan |
| Community Facilities Plan 2019–2036 | Co-located tenanted facilities for aged and disability respite care and meals on wheels near library are experiencing increased demand. | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Community Facilities Plan 2019–2036 | Murwillumbah Community Centre is utilised for specific user group programming and operates services from Nullum House as a Social Inclusion Drop-In service (approx. 250m2) and has tenancies with Red Cross building in Knox Park for Food Pantry service. | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Community Facilities Planning Framework 2019 | Arts and Culture Tourism and visitor destinations and facilities that support the delivery of specialised community services. Community facilities based on one or more themes, e.g. Myuna Farm, Old Cheese Factory, Wilson Botanic Park, The Factory. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Community Facilities Planning Framework 2019 | Level 2 Up to 25,000 population Neighbourhood Activity Centres – Med/Large Neighbourhood Activity Centres have a local focus and serve catchments where a majority of residents can access the Centre on foot. Identified Neighbourhood Activity Centres have at least one full-line supermarket. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Community Facilities Strategy | Belmont Meals on Wheels | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| Community Facilities Strategy | Lake Macquarie City Council owns and operates about 80 community facilities across the city. This includes community halls, multipurpose facilities, pre school and childcare facilities, scout halls, meals on wheels centres | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| Community Facilities Strategy | Swansea Meals on Wheels | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| Community Food Growing Assessment Guidelines | Moreland City Council supports the communal growing of food across the municipality. The Moreland Food System Strategy recognises that Community Gardens can fulfil a number of Council’s environmental and social objectives and provide many community benefits including: a source of healthy fresh food, exercise, improved mental health, social interaction and connectivity, mentoring and skill building. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Community Food Growing Assessment Guidelines | Moreland City Council supports the communal growing of food across the municipality. The Moreland Food System Strategy recognises that Community Gardens can fulfil a number of Council’s environmental and social objectives and provide many community benefits including: a source of healthy fresh food, exercise, improved mental health, social interaction and connectivity, mentoring and skill building. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Community garden | 1. Objectives Clarence Valley Council recognises the importance of providing support for, community groups and families to participate in providing a secure food future locally. Providing for community gardens projects supports: access to fresh food by the broader community food security developing social capital by encouraging people to interact with each other across ages and cultures involvement of people in healthy physical activity reducing food miles providing skills development and learning opportunities integration of community gardens into new residential developments demonstration of best practice sustainable design features. building the skills for food growing in the region Community gardening makes productive use of land in villages, towns and cities. It puts to practical use small patches of neglected or unproductive lands such as lawns that may consume unnecessary water and fossil fuels in their maintenance. In addition to supporting community action, this policy also aims to ensure the prevention of damage to Council’s underground water, gas, sewerage and stormwater services, maintain access to services, residences and businesses and manage complimentary uses of parks and public reserves. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Clarence Valley | Regional |
| Community garden | 1. Objectives Clarence Valley Council recognises the importance of providing support for, community groups and families to participate in providing a secure food future locally. Providing for community gardens projects supports: access to fresh food by the broader community food security developing social capital by encouraging people to interact with each other across ages and cultures involvement of people in healthy physical activity reducing food miles providing skills development and learning opportunities integration of community gardens into new residential developments demonstration of best practice sustainable design features. building the skills for food growing in the region Community gardening makes productive use of land in villages, towns and cities. It puts to practical use small patches of neglected or unproductive lands such as lawns that may consume unnecessary water and fossil fuels in their maintenance. In addition to supporting community action, this policy also aims to ensure the prevention of damage to Council’s underground water, gas, sewerage and stormwater services, maintain access to services, residences and businesses and manage complimentary uses of parks and public reserves. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Clarence Valley | Regional |
| COMMUNITY GARDEN POLICY | 2 Purpose of Policy Leichhardt Council’s Community Garden Policy provides clarity and direction to the community on Council’s role in community gardening – from consulting and setting up a new Garden to day-today management. It outlines the rights and responsibilities of everyone involved. It is also aimed at encouraging initiatives and providing opportunities for the community to work in partnership with Council to promote sustainability and gardening, not only as an important form of recreation but also as a therapeutic opportunity. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Inner West | Metropolitan |
| COMMUNITY GARDEN POLICY | 2 Purpose of Policy Leichhardt Council’s Community Garden Policy provides clarity and direction to the community on Council’s role in community gardening – from consulting and setting up a new Garden to day-today management. It outlines the rights and responsibilities of everyone involved. It is also aimed at encouraging initiatives and providing opportunities for the community to work in partnership with Council to promote sustainability and gardening, not only as an important form of recreation but also as a therapeutic opportunity. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Inner West | Metropolitan |
| Community Garden Policy | 2. Policy purpose A community garden is defined as a single parcel of land gardened collectively by a group of people. It is a community managed, multi-functional garden space that when carefully designed and managed can provide a wide range of environmental, social and economic benefits. There are three types of community gardens as defined by the Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network: 1. Shared gardens, in which gardeners work in the whole garden, doing whatever is needed at the time and taking a share of what they grow; 2. Allotment gardens, in which individuals or families have their own garden; and 3. A garden with both allotments and shared gardening space. Council’s role in community gardens will vary according to land ownership. Council will work to enable its residents to pursue community gardening opportunities and provide support to community gardening groups. Council will not establish community gardens. Bayside City Council recognises that community gardens can play an important role in community development. Community gardens provide a valuable recreation activity that contributes to health and wellbeing, social connectedness and interaction, environmental education and sustainable living practices. Gardening as a form of recreation and as a leisure activity can be viewed as being positive to a community’s sense of well-being, its sense of pride, identity and involvement in local initiatives. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Community Garden Policy | 2. Policy purpose A community garden is defined as a single parcel of land gardened collectively by a group of people. It is a community managed, multi-functional garden space that when carefully designed and managed can provide a wide range of environmental, social and economic benefits. There are three types of community gardens as defined by the Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network: 1. Shared gardens, in which gardeners work in the whole garden, doing whatever is needed at the time and taking a share of what they grow; 2. Allotment gardens, in which individuals or families have their own garden; and 3. A garden with both allotments and shared gardening space. Council’s role in community gardens will vary according to land ownership. Council will work to enable its residents to pursue community gardening opportunities and provide support to community gardening groups. Council will not establish community gardens. Bayside City Council recognises that community gardens can play an important role in community development. Community gardens provide a valuable recreation activity that contributes to health and wellbeing, social connectedness and interaction, environmental education and sustainable living practices. Gardening as a form of recreation and as a leisure activity can be viewed as being positive to a community’s sense of well-being, its sense of pride, identity and involvement in local initiatives. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Community Garden Policy | To provide a systematic process for community members to apply for Council assistance in starting community gardens on Council owned land and for Council’s deliberation and decision making regarding such proposals. In responding to requests for support of community garden proposals, Council adheres to the following principles, considerations and procedures. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Randwick | Metropolitan |
| Community Garden Policy | To provide a systematic process for community members to apply for Council assistance in starting community gardens on Council owned land and for Council’s deliberation and decision making regarding such proposals. In responding to requests for support of community garden proposals, Council adheres to the following principles, considerations and procedures. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Randwick | Metropolitan |
| COMMUNITY GARDEN POLICY | POLICY OBJECTIVES The objective of this policy is to provide a consistent, equitable and transparent approach to the processing of community enquiries relating to publicly accessible community gardens on council owned or managed land | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Maitland | Regional |
| COMMUNITY GARDEN POLICY | POLICY OBJECTIVES The objective of this policy is to provide a consistent, equitable and transparent approach to the processing of community enquiries relating to publicly accessible community gardens on council owned or managed land | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Maitland | Regional |
| COMMUNITY GARDEN POLICY | 1. Purpose To describe the nature of Council support for the establishment of community gardens initiated by community groups and to encourage, where appropriate, the development of community gardens on appropriate private and Council controlled land. 2. Objectives The objectives of this policy are to promote the development of community gardens and to provide Council with a consistent approach in its response to requests for funding and or support that may, from time to time, be directed to the Council for the establishment of, and or the resources, needed to maintain a community garden. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Berrigan | Regional |
| COMMUNITY GARDEN POLICY | 1. Purpose To describe the nature of Council support for the establishment of community gardens initiated by community groups and to encourage, where appropriate, the development of community gardens on appropriate private and Council controlled land. 2. Objectives The objectives of this policy are to promote the development of community gardens and to provide Council with a consistent approach in its response to requests for funding and or support that may, from time to time, be directed to the Council for the establishment of, and or the resources, needed to maintain a community garden. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Berrigan | Regional |
| Community Gardening Policy | 2. Policy Purpose This Policy outlines how Ashfield Council intends to support community gardening activities within the Ashfield Local Government Area (LGA), including gardens established on both public and community owned land. 3. Policy Objectives The objectives of this policy are to: – Acknowledge the potential social and environmental benefits of community gardening – Outline types and mechanisms of support Ashfield Council is committed to providing to community gardening groups – Set out requirements for the establishment of community gardening on Council owned land – Ensure that all community gardens are managed in an efficient manner and maintained to an acceptable standard | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Inner West | Metropolitan |
| Community Gardening Policy | 2. Policy Purpose This Policy outlines how Ashfield Council intends to support community gardening activities within the Ashfield Local Government Area (LGA), including gardens established on both public and community owned land. 3. Policy Objectives The objectives of this policy are to: – Acknowledge the potential social and environmental benefits of community gardening – Outline types and mechanisms of support Ashfield Council is committed to providing to community gardening groups – Set out requirements for the establishment of community gardening on Council owned land – Ensure that all community gardens are managed in an efficient manner and maintained to an acceptable standard | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Inner West | Metropolitan |
| Community Gardens | 1 Purpose of Policy This policy aims to: Support the establishment and operation of community gardens on Council owned or managed land. Establish the roles and responsibilities of Council and the community in developing and managing community gardens. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |