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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Sustainability Framework 2019–2023 Action Plan | Support the introduction of combined food and garden waste recycling, including communications and education activities. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Framework 2019–2023 Action Plan | Production and consumption of local food by residents, schools and businesses Participation in community food activities including community gardens, food swaps and local farmers’ markets Increase in ratings from biennial environmental citizenship survey, including behaviour regarding local food production and consumption practices Increased number of community food activities GOAL 2 Environmental Sustainability; Environmental Sustainability; Open Space | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Framework 2019–2023 Action Plan | Production and consumption of local food by residents, schools and businesses Participation in community food activities including community gardens, food swaps and local farmers’ markets Increase in ratings from biennial environmental citizenship survey, including behaviour regarding local food production and consumption practices Increased number of community food activities GOAL 2 Environmental Sustainability; Environmental Sustainability; Open Space | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Framework 2019–2023 Action Plan | Production and consumption of local food by residents, schools and businesses Participation in community food activities including community gardens, food swaps and local farmers’ markets Increase in ratings from biennial environmental citizenship survey, including behaviour regarding local food production and consumption practices Increased number of community food activities GOAL 2 Environmental Sustainability; Environmental Sustainability; Open Space | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Framework 2019–2023 Action Plan | Continue to support implementation of the Bayside Municipal Emergency Management Plan, including the Heatwave Plan Continue to work with the Victorian and Australian Governments, and SECCCA, to: understand the impacts of climate change on our local community; identify gaps in information and knowledge to adapt, and; develop programs to minimise impacts and help the community prepare for impacts Continue to implement actions in the Climate Change Strategy to better understand local impacts 2021/22 Annual review of progress with actions 2021/22 Renewed SECCCA Membership and active participation; Community feedback 2021/22 Review of progress with actions | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Framework 2019–2023 Action Plan | Council is prepared for and mitigating risks from climate change including: Drought and heat waves Coastal impacts including storm surges, sea-level rises and coastal erosion Disruptions to supply of essential services including electricity, fuel, water and food Heat-related asset failures (e.g. building cooling systems, road surfaces, etc.) Higher peak flows and local flooding Deterioration of buildings and other built surfaces Deterioration of open space, stress on the natural environment and associated costs Heat-related stress and mortality (particularly among vulnerable populations) Community impacts: people particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts and less able to respond effectively include the elderly, the very young, people with disabilities or chronic illness, people on low incomes, people Open Space, Environmental Sustainability; City Assets & Projects; South East Councils Climate Change Alliance City Assets & Projects; Number of heatwave deaths, hospitalisations or other heatwave impacts (as compared to other municipalities) (Department of Human Services data) Increased number of 'Climate Ready' plans developed by Bayside residents Number of power outages due to extreme weather events Improved rating of Indicators developed in the 'How Well Are We Adapting' project with RMIT GOAL 3 Community Services; City Assets & Projects; Environmental Health Environmental Sustainability; South East Councils Climate Change Alliance | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Framework 2019–2023 Action Plan | Continue to deliver staff education and behaviour change to reduce resource loss (contamination) of recyclable and compostable materials in the waste bins to below 20% by 2020, at the Corporate Centre | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Framework 2019–2023 Action Plan | Environmental Sustainability; Recycling and Waste Management; Develop and implement an education program to reduce use of single-use plastic in Council premises and leased buildings 2019/20 Program developed; Participant evaluation feedback | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Framework 2019–2023 Action Plan | Support the introduction of combined food and garden waste recycling, including communications and education activities. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Framework 2019–2023 Action Plan | Production and consumption of local food by residents, schools and businesses Participation in community food activities including community gardens, food swaps and local farmers’ markets Increase in ratings from biennial environmental citizenship survey, including behaviour regarding local food production and consumption practices Increased number of community food activities GOAL 2 Environmental Sustainability; Environmental Sustainability; Open Space | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Policy | Frankston City Council will demonstrate leadership and achieve best practice in Environmental Sustainability in partnership with its community. Environmental Sustainability is the maintenance of functioning natural ecosystems, as well as the control of pollutants and toxins in human environments such as cities and agricultural areas. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Frankston | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Policy | Enhancement of the health and wellbeing of the Blacktown community by promoting public health best practice, encouraging physical activity, healthy eating and enforcement of legislation | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Blacktown | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Policy | community gardens | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Blacktown | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Policy | community gardens | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Blacktown | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | Local food Encourage local food initiatives that reduce the environmental burden associated with producing, transporting, storing and disposing of food. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | Local food Encourage local food initiatives that reduce the environmental burden associated with producing, transporting, storing and disposing of food. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | # Lead Action 4.5 Foster productive rural landscapes Description Status Promote and incentivise good land management and farming using better management practices that integrate farming systems with the natural environment in order to protect and enhance environmental assets and support farmers to improve their productivity and reduce their environmental footprint | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | .4 Restore degraded landscapes Collaborate and regulate to achieve remediation of acid sulfate soils and heavily degraded agricultural land to reduce environmental impacts on estuaries | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | 4.4 Restore degraded agricultural landscapes | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | 4.5 Foster productive rural landscapes | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | Caring for the Environment • Managing important environmental and natural resource values • Protection and enhancement of biological diversity • Integrated water management • Urban stormwater • Coastal estuaries • Riverbank erosion • Coastline development • Integrated coastline management • Sustainable agriculture | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | Improve the environmental capacity of Tweed agricultural lands. Sustainable agriculture The environmental quality and natural resource base which underpins the agricultural economy is enhanced. Ecosystem services and other natural processes are used on-farm to reduce reliance on nonrenewable and off-farm resources. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | Local food Encourage local food initiatives that reduce the environmental burden associated with producing, transporting, storing and disposing of food. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | Manage and plan for a balance between population growth, urban development and environmental protection and the retention of economically viable agricultural land. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | Manage and plan for a balance between population growth, urban development and environmental protection and the retention of economically viable agricultural land. Regional coordination State and regional stakeholders collaborate to respond to growth challenges, encourage economic opportunities and manage the Shire’s unique assets, values and resources. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | Retain prime agricultural land, farm viability, manage rural subdivision and associated landscape impacts. Gas Field Free Retain the Tweed’s rural areas as ‘Gas Field Free’ to avoid impacts on the region’s agricultural, landscape and environmental values. Rural subdivision Rural subdivision supports regional development and avoids the fragmentation of valuable farmland. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | Sustainable agriculture | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | Local food Encourage local food initiatives that reduce the environmental burden associated with producing, transporting, storing and disposing of food. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | 2.5 Food and garden organics collection and processing | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Prioritisation Strategy | Food organics and garden organics collection and processing | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Tweed | Regional |