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 Strategy | Advocate: Join with agencies, other Councils and community to advocate for public investment for conservation of natural values and eco-services by landholders eg: broker schemes and direct payments. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Wangaratta | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Strategy | Improve information and support for new rural landowners in sustainable land management, pest/weed control, soil health, local natural values. Include relevant information on Council website and new landholders guide. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Wangaratta | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Strategy | Knowledge building: Work with agricultural water users to build knowledge and skills on best practice water use and farming in a drier climate by using tools such as industry cooperation, seminars, web information, practice groups, local case studies, and access to expert advice. Decision Tools: Work with agencies to develop tools and locally targeted information to assist landholder decisions for climate change adaptation e.g. Goulburn Broken project on land and climate characteristics to assess new crops | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Wangaratta | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Strategy | Production and transport: Work to facilitate a forum in partnership with agriculture sector to explore transport issues and adaptation options, including increased local consumption and reduction of food miles. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Wangaratta | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Strategy | Working with business groups: Work with business groups to assist businesses to understand the impacts of climate change and peak oil, and conduct risk management and recovery planning for their business. Assist businesses (agricultural and non-agricultural) to re-examine long-term planning in the light of climate variability and peak oil challenges. Support education and demonstration of farming practices to improve soil health, control emerging weeds and pests, and conservation of natural values as part of whole of farm management. (in collaboration with DEPI, NECMA, Landcare, VFF) | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Wangaratta | Regional |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | The City of Whittlesea aims to: • Protect our natural environment • Adapt to climate change • Save water and energy • Reduce waste • Provide affordable housing • Secure our food supplies • Change behaviour. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Develop policy and guidelines within the local planning framework to manage the construction of farm dams to protect stream flow in local waterway | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Based on sound research, detailed land assessment, and where appropriate local knowledge of land condition, promote land uses and agricultural activities that are suited to local conditions and land capability. Ensure that future proposals for rural land use change are compatible with the broader landscape values, local conditions and land capability. Refer to L3 for complimentary strategies and approaches. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Council will continue to recognise and support local landholders as primary agents in managing rural land and biodiversity through effective incentive programs. Strategies and Approaches Continue to implement the municipality’s Sustainable Land Management Program which includes the following: • Sustainable Land Management Rate Rebate Scheme • Environmental Works Grants for private landholders • Free land management advice to rural land holders L4.2 • Free educational events and field days. Progressively improve the monitoring and reporting of the Sustainable Land Management Program outcomes to ensure that the overall program is achieving its objectives and that the land management needs of participating landholders are adequately met. L4.3 Assess the effectiveness of the municipality’s core land management incentive program, the Sustainable Land Management Rate Rebate Scheme, every five years to ensure that it is achieving its stated goals and objectives. Implement program improvements to ensure continued effectiveness. L4.4 Develop and implement an annual communications plan for the Sustainable Land Management Program which aims to increase community participation and awareness. L4.5 Seek external funding and support for rural landholders to undertake management works that protect and enhance natural and agricultural values, and ecological systems. L4.6 Facilitate the uptake of external incentives, eco-markets and other programs which provide an alternative income or financial incentive for improving land health and biodiversity. Lead: Sustainability Planning Medium Lead: Sustainability Planning Short Support: Marketing and Communications Lead: Sustainability Planning Ongoing Lead: Sustainability Planning Ongoing Lead: Sustainability Planning Ongoing Responsibility Priority Lead: Sustainability Planning Ongoing | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Employ a rural-agribusiness development officer to support the development of sustainable, viable and alternative uses for rural land within the municipality. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Help protect agricultural and natural values and Lead: Sustainability Planning Ongoing the significant investment in land management already undertaken by the community by continuing to advocate to the State Government for increased investment in our municipality with respect to compliance with the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (CaLP). | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Research the suitability of local land conditions Lead: Economic within the rural areas to support differing land Development uses and agricultural pursuits. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Sustainable Land Management support Programs – Farm Land Management Rebate Scheme, Environmental Works Grant for Private Landholders, Environmental education and behaviour change program, funding for local environmental groups | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Advocate for the provision of state and federal grants to support residents, businesses and farmers to reduce water consumption, and utilise alternative water sources. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Develop policy and guidelines within the local planning framework to manage the construction of farm dams to protect stream flow in local waterway | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Continue to encourage and support on-site compositing and worm farming of garden and food organics. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Develop a policy that specifies land allocation for community gardens, taking into account the locational requirements highlighted in the Background Paper to the Community Garden Policy | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | The City of Whittlesea aims to: • Protect our natural environment • Adapt to climate change • Save water and energy • Reduce waste • Provide affordable housing • Secure our food supplies • Change behaviour. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Continue to encourage and support on-site compositing and worm farming of garden and food organics. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Encouraging residents to grow their own food and to buy ‘local’ will enhance our local food assets. Examples of neighbourhood food initiatives include developing additional community gardens, extending educational programs such as those run by Kimbriki, providing support measures such as workshops, school programs and the sale of compost bins and worm farms. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Work with local businesses and residents so that there is accessible and timely information about sustainable food and how it can be obtained in the local area | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | 50% increase in neighbourhood food production and distribution by 2020, using a 2010 baseline | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | 50% increase in neighbourhood food production and distribution by 2020, using a 2010 baseline (this includes private gardens as well as community gardens) | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Look for opportunities to plant species that can meet specific ‘sustainability’ needs such as wildlife habitat provision, local food gardens and shading | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Neighbourhood food production and distribution The production, distribution, processing and consumption of food present one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas and carbon production. At the same time, it presents an opportunity to shift towards a more sustainable future. Neighbourhood food production encompasses areas where fresh produce is grown. It may occur on private land (vegetable gardens) or in public areas (community gardens). Warringah’s first community garden was established in Manly Vale in 2010. Council has since formalised its approach to community gardens with the adoption in 2012 of a policy and supporting guidelines for establishing communal gardens in Warringah. Encouraging residents to grow their own food and to buy ‘local’ will enhance our local food assets. Examples of neighbourhood food initiatives include developing additional community gardens, extending educational programs such as those run by Kimbriki, providing support measures such as workshops, school programs and the sale of compost bins and worm farms. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | The sustainable living outcomes that focus on the Warringah community as a whole are based on the following key areas in this section. Energy, which is a core aspect of sustainability broadly, is dealt with in detail in the previous section ‘Climate Change’: • • • • • • • Food waste Neighbourhood food production and distribution | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | 50% increase in neighbourhood food production and distribution by 2020, using a 2010 baseline (this includes private gardens as well as community gardens) | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Ensure that projects, such as local food initiatives for example community gardens and the establishment of home vegetable gardens, are supported in line with community need and interest | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | Neighbourhood food production and distribution The production, distribution, processing and consumption of food present one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas and carbon production. At the same time, it presents an opportunity to shift towards a more sustainable future. Neighbourhood food production encompasses areas where fresh produce is grown. It may occur on private land (vegetable gardens) or in public areas (community gardens). Warringah’s first community garden was established in Manly Vale in 2010. Council has since formalised its approach to community gardens with the adoption in 2012 of a policy and supporting guidelines for establishing communal gardens in Warringah. Encouraging residents to grow their own food and to buy ‘local’ will enhance our local food assets. Examples of neighbourhood food initiatives include developing additional community gardens, extending educational programs such as those run by Kimbriki, providing support measures such as workshops, school programs and the sale of compost bins and worm farms. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |
| Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2012-2022 | 50% increase in neighbourhood food production and distribution by 2020, using a 2010 baseline | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |