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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Hume Shire Community Health and Wellbeing Profile and Plan | Post Acute Care Greater Hume Shire Council auspices the NSW Health’s ComPacks program which provides post-acute services (for 6 weeks following discharge for an acute illness or emergency presentation in a participating NSW public hospital. The program funds home care, meals, transport and other services that are needed during this time. The service is available from all three hospitals in the shire. | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Greater Hume | Regional |
| Greater Hume Shire Community Health and Wellbeing Profile and Plan | active community (physical activity promotion and nutrition) | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Greater Hume | Regional |
| Greater Hume Shire Community Health and Wellbeing Profile and Plan | 2-3 Health promotion activities per year | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Greater Hume | Regional |
| Greater Hume Shire Community Health and Wellbeing Profile and Plan | Develop partnerships with local health services to plan & implement key health promotion initiatives: injury prevention, farm/work safety promotion, cancer prevention (particularly skin cancer prevention) & | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Greater Hume | Regional |
| Greater Hume Shire Community Health and Wellbeing Profile and Plan | Engage the Community Health and Wellbeing Alliance in health promotion initiatives Support local, regional and national programs | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Greater Hume | Regional |
| Greater Hume Shire Community Health and Wellbeing Profile and Plan | Continue to advocate, support and mentor the community based gymnasiums and gardens for health and wellbeing and community connectedness. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Greater Hume | Regional |
| Greater Hume Shire Community Health and Wellbeing Profile and Plan | Continue to advocate, support and mentor the community based gymnasiums and gardens for health and wellbeing and community connectedness. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Greater Hume | Regional |
| Greater Hume Shire Community Health and Wellbeing Profile and Plan | Continue to support VET providers in the local community. Advocate for the delivery of skills shortage qualifications; Care/Agriculture/Customer service/Engineering | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Greater Hume | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Prepare a Residential Land Supply and Housing Strategy including the a report on student housing and affordable housing issues report on student housing | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Naturally many of the festivals held throughout the year in Greater Shepparton revolve largely around food. They include International Dairy Week, Mooroopna Fruit Salad Day, the Arts Festival, the Goulburn Valley Vintage Festival and the Agricultural Show. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Discourage the establishment of non farming related activities in rural zoned land | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Encourage landholders to carry out works that are compatible with existing and proposed drainage schemes, preferably as part of the Whole Farm Plan certification process. Action for surface water management. Continue to provide a Whole Farm Plan (WFP) program with associated incentives | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Explore the potential for a tourism / sales component of the food production and processing sector, and providing guidelines to ensure that these uses do not conflict with agricultural operations or the rural landscape amenity | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Greater Shepparton 2030 Attachment 1 – Objectives & Strategies Topic: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Promote economic growth, business development and diversification, with a focus on strengthening the agricultural industry Theme: Agriculture and Rural Land Objectives 1 To protect the productive agricultural land base and the valuable regional resource of irrigated land. Strategies 1.1 Support the growth and expansion of primary industries in irrigated and dry land farming in appropriate areas. 1.2 Support an efficient water supply and distribution system throughout the rural areas in accordance with the Regional Catchment Strategy. 1.3 Discourage subdivision, including subdivision for house excisions, and fragmentation of productive agricultural land to retain viable farm. 1.4 Discourage housing on old and inappropriate lots and where amenity may be negatively impacted by farming and related activities, or where housing may inhibit rural activities. 1.5 Prevent the inappropriate use and development of rural land for the establishment of industrial activities Action These strategies will be implemented by: Using Policy and the exercise of discretion Apply the policies for housing and subdivision in rural areas. Apply the GS 2030 Framework Plan, Shepparton, Mooroopna & Kialla Urban Growth Boundaries. Apply the GS 2030 Residential Framework Plan, Shepparton, Mooroopna & Kialla. Provider Apply the GS 2030 Township Framework Plans Refer to the Regional Catchment Strategy. Applying Zones and Overlays Apply the Farming Zone. Apply the Environmental Rural Zone to rural land with identified environmental significance. Investigate the application of the Rural Activity Zone. Undertaking further strategic work Prepare a Rural Land Strategy. Provider H H Council Role Priority Provider H $80,000 | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Greater Shepparton 2030 Attachment 1 – Objectives & Strategies Topic: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Promote economic growth, business development and diversification, with a focus on strengthening the agricultural industry Theme: Agriculture and Rural Land Objectives 4 To ensure the sustainable development of business in strategic locations and to minimise conflicts at the urban fringe/agricultural land interface. Strategies 4.1 Protect productive agricultural land from inappropriate agricultural practices. 4.2 Encourage the preparation and certification of Whole Farm Plans to show sites for ancillary agricultural buildings and works, such as sheds and freight areas. 4.3 Protect rural industries from encroaching non-agricultural uses. 4.4 Encourage sustainable farming methods for increased production. 4.5 Reduce the impacts of farm practices, including spray drift, on adjoining land particularly when the adjoining land contains a sensitive land use. 4.6 Cluster preferred uses in the rural zone with similar access requirements and off site impacts. Action These strategies will be implemented by: Using Policy and the exercise of discretion Prepare a local policy on commercial and industrial developments in rural areas Applying zones and overlays Apply the GS 2030 Framework Plan, Shepparton, Mooroopna & Kialla Settlement Boundaries. Apply the GS 2030 Township Framework Plans Apply the Farming Zone to rural areas, and following Rural land Strategy investigation application of Rural Activity Zone Undertaking further strategic work Prepare a Rural Land Strategy Other actions Provide a list of initiatives for the development of WFP. Provider H Provider H Council Role Priority Provider Provider/ Facilitator H $80,000 L-M | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | strengthening the agricultural industry Theme: Agriculture and Rural Land Objectives 3 To develop and promote the municipality as a regional centre for food and primary industry research and development. Strategies 3.1 Provide for new opportunities for emerging farming practices. 3.2 Protect the existing agricultural areas 3.3 Encourage value adding and new enterprises for agricultural production. Action These strategies will be implemented by: Using Policy and the exercise of discretion Prepare a local policy on commercial and industrial developments in rural areas Applying zones and overlays Apply the Farming Zone to rural areas, and following Rural land Strategy investigation application of Rural Activity Zone; Undertaking further strategic work Develop an Economic Development Strategy and consider a marketing strategy for agribusiness. Prepare Rural Land Strategy Other actions GSCC to publish local economic indicators. Develop a promotions program that includes local economic indicators, for existing landowners and potential industry entrants, to create an awareness of the industrial markets and the economic climate. Provider Provider Provider/ Facilitator Provider H $80,000 H $80,000 | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | The future strategy will be to diversify within the agricultural sectors, increase the number of larger operations with high technology infrastructure, and increase vertical integration in rural industries. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | The long term protection of the agricultural areas outside the urban growth boundary, considered in conjunction with the Regional Catchment Strategy. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | To manage irrigated and non irrigated land for longterm sustainable production purposes 2.1 Encourage the adoption of ecologically sustainable development principles and technologies in the future development of both urban and rural areas. 2.2 Encourage sustainable farming practices. Action These strategies will be implemented by: Undertaking further strategic work Prepare a Rural Land Strategy incorporating a land capability study Prepare environmental development guidelines to encourage sustainable land use and development that is sensitive to the natural landform and microenvironment. These strategies will be implemented by: Applying Zones and Overlays Use the Schedule to Farming Zone to allow the preparation of WFP. Apply the Environmental Rural Zone to sensitive rural areas. Undertaking further strategic work Prepare a Rural Land Strategy. Other actions Support the certification of Whole Farm Plans to minimise off site impacts and increase the rate of water re-use. Publish a Sustainability Indicator Checklist for planning applications, and include in the assessment criteria. Promote the design guidelines/fact sheets for: – passive solar design – smart lot design – star rating – water conservation resources Support the undertaking of a study on the assessment of different irrigated industries in the region and the long-term impacts on land base. Provider H $80,000 Advocate/ Facilitator Advocate/ Facilitator Provider/ Facilitator Facilitator/ Advocate H Council’s Role Provider Provider/ Facilitator Priority H $80,000 M $50,000 Provider H H M $10,000 | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Undertaking further strategic work Update the Economic Development strategy for use as | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Another major focus for the environment is for the encouragement of more efficient irrigation management for sustainable agricultural development and protection of ecosystems. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | The Municipality is Not as Vulnerable to Climatic Change A range of measures have been taken throughout the community and on the land to conserve water and use it more sparingly. At the same time innovation has occurred in farming practices and food production and processing that has left the region less dependent upon water and more diverse in its economic and employment base | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | The Municipality will be More Aware of Climatic Change A range of measures will be taken throughout the community and on the land to conserve water and use it more sparingly. At the same time innovation has occurred in farming practices and food production and processing that has left the region less dependent upon water and more diverse in its economic and employment base. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | To manage irrigated and non irrigated land for longterm sustainable production purposes 2.1 Encourage the adoption of ecologically sustainable development principles and technologies in the future development of both urban and rural areas. 2.2 Encourage sustainable farming practices. Action These strategies will be implemented by: Undertaking further strategic work Prepare a Rural Land Strategy incorporating a land capability study Prepare environmental development guidelines to encourage sustainable land use and development that is sensitive to the natural landform and microenvironment. These strategies will be implemented by: Applying Zones and Overlays Use the Schedule to Farming Zone to allow the preparation of WFP. Apply the Environmental Rural Zone to sensitive rural areas. Undertaking further strategic work Prepare a Rural Land Strategy. Other actions Support the certification of Whole Farm Plans to minimise off site impacts and increase the rate of water re-use. Publish a Sustainability Indicator Checklist for planning applications, and include in the assessment criteria. Promote the design guidelines/fact sheets for: – passive solar design – smart lot design – star rating – water conservation resources Support the undertaking of a study on the assessment of different irrigated industries in the region and the long-term impacts on land base. Provider H $80,000 Advocate/ Facilitator Advocate/ Facilitator Provider/ Facilitator Facilitator/ Advocate H Council’s Role Provider Provider/ Facilitator Priority H $80,000 M $50,000 Provider H H M $10,000 | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | To provide a supply of high quality water for urban and agricultural use. 2.1 Ensure all new developments have adequate reticulated services or effluent disposal systems to protect watercourses and water quality, and to maintain and enhance water quality for both urban and rural use. 2.2 Support and promote approved innovative methods of effluent disposal eg composting. 2.3 Promote regular water-wise messages to the community and encourage community wide use of drought resistant plantings. These strategies will be implemented by: Using Policy and the exercise of discretion Require all developments near waterways to be connected to reticulated sewer or septic systems complying with the Code of Practice for Septic tanks. This should be strengthened through the implementation of the Waste Water Management Plan. Undertaking further strategic work Support the integrated effluent disposal strategy with EPA and CMA. Other actions Commence a regular septic tank assessment program, to ensure compliance with the Code of Practice for septic tanks. Publish standards for Council’s use of water for community purposes. Encourage the appropriate authority to prepare a | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Topic: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Promote economic growth, business development and diversification, with a focus on strengthening the agricultural industry Theme: Agriculture and Rural Land Objectives 1 To protect the productive agricultural land base and the valuable regional resource of irrigated land. Strategies 1.1 Support the growth and expansion of primary industries in irrigated and dry land farming in appropriate areas. 1.2 Support an efficient water supply and distribution system throughout the rural areas in accordance with the Regional Catchment Strategy | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | As the Food Bowl of Australia, Greater Shepparton must have the infrastructure in place to cope with industry demands. The development of a freight and logistics centre in Greater Shepparton not only supports economic and regional development, but also improves safety on our roads, reduces road maintenance costs, and enhances the attractiveness of our region to larger industries | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Support an agglomeration of freight companies, food | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | To promote linkages with other regional cities to cater for traffic movements which include various users: Workers to and from Shepparton; Educational trips comprising school attendees; Shoppers travelling to and from Shepparton from other regional towns; Tourists travelling to and from Shepparton; and Freight movements that distribute products, particularly farm products to depots and warehouses for further distribution to markets and regional logistics centres Strategies 1.1 Encourage and promote the early development of the Shepparton Bypass in particular the northern river crossing as a first stage 1.2 Promote integrated road network connections with the Shepparton Bypass to reduce intrusion of traffic to the central Shepparton and Mooroopna areas. 1.3 Support the safety of road linkages with other regional cities Action These strategies will be implemented by: Using Policy and the exercise of discretion Apply the local policies on Goulburn Valley Highway Environs and Industrial and Commercial Uses in Rural Areas. Applying Zones and Overlays Apply the Road Zone Category 1 to the declared Main road network. Apply the Road Zone Category 2 to other locally significant arterial roads. Apply the Public Use Zone (number 4) to the railway lines. Apply the Public Acquisition Overlay to land to be acquired for the Shepparton bypass. Other actions Undertake a study to upgrade arterial roads to cope with future traffic volumes, and to promote linkages with other regional cities, prior to the completion of the Shepparton Bypass, without creating intrusion to the local areas. Investigate the merits of converting other regional rail lines to standard gauge which connect with Shepparton Undertake a continual review of accident history and implement measures to promote safe travel Provider M $40,000 Provider H Provider H Council Role Priority Facilitator/ Advocate Provider/ Facilitator/ Advocate M | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | We will focus particularly upon strengthening the region's agricultural sector and processing strengths, especially though our commitment to the establishment of the Goulburn Valley Freight Logistics Centre. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |