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 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 | Food supply and food system resilience | 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 | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | 3.3 Encourage value adding and new enterprises for agricultural production. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Develop an information kit for new agri- businesses, with information and links to referral agencies and approval processes. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | ÓÄÅ 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. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | 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 | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Redevelopment of the Showgrounds The Shepparton Showgrounds will be developed into a state of the art event venue for the annual Show, and also to provide opportunities for a variety of functions, conventions and festivals throughout the year. A Masterplan for the redevelopment has been prepared with consideration given to the site as a City gateway; the site as a new home to the Shepparton Agricultural Society; the site as a new public open space; the heritage of the site; and the site as an event space. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | 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: Tourism Objectives 1 To encourage tourism growth and in particular promote the tourism opportunities of the irrigated rural landscape and the food growing and processing industries. Strategies 1.1 Support new tourist based enterprises to achieve an increase in bed stays and visits to the municipality. 1.2 Promote the natural features of Greater Shepparton. 1.3 Encourage the integration of tourism with heritage, recreation and activity centres. 1.4 Encourage the integration of tourist and agricultural activities where there are no adverse impacts on the operation of rural industries | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Direction: Promote economic growth, business development and diversification, with a focus on strengthening the agricultural industry | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Promote economic growth, business development and diversification, with a focus on strengthening the agricultural industry Theme: Agriculture and Rural Land Objectives | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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. ÓÄÅ Continue to provide a Whole Farm Plan (WFP) program with associated incentives | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Promote economic growth, business development and diversification, with a focus on strengthening the agricultural industry. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton РGreater Future Focusing on the future | Promote the “clean food and wellness” image through initiatives in the Economic Development Strategy. | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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 ÓÄÅ Prepare a local policy on commercial and industrial developments in rural areas Applying zones and overlays ÓÄÅ Apply the Farming Zone to rural areas, and following Rural land Strategy investigation application of Rural Activity Zone; Undertaking further strategic work ÓÄÅ Develop an Economic Development Strategy and consider a marketing strategy for agribusiness. ÓÄÅ Prepare Rural Land Strategy Other actions ÓÄÅ GSCC to publish local economic indicators. ÓÄÅ 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 | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Support an agglomeration of freight companies, food | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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: ÓÄÅ Workers to and from Shepparton; ÓÄÅ Educational trips comprising school attendees; ÓÄÅ Shoppers travelling to and from Shepparton from other regional towns; ÓÄÅ Tourists travelling to and from Shepparton; and ÓÄÅ 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 ÓÄÅ Apply the local policies on Goulburn Valley Highway Environs and Industrial and Commercial Uses in Rural Areas. Applying Zones and Overlays ÓÄÅ Apply the Road Zone Category 1 to the declared Main road network. ÓÄÅ Apply the Road Zone Category 2 to other locally significant arterial roads. ÓÄÅ Apply the Public Use Zone (number 4) to the railway lines. ÓÄÅ Apply the Public Acquisition Overlay to land to be acquired for the Shepparton bypass. Other actions ÓÄÅ 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. ÓÄÅ Investigate the merits of converting other regional rail lines to standard gauge which connect with Shepparton ÓÄÅ 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 | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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 | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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 2 To support developing and emerging agribusinesses and their increasing requirement for high technical infrastructure. Strategies 2.1 Support food related industries and value adding opportunities 2.2 Encourage new value adding industries to locate in existing serviced industrial areas. Action These strategies will be implemented by: Using Policy and the exercise of discretion ÓÄÅ Apply the GS 2030 Industrial Framework Plan. ÓÄÅ Prepare a local policy on commercial and industrial developments in rural areas. Undertaking further strategic work Provider ÓÄÅ Develop an Economic Development Strategy that | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton – Greater Future Focusing on the future | Undertaking further strategic work ÓÄÅ Update the Economic Development strategy for use as | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 |