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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | Support an agglomeration of freight companies, food | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 |
| Greater Shepparton 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 3.3 Encourage value adding and new enterprises for agricultural production. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 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 | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 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. ÓÄÅ Continue to provide a Whole Farm Plan (WFP) program with associated incentives | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Greater Shepparton 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 2030 Strategy Plan | 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 |