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.
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| Document title | Relevant text in the policy | Domain | Topic | State | Local Government name | Council type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | In real terms adopting this vision means that Council will actively discourage further subdivision or development of rural land that does not uphold the primary values and only support sustainable land management practices. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | Introduce a mechanism to maintain a record of planted native vegetation such as shelter belts, agroforestry, etc for the purpose of exempting registered land owners from planning permits. These permits would be associated with a whole farm plan and address future lopping or removal of planted vegetation. Explore the suitability of issuing planning permits for whole farm/ or farm management plans. These could identify vegetation removal, dams etc. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | Investigate a policy position for agricultural structures to provide guidance to the agricultural community on their use in areas of landscape significance. Explore the possibility of a Code of Practice/ Local Planning policy for environmental covers/ hail netting or other similar structures. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | Objective – To support an active community working toward reduction of atmospheric green house gases and preparing for inevitable climate changes. Number Action 1 Develop a Council position statement addressing § alternative energy sources and § associated innovative farming practices. Incorporate into planning policies. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | Objectives: – To ensure tourism, recreation and leisure activities complement the primary values of the green wedge. – To promote further development of the Shire’s tourism industry in a form that maintains and enhances a healthy environment and nurtures the Shire’s rich cultural heritage. Number Action Lead 38 Review tourism policy statements to ensure they reflect the vision for the Green Wedge – where tourism and recreation play a secondary and complementary role to the primary values of the Green Wedge: biodiversity, agriculture and landscape. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | Planning Framework – 4 Year Action Plan Resources Required $ $$ $$$ $$$$ Internal resources $0 – $20,000 $20,000 – $50,000 $50,000 – $100,000 $100,000 + Forms part of internal operating budget Objective – To establish a new planning framework for Yarra Ranges which maintains the commitment to the key principles of the Regional Strategy Plan and the Green Wedge vision and enables the Planning Scheme to address emerging issues. Number Action 9 To establish an agreed process with the State Government to undertake a review of the planning framework governing the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme in particular the role of the Regional Strategy Plan. This process will include: § Identify key strategic principles of the Regional Strategy Plan that are required to underpin any future planning framework for the municipality. § Examine alternative statutory techniques for ensuring that these principles are given a durable status that cannot be undermined § Develop a robust planning framework for Yarra Ranges that reflects the primary values of the Green Wedge. § Ensure this is a more effective and transparent framework. Note: The funding and timing of all projects will be subject to approval through Council’s annual budget process. All planning scheme changes will be subject to the statutory process for planning scheme amendments, including public consultation outlined at Part 3 of the Planning and Environment | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | Prepare information, guidelines and web based resources for agribusiness and rural residents on the responsible use of devices with amenity impacts such as bird scaring devices, frost fans and other rural industries. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | Review and amend existing local laws regulating noise levels from (noise generating) bird deterrents having regard to amenity impacts to humans and threatened faunal species. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | Review and revise the local planning policy related to agriculture. This project will consider emerging issues such as: food miles, food security, water availability and consumer preference for local produce. Ensure Strategic Planning DPCD Agribusiness Yarra Valley 2012/2013 $$ Lead Economic and Community Development Economic and Community Development Strategic Planning External Partners Agribusiness Yarra Valley Timing Resources ongoing internal Agribusiness Yarra Valley ongoing internal DPCD Agribusiness Yarra Valley 2012/2013 $$$ 38 Number Action Lead planning controls seek to maintain a sustainable farming sector. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | Review the zone and local planning policy provisions for the green wedge zones. As part of this review examine: § identified sub areas identified in the Planning Scheme – Rural farming areas map (Broadacre Farming, Intensive Farming, Rural Landscape areas and Environmental Rural). § Threats to agriculture or biodiversity. Ensure designations are consistent with the application of the green wedge zones and related policy. (Linked to broader GW Zone review). | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | Rural Living – 4 Year Plan Resources Required $ $$ $$$ $$$$ Internal resources $0 – $20,000 $20,000 – $50,000 $50,000 – $100,000 $100,000 + Forms part of internal operating budget Objective – To manage rural living in the Green Wedge in a manner which prevents negative impacts on agriculture and biodiversity. Numb er 45 Action Review the policies and controls relating to the assessment of proposals for houses and vacant rural lots and replace the existing tenement controls with a set of clear and comprehensive policies that: § Are applied in conjunction with the zone based permit controls. § Strengthen support for productive agriculture. § Address environmental concerns and enhance biodiversity. § Minimise further intrusion of rural residential into areas of high biodiversity value. § Minimise opportunities for further residential development in areas of fire risk, poor access and lack of services. 46 Design a method/process for engaging with rural lifestylers to ensure their opinions are known when policy is being developed. 47 Work with local landowners through ‘friends of’ and Landcare groups to improve land management in rural areas. 48 Review current subdivision provisions to simplify existing controls, in particular. § Review the maximum subdivision provisions. § Rationalise the number of schedules to the zones. Note: The funding and timing of all projects will be subject to approval through Council’s annual budget process. All planning scheme changes will be subject to the statutory process for planning scheme amendments, including public consultation outlined at Part 3 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987. DPCD – Department of Planning and Community Development DSE – Department of Sustainability and Environment 62 Community Engagement and Development Strategic Planning Environment ongoing internal Strategic Planning DPCD 2012/ 2013 internal 2011 internal Lead Strategic Planning Planning Services External Partners Timing Resources DPCD 2011-2015 $$ | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | the emphasis in Yarra Ranges must continue to be on sustainable agriculture. Planning controls and Council policy will need to be flexible to accommodate and facilitate rapidly changing agricultural technologies designed to improve sustainability. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | The shared vision for the Yarra Ranges Green Wedge is: The Yarra Ranges community will encourage and support sustainable farming, a healthy biodiversity, and valued landscapes in its Green Wedge. These are the primary green wedge values and are what make it attractive for other activities such as tourism, recreation, and rural living. Council will work with the community and other stakeholders to protect and enhance these primary values. Other activities will only be accommodated if they positively contribute to the primary values. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | The vision for the Green Wedge should therefore protect and retain the primary values of the Green Wedge – its biodiversity, its agriculture, and its landscape. Because of these values and interrelated activities the Green Wedge is attractive for other secondary activities such as recreation, tourism, and rural living. Needless to say without the agricultural landscapes and natural environments, there would be little demand for tourism and rural living! The vision for the Green Wedge is as follows: The Yarra Ranges community will encourage and support sustainable farming, a healthy biodiversity, and valued landscapes in its Green Wedge. These are the primary green wedge values and are what make it attractive for other activities such as tourism, recreation, and rural living. Council will work with the community and other stakeholders to protect and enhance these primary values. Other activities will only be accommodated if they positively contribute to the primary values. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | The Yarra Ranges Green Wedge encompasses diverse activities ranging from rural living through to agriculture, tourist facilities, catchments, national parks and state forests. A vision for the Green Wedge must take account of all these, which in turn make the Green Wedge a valued asset for the local community and the people of Melbourne. The vision must also reflect the articulated priorities to strengthen and improve the planning and land management of the Green Wedge and ensure that it is not eroded by incremental incompatible activities. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | Review and revise the local planning policy related to agriculture. This project will consider emerging issues such as: food miles, food security, water availability and consumer preference for local produce. Ensure | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | Work with water authorities to increase the use of recycled water in Economic Development Melbourne Water/ Yarra Valley ongoing internal Environmental Health/ Environment EPA 2011 $$$ Strategic Planning DPCD Agribusiness Yarra Valley 2011 internal External Partners Timing Resources Strategic Planning 2012/2013 internal Strategic Planning/ Planning Services 20112013 $$ 39 Number Action Lead agriculture. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | Review and revise the local planning policy related to agriculture. This project will consider emerging issues such as: food miles, food security, water availability and consumer preference for local produce. Ensure | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | From a green wedge management perspective, Council must help increase the ability of the local environment -and the community that lives within it – to adapt to future climate instability. At a fundamental level this includes long term preservation of the values and assets of the Green Wedge that are considered important to the local and broader community. Retaining viable agricultural land close to Melbourne is critical. Farming practices (such as those that lead to beneficial increase of carbon reserves in the soil) will also need to evolve and finally regulatory processes must keep pace with new technologies and climate change responses. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | Objective – To support an active community working toward reduction of atmospheric green house gases and preparing for inevitable climate changes. Number Action 1 Develop a Council position statement addressing § alternative energy sources and § associated innovative farming practices. Incorporate into planning policies. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| GREEN WEDGE MANAGEMENT PLAN | However a coordinated event management plan would be helpful to organisers to obtain approval from various Council and State agencies addressing (as relevant): traffic management, emergency management, security and crowd control, first aid, public health, amenity issues, food safety, temporary buildings etc. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| Greenhouse Action and Water Management Plan 2015-2020 | Community food gardens. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | North Sydney | Metropolitan |
| Greenhouse Action and Water Management Plan 2015-2020 | Community food gardens. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | North Sydney | Metropolitan |
| Greenhouse Action Plan | 1.36 Minimise putrescible material entering landfill | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |
| Greenhouse Action Plan | Staff awareness program to minimise generation of waste, maximise reuse of materials and better match waste streams including establishment of a compost roster in staff lunch rooms. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |
| Greenhouse Action Plan | Encourage establishment and operation of local farmer markets to reduce 'food miles' 4.5 | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |
| Greenhouse Action Plan | 1.36 Minimise putrescible material entering landfill | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |
| Greenhouse Action Plan | Eliminate use of plastic shopping bags throughout the Shire | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |
| Greenhouse Action Plan | Staff awareness program to minimise generation of waste, maximise reuse of materials and better match waste streams including establishment of a compost roster in staff lunch rooms. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |
| Greenhouse Action Plan | Encourage establishment and operation of local farmer markets to reduce 'food miles' 4.5 | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |