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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | 2019 National Awards for Local Government WINNER Boosting Productivity through Infrastructure – Lake Macquarie Organics Resource Recovery Facility | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | Compost giveaway We returned material collected through our green waste service to residents in the form of free compost. The giveaway has been made possible through the yearly diversion of up to 44,000 tonnes of food and garden waste from landfill. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | Inspect all food and regulated premises, including public pools, tattooists and cooling towers, in accordance with food authority partnership and relevant legislative requirements | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | To date, we have completed nine large improvement projects, with another 18 initiatives currently underway. These initiatives will deliver benefits for a wide range of services, including road and road-related infrastructure, food safety | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | 3. Investigate ways to support affordable housing opportunities through collaboration and/or partnership arrangements between Council, developers, state government, CHPs, and community-based groups. 4. Advocate to NSW Planning for SEPP 70 to enable broad-based affordable housing contributions via an ‘inclusionary zoning’ policy, based on a low rate (e.g. 1 per cent) of the floor space of all new development. 5. Encourage small and low cost homes by reducing contribution fees for secondary dwellings. 6. Implement changes to Council’s planning controls (LEP and DCP) to encourage the supply of more affordable housing by exploring incentives for these developments such as increased height, less car parking etc. 7. Work with CHPs to facilitate the supply of affordable and social housing by: • Providing targeted advice and support • Investigating current appetite for lower- scale developments by CHPs for opportunities to redevelop sites. • Facilitating discussions with CHPs to best understand any barriers and needs for the provision of affordable housing. 8. Ensure overall housing affordability 9. Collaborate and/or partner with State Government to: • ensure sufficient supply of social and affordable housing and no net loss while demand exceeds supply, • assist where practicable in consulting residents of social and affordable housing in significant transition, and • investigate the renewal of Housing Corporation land to provide social housing in Windale and other areas with high proportions of social housing and ensure highly liveable housing supply. 10. Work with Aboriginal Land Councils to ensure housing needs of the Aboriginal community are met. 11. Continue to advocate and support the campaign Everybody’s Home, which includes seeking support for first home buyers, a national housing strategy, a better deal for renters, immediate relief for Australians in chronic rental stress and a plan to end homelessness by 2030. Indicators 1. Annual monitoring report on housing stock for affordable and social housing needs. 2. Regularly meet with the Community Housing Providers and State Government to keep track of housing stock that exists in Lake Macquarie to better track change and any likely gaps in the market. 3. Set a target for affordable and social housing with the aim of at least retaining any housing stock in the Lake Macquarie area, and report on this annually. 4. A reduction in homelessness in the City. 5. Decreased percentage of households for which rental or mortgage payments are 30 per cent or more of household income. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | 4 INCREASE AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING AND HOME OWNERSHIP | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | AFFORDABLE HOUSING While local government has not typically been involved in the broader aspects of housing policy, in practice, the City is increasingly asked to respond to housing affordability and homelessness challenges, through direct action, collaboration and advocacy. Council can fulfill a range of roles to influence the supply of social and affordable housing. These range from ensuring the efficient operation of the local housing market to forming relationships and partnerships with local affordable housing providers. Council can seek developer contributions for affordable housing via voluntary planning agreements (VPA) and/or State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) 70 – Affordable Housing (Revised Scheme). A policy would be required to allow Council to collect affordable housing contributions via a VPA. And similarly, a contributions scheme would be necessary (approved by the DPIE). These would usually be applied at rezoning stage. The VPA would need to provide clear advice on issues such as: • when the policy will be applied • how value uplift will be calculated • how much value uplift will be captured for public benefits • how much uplift will be directed to affordable housing contributions. Currently, SEPP 70 precludes broad-based affordable housing contributions through what might be described as an ‘inclusionary zoning’ policy. This curtails the ability of councils that do not rezone land to seek such contributions. Council could advocate for a planning policy mechanism to allow for inclusionary zoning policy, based on a relatively low rate (e.g. 1 per cent) of the floor space of all new development. This may be a more practical and equitable approach, given the supply of land currently means that rezoning new land to residential or a higher density residential zone would provide very limited contribution. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | Establish mechanisms for affordable housing contributions through the planning system. …………………………………………. Investigate ways of supporting affordable housing opportunities. …………………………………………. Collaborate with Community Housing Providers in the provision of affordable and social housing. …………………………………………. Advocate for planning policy tools for inclusionary zoning. …………………………………………. Ensure Council processes support streamlined approval for housing, particularly special needs housing. …………………………………………. Undertake community engagement to reduce stigma associated with housing other than detached housing e.g. boarding house development. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | Facilitation – Council will facilitate and leverage social and affordable rental housing in the City. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | HOUSING DESIGN FOR INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY Council began looking at how overall housing affordability could be reduced in the Lake Macquarie Housing Study 2018. It investigated the design of housing types needed, but that were found to be under represented in the housing market. This work will be further developed in 2020 to form a suite of designs to help address this gap in the housing market for low rise medium density housing such as semi-attached villa or duplex housing. The aim is to support infill development close to jobs and services. Council’s survey of housing preferences also found latent demand for this type of housing. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | HOUSING PRIORITY 4: INCREASE AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING AND HOME OWNERSHIP PRIORITY FOUR OBJECTIVES • Establish mechanisms for affordable housing contributions through the planning system. • Investigate ways of supporting affordable housing opportunities • Collaborate with community housing providers (CHPs) in planning of affordable and social housing • Advocate for planning policy tools for inclusionary zoning • Ensure Council processes support streamlined approval for housing, particularly special needs housing • Undertake community engagement to reduce stigma associated with housing other than detached housing such as boarding houses. PRIORITY FOUR ACTIONS 4.1 Facilitate efficient housing markets that meet all housing needs including addressing any gaps in the market particularly in the area of affordable and social housing 4.2 Develop and adopt a clear policy for affordable housing contributions including: • via voluntary planning agreements, • potential affordable housing contributions to green-field areas prior to any rezoning *Timeframe Short: 1yr (2020-21) Medium: 4yr (2021-2025) Long: (5+yr) **Primary Responsibility in Bold, Secondary Responsibilities not in bold Short and ongoing Medium IP DAC, DoPIE, Community IP, Development Contributions DoPIE, Development Industry TIMEFRAME* RESPONSIBILITY** | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | Local government’s role in affordable housing involvement are described in the three tiers illustrated below: Tier 1: Facilitating an efficient housing market including ensuring the diversity and location of housing respond to changing community needs. This tier impacts housing supply and affordability, as distinct from supplying targeted, subsidised affordable housing. Tier 2: Facilitate affordable housing supply by, for example, establishing mechanisms for affordable housing contributions through the planning system, and/ or brokering partnership deals between developers, local providers and community-based groups. Within this tier, Council has both facilitation and advocacy roles. Tier 3: Direct investment to provide affordable housing. Most councils eschew direct spending on social housing, seeing this as redistributive responsibilities of other spheres of government and reflecting their limited mandate and fiscal autonomy. Others regard social mix, diversity and inclusion as part of the defining environmental characteristics of their community and are not prepared to leave their support entirely to the vagaries of policy-making at State and Federal level. These councils have carved out a role, notwithstanding governance or financial constraints. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | Planning for housing diversity would have knock-on effects that influence housing affordability. Council has been working towards providing and facilitating smallscale and compact alternative housing types, working with the housing industry to better understand unnecessary barriers to residential development in our area. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | PRIORITY 4: INCREASING AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING AND HOME OWNERSHIP Current demand for affordable housing in Lake Macquarie is driven by the 6346 households experiencing rental stress, of which 2284 are experiencing severe rental stress. The 3946 households currently living in social housing also contribute to the demand. The highest proportion of very low-income households are lone-person households, followed by couples with no children. Lone-person households created the most demand for social and affordable housing, accounting for 1864 of households in need, or 47.2 per cent. To plan for future housing needs, Council has obligations to facilitate an efficient housing market that responds smoothly to local demand, and aims to provide housing to meet a full range of housing needs, including affordable housing. This can be done by establishing mechanisms for affordable housing contributions through the planning system and/or via partnership arrangements between developers, local providers and community-based groups. Objectives • Establish mechanisms for affordable housing contributions through the planning system. • Investigate ways of supporting affordable housing opportunities. • Collaborate with community housing providers (CHPs) in planning of affordable and social housing. • Advocate for planning policy tools for inclusionary zoning. • Ensure Council processes support streamlined approval for housing, particularly special needs housing. • Undertake community engagement to reduce stigma associated with housing other than detached housing such as boarding houses. Actions 1. Facilitate efficient housing markets that meet all housing needs, including addressing any gaps in the market, particularly in the area of affordable and social housing. 2. Develop and adopt a clear policy for affordable housing contributions including: • via voluntary planning agreements. • potential affordable housing contributions to green-field areas prior to any rezoning. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | PRIORITY FOUR ACTIONS 4.3 Investigate ways to support affordable housing opportunities through collaboration and/or partnership arrangements between Council, developers, state government, CHPs, and community-based groups TIMEFRAME* RESPONSIBILITY** Short IP, Council’s Property Dept., CHPs, Development Contributions Development Industry, DoPIE, 4.4 Advocate to NSW Planning for SEPP70 to enable broad-based affordable housing contributions via an ‘inclusionary zoning’ policy, based on a low rate e.g. 1% of floor space of all new development. 4.5 Encourage small and low cost homes by a reduction of contribution fees for secondary dwellings 4.6 Investigate and implement changes to planning controls (LEP and DCP) to encourage the supply of more affordable housing through exploring incentives for these developments such as increased height, reduced carparking or lot size etc 4.7 Work with CHPs to facilitate affordable and social housing supply by: • Providing targeted advice and support • Investigating the appetite for lower-scale developments by CHPs for opportunities to redevelop sites. • Facilitating discussions with CHPs to best understand any barriers and needs for the provision of affordable housing 4.8 Work towards overall housing affordability 4.9 Collaborate and/or partner with State Government to: • Ensure sufficient supply of social and affordable housing, and no net loss while demand exceeds supply • Assist where practicable in the consultation of residents of social and affordable housing in significant transition • Assist in the renewal of Housing Corporation land to provide social housing in Windale and other areas that have a high proportion of social housing to ensure highly liveable housing 4.10 Work with Aboriginal Land Councils to ensure housing needs of the Aboriginal community are met 4.11 Continue to advocate and support the campaign Everybody’s Home, which includes seeking support for first home buyers, A National Housing Strategy, a better deal for renters, immediate relief for Australians in chronic rental stress and a plan to end homelessness by 2030 *Timeframe Short: 1yr (2020-21) Medium: 4yr (2021-2025) Long: (5+yr) **Primary Responsibility in Bold, Secondary Responsibilities not in bold Short IP, Aboriginal Land Councils Short IP Short and ongoing Short and ongoing IP, Housing Industry, CHPs, community IP, NSW Land and Housing Corporation Short and ongoing IP DoPIE, Development Industry, Development Contributions Short and ongoing Medium IP Development Contributions IP Developer Contributions, Assets, CHPs, Council’s Property Department Short and ongoing IP, CHPs, and NSW Land and Housing Corporation | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | Provide housing supply, choice and affordability in areas with access to jobs, services and public transport. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | Provide housing supply, choice and affordability in areas with more access to jobs, services and public transport. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | The Housing Strategy recognises the need for all forms of housing and aims to provide homes for all household groups and budgets. The focus is on: • delivering housing that is more affordable and maximises opportunities for home ownership or rent, to reduce housing stress, and • facilitating and, where appropriate, delivering affordable rental housing (whether or not in partnership with State Government or other providers) managed or owned by registered Community Housing Providers for very low to moderate income households. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| LAKE MACQUARIE CITY HOUSING STRATEGY 2020 | To improve housing affordability for the whole city Council aims to collaborate with the affordable housing sector and removing barriers to an affordable housing supply. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| Lake Macquarie Night-Time Economy Action Plan 2019-2024 | Explore night-time food markets, night-time cinema and family-friendly events in parks and public spaces as part of Council’s Event Strategy | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| Lake Macquarie Night-Time Economy Action Plan 2019-2024 | Explore options for ‘pop-up’ dining and ‘food truck’ bays in select locations | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| Land and Property Strategy | 3 Affordable Housing Units Arlington Grove (2 units), Luna Meriton (4 units) and The Flour Mills Summer Hill (4 units). | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Inner West | Metropolitan |
| Land and Property Strategy | 13 Community Gardens leased to Community Groups Ashfield Park Community Garden, Denison Road Community Garden, Francis Street Community Garden, Haberfield Library Community Garden, Marlborough Street Vege Patch, Marrickville Community Nursery, Mort Bay Park Community Garden, Oxford Street Reserve, Punch Park Community Garden, Summer Hill Community Garden, Taringa Street Community Garden, Whites Creek Community Garden and Whites Creek Food Forest. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Inner West | Metropolitan |
| Land and Property Strategy | 13 Community Gardens leased to Community Groups Ashfield Park Community Garden, Denison Road Community Garden, Francis Street Community Garden, Haberfield Library Community Garden, Marlborough Street Vege Patch, Marrickville Community Nursery, Mort Bay Park Community Garden, Oxford Street Reserve, Punch Park Community Garden, Summer Hill Community Garden, Taringa Street Community Garden, Whites Creek Community Garden and Whites Creek Food Forest. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Inner West | Metropolitan |
| Land and Property Strategy | Zero waste strategy including new facilities for a reuse centre and recycling centre and space for bin storage/composting. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Inner West | Metropolitan |
| Land and Property Strategy | Zero waste strategy including new facilities for a reuse centre and recycling centre and space for bin storage/composting. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Inner West | Metropolitan |
| LAND USE & PLANNING – POLICY – Community Gardens | Policy Upper Hunter Shire Council's in principle support for community gardens. Upper Hunter Shire Council supports the development of community gardens throughout the Shire. The Council recognises the potential for community gardens to: • Improve the health of the community by providing access to fresh food and outdoor exercise; • Foster a sense of community; • Provide increased opportunity for social connectedness and intergenerational gardening; • Act as a model for best practice with regard to sustainable gardening; • Provide access to local food thus reducing miles and; • Provide skills, development and learning opportunities. Objective This policy aims to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Council in establishing and managing community gardens on land in the Upper Hunter Shire. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Upper Hunter Shire | Regional |
| LAND USE & PLANNING – POLICY – Community Gardens | Policy Upper Hunter Shire Council's in principle support for community gardens. Upper Hunter Shire Council supports the development of community gardens throughout the Shire. The Council recognises the potential for community gardens to: • Improve the health of the community by providing access to fresh food and outdoor exercise; • Foster a sense of community; • Provide increased opportunity for social connectedness and intergenerational gardening; • Act as a model for best practice with regard to sustainable gardening; • Provide access to local food thus reducing miles and; • Provide skills, development and learning opportunities. Objective This policy aims to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Council in establishing and managing community gardens on land in the Upper Hunter Shire. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Upper Hunter Shire | Regional |
| LAND USE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY | Encourage the establishment of agribusiness related education and training facilities | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |
| LAND USE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY | 2. Tourism development in rural areas should demonstrate compatibility with surrounding agricultural uses. Generally these activities will include bed and breakfasts, host farms or tourist uses related to the natural setting and/or the agricultural use of the land. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |