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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nambucca Valley: Living at its best 2027 Community Strategic Plan | Strategy 1.3 Public health • Safe Food – The Nambucca Shire Council will guard against illness caused by unhealthy food by promoting and enforcing food hygiene standards. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Nambucca | Regional |
| Narrabri Shire Growth Management Strategy | Implementation Strategy 4. Promote and support the rural culture of the Shire Policy Action 4.1 Publish information on heritage items and include in community and tourist information 4.2 Support cultural and tourist activities which promote rural heritage eg local shows, agricultural days, heritage tourist trails etc 5. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Narrabri Shire Growth Management Strategy | Focus economic development on the key sectors of Retail, Tourism, Industrial use and Agriculture | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Narrabri Shire Growth Management Strategy | Prepare a hierarchy of settlements | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Narrabri Shire Growth Management Strategy | Prepare a housing needs study to ensure that affordable housing is available to residents of the Shire | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Narrabri Shire Growth Management Strategy | 100 ha in the Primary Production | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Narrabri Shire Growth Management Strategy | Consideration should be given to placing controls on the clearing of land and preservation of areas of known biodiversity habitat and important habitat linkages. There is also a need to prohibit any further intensive forms of agriculture to minimise any future rural land use conflict. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Narrabri Shire Growth Management Strategy | Identify minimum lot sizes for | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Narrabri Shire Growth Management Strategy | Objective: Develop a land use framework that will give a level of certainty to the people who live in the Narrabri Shire Implementation Strategy Policy Action 1. Develop a new suite of land use designations. 1.1. Adopt the following land use designations as outlined and shown on the maps in section 8.2 and 8.3: Primary Production | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Narrabri Shire Growth Management Strategy | The growth management philosophy for the Shire is as follows Limit expansion to those towns that have the capacity for growth; Encourage a wide range of agricultural and other complimentary rural uses such as tourism having regard to environmental impact; Encourage a diverse and prosperous economy for the Shire; Ensure that communities have an adequate level of facilities and services to ensure a good quality of life for all residents Embody the concepts of: – Ecologically Sustainable Development – Catchment Management, including the Actions in the Namoi and Border Rivers Gwydir Catchment Action Plans | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Narrabri Shire Growth Management Strategy | The intensive livestock agriculture definition relies on a feeding method based wholly or substantially on externally-sourced feed. This type of use is also traditionally intensive and can cause some form of external impact which has the potential to cause land degradation, water quality problems or land use conflict. Therefore there is a need to require development consent so that there is the ability to ensure that the impact can be minimised. It is noted that this is the case with the current LEPs. The intensive plant agriculture definition identifies forms plant growing that traditionally can cause some form of external impact which has the potential to cause land degradation, water quality problems or land use conflict. It has also traditionally been grown on a smaller scale than extensive agriculture. Therefore there is a need to require development consent so that there is the ability to ensure that the impact can be minimised. However it is not clear if it applies to irrigated farming on a broadacre scale like cotton, wheat, sorghum, etc. It is noted that this occurs in the Shire on a large scale. This is discussed in more detail below. It is not intended that this form of irrigated plant agriculture should require development consent. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Narrabri Shire Growth Management Strategy | 6.1 On-site effluent disposal is to be in accordance with a DCP dealing with On-site Sewage Management and the NSW Environment and Health Protection Guidelines for On-site Sewage Management for Single Households. 6.2 Point source pollution from intensive agriculture and processing industries should have adequate effluent management systems | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| NARRANDERA SHIRE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2017-2020 | Encourage and support adoption of new activities and technologies, sustainable land management practices, and innovative business models. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| NARRANDERA SHIRE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2017-2020 | Continue to advocate for water security. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| NARRANDERA SHIRE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2017-2020 | Liaise with local producers (eg Agri Australis, Proten, Grants Sawmilling, Hutchins Bros Engineering) to determine likely future freight transport requirements. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| NARRANDERA SHIRE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2017-2020 | Explore opportunities for and encourage development of new processing and value-adding opportunities and utilisation of waste products. | Sustainability and Environment | Local, sustainable food processing | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| NARRANDERA SHIRE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2017-2020 | Explore opportunities for and encourage development of new processing and value-adding opportunities and utilisation of waste products. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| NARRANDERA SHIRE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2017-2020 | Investigate opportunities to harness skills of visitors to the Shire (eg retirees, back packers) to address labour shortages, particularly for seasonal work (eg harvesting, picking, truck drivers). | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| NARRANDERA SHIRE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2017-2020 |  Advocate for and assist producers to develop strategies to address labour and skills shortages and develop the local workforce. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| NARRANDERA SHIRE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2017-2020 | Agriculture and Agri Business  Develop a producer data base and establish networks and communication channels.  Continue to advocate for water security.  Encourage and support adoption of new activities and technologies, sustainable land management practices, and innovative business models.  Advocate for and assist producers to develop strategies to address labour and skills shortages and develop the local workforce.  Explore opportunities for and encourage development of new processing and value-adding opportunities and utilisation of waste products. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| NARRANDERA SHIRE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2017-2020 | Capitalising on opportunities to leverage off Narrandera’s highly accessible location, river corridor and other assets to grow key industries including agriculture, agri-business, tourism, transport and logistics and the service sector. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| Narrandera Shire Community Strategic Plan 2017-2030 | 40. Continue to promote and advertise local markets and events that support the sale and use of local produce. | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| Narrandera Shire Community Strategic Plan 2017-2030 | 43. Support our agricultural sector to address issues such as water entitlements, changes in Government policy or emergency declarations. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| Narrandera Shire Community Strategic Plan 2017-2030 | 54. Seek and encourage affordable and diverse accommodation options – not only for our seniors but to attract new residents. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| Narrandera Shire Community Strategic Plan 2017-2030 | 68. Improving the quality and taste of Narrandera water. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| Narrandera Shire Community Strategic Plan 2017-2030 | 43. Support our agricultural sector to address issues such as water entitlements, changes in Government policy or emergency declarations. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| Narrandera Shire Community Strategic Plan 2017-2030 | Continue to lead regional advocacy efforts including Food Bowl Inland Rail Alliance. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| Narrandera Shire Community Strategic Plan 2017-2030 | 43. Support our agricultural sector to address issues such as water entitlements, changes in Government policy or emergency declarations. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| NARRANDERA SHIRE POSITIVE AGEING STRATEGY 2016-2021 | 3.3.1. Investigate opportunities for provision of exercise, healthy eating, and other healthy lifestyle programs. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |
| NARRANDERA SHIRE POSITIVE AGEING STRATEGY 2016-2021 | 2.1.4 Provide information to residents on availablity of transport for shopping, social activities and medical appointments. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | NSW | Narrandera | Regional |