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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | Strategy No. 2A Strategy Support local markets and other local outlets for the sale of QueanbeyanPalerang produce. Action No. Action 2A1 Review fees and costs for markets that focus on local produce sales to possibly grant reductions or fee waivers where market organisations invest the savings in training, market development programs or similar economic development benefits. | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | 1D Facilitate economic development related to commercial broadscale agriculture. 1D1 Support agricultural economic development opportunities. Support industry applications for grant/research. 1D2 Utilise Council webpage for promoting commercial agricultural opportunities. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | 4.2 RURAL LAND AND COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE Most of the commercial agricultural activity in the former Palerang LGA is located in the current RU1 Primary Production land use zone (the broadacre areas). There is pressure for more living options that are not related to commercial agriculture in these broadacre areas. Some sections of the former Palerang LGA are already significantly fragmented, where agriculture is either a hobby scale or at a best small scale part-time operation. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | 6.2 PRINCIPLE TWO: SUPPORT BOUTIQUE AGRICULTURE | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | Assist local groups develop shared transport and stall management. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | boutique agriculture (except intensive animal) can be undertaken on lots and the produce sold at local markets | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | Facilitate education and training programs in small lot farming, | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | Facilitate improved access for Queanbeyan-Palerang producers to the Canberra markets and other sales outlets. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | Integrate local food and fibre production information into Council community and tourist information websites. 2F2 Promote Queanbeyan-Palerang as a place where small scale agriculture is encouraged 2F3 Develop a self-help DA kit specifically aimed at clarifying planning guidelines on exempt and low scale development and the works most commonly sought by small agricultural producers. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | Liaise with ACT Government for increased opportunities for marketing. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | Properties that do provide a part-time agricultural income for their owners combined with off farm or non-farm based on farm employment, is strong in the region. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | Support boutique agriculture Background to the principle Local food and fibre initiatives show considerable potential in the former Palerang LGA given the expanding interest in fresh local food in the Canberra region. Activities at the boutique scale range from hobby production associated with rural living through to parttime and even a few emerging full-time small lot farms with value added rural products. Encouraging boutique farming will be beneficial to the general Queanbeyan-Palerang economy, improve the diversity of local food choice and contribute to employment, in particular part-time and supplementary income for rural residents. Boutique farming will also assist in maximising lifestyle options and potential. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | The development of a land use strategy for each of the following economic initiatives: – – – emerging niche agricultural industries | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | The trend towards more and a wider range of on-farm businesses with minimal agricultural connection is growing. There is also a growing range of boutique agricultural activities and businesses for which there seems demand for their products e.g. expanded local food. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | There is also an increasing interest in boutique agricultural activities and the ’provenance‘ of food (i.e. mapping out to the consumer where food products come from and how they are produced). | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | To assist with the development of a secure and positive future for commercial agriculture in the former Palerang LGA | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | 1D Facilitate economic development related to commercial broadscale agriculture. 1D1 Support agricultural economic development opportunities. Support industry applications for grant/research. 1D2 Utilise Council webpage for promoting commercial agricultural opportunities. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | 2C Improve access to water for small lot agriculture. 2C1 Liaise with NSW Water to determine the opportunities for further small scale irrigation operations or better use of existing water resources. 2D Improve the skills and training opportunities for both new and 2D1 Facilitate education and training programs in small lot farming, | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | 4.2 RURAL LAND AND COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE Most of the commercial agricultural activity in the former Palerang LGA is located in the current RU1 Primary Production land use zone (the broadacre areas). There is pressure for more living options that are not related to commercial agriculture in these broadacre areas. Some sections of the former Palerang LGA are already significantly fragmented, where agriculture is either a hobby scale or at a best small scale part-time operation. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | 4.8 THE PRODUCTION OF LOCAL FOOD Conventional beef and sheep operations generate 77% of the gross agricultural production value of the former Palerang (Palerang Rural Lands Study Report, 2015, p.151). There is little evidence that there will be any significant change to the commercial dominance of traditional agriculture. However, there are new broader initiatives like organic products and grass fed beef which have some growth potential and may influence future styles of beef and sheep production. There is also an increasing interest in boutique agricultural activities and the ’provenance‘ of food (i.e. mapping out to the consumer where food products come from and how they are produced). The line separating true hobby farming and commercial agriculture is vague. There are a number of mixed produce operations in the former Palerang LGA that appear to be beyond the hobby scale. They produce a range of products such as beef, chicken, ducks, sheep, eggs, vegetables, fruits, truffles, berries and honey. Production methods tend to focus on organic, biodynamic or permaculture principles. The success of these producers is partly due to their proximity to Canberra as their produce is usually sold at farmer’s markets in Canberra at the Capital Region Farmers Market, the North Side Farmers Market and the South Side Farmers Market as well as at the Braidwood and Bungendore Farmers Markets. There is scope to encourage more local retailers to stock local food products. Regional Development Australia Southern Inland consider opportunities exist to expand on the scale and diversity of local food production in and adjacent to existing major production locations such as Bungendore, Braidwood and Araluen. Council already permits (with consent) roadside stalls and cellar door sales across the RU1 Primary Production, R5 Large Lot Residential and E4 Environmental Living land use zones and home industries are also permissible – which allows for ‘on farm’ produced and value added products to be retailed ‘farm door’. Council also permits business identification signs subject to development consent. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Palerang Rural Lands Strategy | 4F Protect broadacre commercial agriculture | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Queanbeyan-Palerang | Regional |
| Pandemic Business Continuity Plan | Food Services (MOW)- coordinate if practicable continued deliveries. No face -toface contact – arrange for delivery point outside of dwelling. | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Glen Innes Severn | Regional |
| Pandemic Business Continuity Plan | Food Services (MOW)- coordinate if practicable continued deliveries. No face -toface contact – arrange for delivery point outside of dwelling. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Glen Innes Severn | Regional |
| Pandemic Business Continuity Plan | Health inspections of food outlets – for mandatory inspections | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Glen Innes Severn | Regional |
| Park & Playground Strategy | Bubblers: Category 1 parks, such as Riverbank Park and Coronation Park, have installed bubblers. Banjo Paterson Park also has a bubbler unit due to the close proximity to the CBD and childcare facility. Other sites are generally not considered for bubblers due to the lower level of usage and higher likelihood of vandalism | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Yass Valley | Regional |
| Park & Playground Strategy | In association with the ongoing provision of playgrounds and other equipment across the LGA, it is recognised that there is a need to also install and maintain other facilities including amenities, seating, tables, bubblers | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Yass Valley | Regional |
| Park & Playground Strategy | The strategy covers playground equipment and other activities, as well as features directly related to the provision of these activities including soft fall material, seats and tables, bubblers, | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Yass Valley | Regional |
| Park & Playground Strategy | This strategy discusses not only play equipment, but also additional facilities that are an integral part of high quality play environments. Seats, picnic tables, bubblers, landscaping, surfacing material and edging not only make a playground more functional, but also make it an attractive and enjoyable place to be for parents and carers. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Yass Valley | Regional |
| Park & Playground Strategy | Typical Park Equipment Table & seating Signage Lighting Formalised gardens Toilets Formalised pathways Tree plantings Bins Irrigation Bubbler BBQ Facilities | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Yass Valley | Regional |
| Park Management | Provision of at least one bubbler or tap. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Shoalhaven | Regional |