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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Geelong does offer a significant opportunity for some forms of shed based agriculture, including aquaculture and horticulture. In the case of aquaculture it is proximity to the coast and in the case of both aquaculture and horticulture it is access to Avalon airport, which offers export opportunities. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Agricultural education and research The established education and research centres in the area also provide a strong agricultural industry focus for Geelong. ÓÇÉ Marcus Oldham College Marcus Oldham College is the only independent agricultural college operating in Australia. The courses focus on business management, and the academic programs delivered include a Bachelor of Business (Agricultural Page 14 Greater Geelong Rural Land Use Strategy Management), Advanced Diploma of Farm Business Management and a Diploma of Agribusiness. ÓÇÉ CSIRO – Geelong: Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) The Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) is a major facility of CSIRO Livestock Industries and plays a vital role in maintaining Australia's capability to quickly diagnose exotic (foreign) and emerging animal diseases. This facility provides employment in the vicinity of 230 EFT. ÓÇÉ CSIRO Textile and Fibre Technology Centre invents, develops and commercialises technologies for new and improved products and processes, quality control, and environmental safety at every stage of the wool, cotton, textile and leather processing pipelines. This facility provides employment in the vicinity of 230 EFT. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Geelong has a number of large agricultural manufacturing and processing businesses that provide significant employment in the region – the eight largest enterprises employ about 1800 persons. The established education and research centres in the area also provide a strong agricultural industry focus for Geelong. Agriculture directly provides about 1.5% or 1,130 jobs of the total jobs in the municipality. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | 11.3.5 Farmers Markets Farmers markets provide the opportunity for local product to be marketed locally. The ability to promote and sell local product would support the ongoing use of rural land for agriculture. Farmers markets within the Greater Geelong area should be supported. | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | 11.3.2 Farm land leasing register The benefits of leasing farmland are widely recognised by farmers as a cost effective way to grow their business. In Geelong, despite many farms being sold for lifestyle purposes, they are still farmed by local farmers through leasing and share farming arrangements. Council should facilitate such activity through developing and maintaining a register of property owners with land they wish to have farmed and farmers wishing to lease land to farm. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Agricultural education and research The established education and research centres in the area also provide a strong agricultural industry focus for Geelong. ÓÇÉ Marcus Oldham College Marcus Oldham College is the only independent agricultural college operating in Australia. The courses focus on business management, and the academic programs delivered include a Bachelor of Business (Agricultural Page 14 Greater Geelong Rural Land Use Strategy Management), Advanced Diploma of Farm Business Management and a Diploma of Agribusiness. ÓÇÉ CSIRO – Geelong: Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) The Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) is a major facility of CSIRO Livestock Industries and plays a vital role in maintaining Australia's capability to quickly diagnose exotic (foreign) and emerging animal diseases. This facility provides employment in the vicinity of 230 EFT. ÓÇÉ CSIRO Textile and Fibre Technology Centre invents, develops and commercialises technologies for new and improved products and processes, quality control, and environmental safety at every stage of the wool, cotton, textile and leather processing pipelines. This facility provides employment in the vicinity of 230 EFT. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Continued use of rural land for agricultural production is encouraged, and contribution of rural production to the economy of the region is recognized. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Geelong does offer a significant opportunity for some forms of shed based agriculture, including aquaculture and horticulture. In the case of aquaculture it is proximity to the coast and in the case of both aquaculture and horticulture it is access to Avalon airport, which offers export opportunities. Shed based agriculture such as aquaculture and horticulture offer significant benefit in terms of contribution to the Page x Greater Geelong Rural Land Use Strategy local economy. Such forms of agriculture should be supported but carefully managed in terms of siting so that they do not compromise the landscape objectives of the rural strategy. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Implementation of this strategy will involve supporting the “right to farm” of local land owners | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | In support of the strategy of retaining the rural areas in agricultural use, Council should also support farming related infrastructure and services in the region. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Key strategic directions The key strategic directions of the Geelong Rural Land Use Strategy are:  Supporting preservation of the rural-farmed landscape beyond the urban areas for economic, environmental, and community reasons  Continuing a planned approach to the rural areas so they are managed to contribute to the City’s overall growth and development  Maintaining a distinct separation between urban areas and farming Рrural activities  Not providing for ad-hoc residential subdivision or use of land in rural areas  Only supporting the development of a house on existing vacant lots where it will not compromise the farming Рagricultural use of land and the presentation of the landscape  Removing the concept that there is a nexus between minimum lot size and ‘viable’ farming units Рminimum subdivision sizes are about retaining a rural-farmed landscape and opportunities for productive agricultural use of the land | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Shed based agriculture such as aquaculture and horticulture offer significant benefit in terms of contribution to the local economy. Such forms of agriculture should be supported but carefully managed in terms of siting so that they do not compromise the landscape objectives of the rural strategy. They should also be sited where they can gain access to existing water and sewer infrastructure. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | The Recommended Strategic Directions The Geelong Rural Land Strategy sets out a long term vision for the City’s rural areas that  Reinforces a rural Рfarmed landscape beyond the urban areas  Continues to protect and provide opportunities for productive agriculture  Enhances the condition of the environment and the natural resource base, and  Contributes to the ongoing economic prosperity and quality lifestyle of the region | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | The strategy proposes that there is a continuing future for farming and agriculture in the rural areas of Geelong, but it will be a changing form, different from what has been traditionally known. In the future there is likely to be even fewer farms where the family is supported solely or mainly by agriculture. Many properties can and should still be productively farmed either by the landowner or another landowner as a part of a larger enterprise where land is leased or managed. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | The Strategy recognises that agricultural production is locally important and economically significant for some residents | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | This strategy proposes that there is a continuing future for farming and agriculture in the rural areas of Geelong, but it will be in a changing form from what has been traditionally known. In the future there is likely to be even fewer farms where the family is supported soley or mainly by agriculture. This does not necessarily mean there will be less land farmed or fewer farms. Many properties, even relatively small holdings, can and should still be productively farmed either by the landowner or another land owner as a part of a larger enterprise where land is leased or managed. These ongoing opportunities for agriculture are important in terms of the future economy, character and livability of the City. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | 11.1.3 Rural Living Zone The existing zoned rural living areas should remain in the Rural Living Zone. The stated purposes of the Rural Living zone as set out in the Victoria Planning Provisions are; To implement the State Planning Policy Framework and the Local Planning Policy Framework, including the Municipal Strategic Statement and local planning policies. To provide for residential use in a rural environment. To provide for agricultural land uses which do not adversely affect the amenity of surrounding land uses. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | 11.1.4 Rural Activity Zone The Rural Activity zone (RAZ) is a new zone to the Statewide suite of rural zones. The stated purposes of the Rural Activity Zone as set out in the Victoria Planning Provisions area; To implement the State Planning Policy Framework and the Local Planning Policy Framework, including the Municipal Strategic Statement and local planning policies. To provide for the use of land for agriculture. To provide for other uses and development, in appropriate locations, which are compatible with agriculture and the environmental and landscape characteristics of the area. To ensure that use and development does not adversely affect surrounding land uses. To protect and enhance natural resources and the biodiversity of the area. To encourage use and development of land based on comprehensive and sustainable land management practices and infrastructure provision. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | 11.3.2 Farm land leasing register The benefits of leasing farmland are widely recognised by farmers as a cost effective way to grow their business. In Geelong, despite many farms being sold for lifestyle purposes, they are still farmed by local farmers through leasing and share farming arrangements. Council should facilitate such activity through developing and maintaining a register of property owners with land they wish to have farmed and farmers wishing to lease land to farm. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | 11.3.5 Farmers Markets Farmers markets provide the opportunity for local product to be marketed locally. The ability to promote and sell local product would support the ongoing use of rural land for agriculture. Farmers markets within the Greater Geelong area should be supported. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | A Local Planning Policy is recommended that identifies that dwellings should only be permitted on vacant rural parcels where Council is satisfied that the house will positively promote farming operations on the land and it is demonstrated by the applicant that the primary use of the land will continue to be agriculture. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | A local planning policy should be developed that reflects these principles and provide clear guidance about the form of tourist development acceptable in the rural areas, and that generally tourist development needs to be related to, and subservient to, the agricultural use of the land, and compatible with the farmed landscape | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | A Local Planning Policy will be prepared that identifies that dwellings should only be permitted on vacant rural parcels where; • Council is satisfied that that, in the long term, the house will positively promote farming operations on the land and it is demonstrated by the applicant that the primary use of the land will continue to be agriculture; • Existing agricultural activity on adjoining land will not be compromised; • The proportion of the property used for the dwelling and ancillary infrastructure is minimal, and such development is directed to the area of lowest agricultural quality; • The productive capacity of the land will be enhanced. This should be achieved through addressing issues such as pest plants and animals and erosion of the land; • The environmental condition of the land will be enhanced. This should be achieved by fencing off remnant vegetation, revegetating strategic areas such as between remnant stands to develop wildlife corridors and along waterways; • The house and associated farming activity supports the maintenance of the rural farmed landscape. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Agricultural capability assessment offers a means to consider the quality of land for soilbased agriculture, and its productive potential. Within the municipality an agricultural capability assessment was undertaken as a part of the 1997 Rural Land Use Study (RLUS). | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Appropriate rural land subdivision controls need to be based upon the size required to maintain the farmed landscape and provide opportunities for productive agricultural uses. The Strategy recommends in the Northern Area this size should be 80ha and on the Bellarine Peninsula and the Southern and Western Areas this size should be 40ha. These sizes are based on an understanding of the agricultural opportunities in these areas, and the current minimum subdivision sizes. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Continued use of rural land for agricultural production is encouraged, and contribution of rural production to the economy of the region is recognized. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Council should maintain its existing policy of providing a lower level of rate for agricultural properties, reflecting the benefit of this land use to the broader community and its lower service demands. Lower rate levels will also be supported through Council consistently supporting and implementing this strategy, reducing speculative value on rural land. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Geelong does offer a significant opportunity for some forms of shed based agriculture, including aquaculture and horticulture. In the case of aquaculture it is proximity to the coast and in the case of both aquaculture and horticulture it is access to Avalon airport, which offers export opportunities. Shed based agriculture such as aquaculture and horticulture offer significant benefit in terms of contribution to the Page x Greater Geelong Rural Land Use Strategy local economy. Such forms of agriculture should be supported but carefully managed in terms of siting so that they do not compromise the landscape objectives of the rural strategy. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | Implementation of this strategy will involve supporting the “right to farm” of local land owners, preserving non urban breaks between towns, ensuring dwelling development and subdivision will not remove the land from agricultural use and managing the location and scale of tourist facilities so that they do not undermine the rural character of land beyond the towns. Most importantly, the environmental assets must be protected and condition of the natural resource base enhanced, and the unique and valuable landscapes preserved. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY | In considering applications where a commercial use such as tourism is to be established in conjunction with a rural-agricultural use, VCAT has generally found that the following elements need to be considered; Has the primary agricultural use already been established; The link between the primary agricultural use and the balance of uses should not be vague and elusive. Mere co-location is not sufficient; The mix of uses should not be disproportionate and out of balance, and result in an unreasonable loss of productive agricultural land; The match of the uses should not be unconvincing, inviting the conclusion that the accommodation and commercial activities are likely to function independently; The scale of the entire enterprise should not be completely over the top, resulting in unnecessary and unreasonable visual and environmental impacts; | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |