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.
Search Criteria:
| Document title | Relevant text in the policy | Domain | Topic | State | Local Government name | Council type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | • Services and utilities that: − do not require oil − are modular and resilient − facilitate distributed networks for energy, water, food and waste systems | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Food: − Locally or home grown and prepared − More farmers’ markets and food swaps − Less food miles − Reduced meat in diets | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Investigate and prioritise resilient solutions including: − services and utilities that are oil independent, low carbon, modular and resilient; − distributed networks for energy, water, food and waste systems | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Promote use of local / regional food produce in local business outlets | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | 8.12 Resource efficiency Foster and encourage a faster transition from waste management to resource efficiency and recovery 8.13 Doncaster Hill Continue to progress the vision for Doncaster Hill as a ‘21st 9. Responsive Governance by Council 9. 1 Emergency planning 9.11 Responding Re-evaluate all emergency plans including: Municipal Emergency Management Plan, Business Continuity Planning, Pandemic Planning and Emergency Management Procedures having regard to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Schedule annual audits for 33% of service units to determine how the units are responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity issues | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | (iv) Knowledge and advocacy – knowing what Council can do and when to seek assistance Actively address gaps in knowledge, skills and resources and advocate changes in external circumstances. Priority Actions • Continue to advocate on issues that address the root causes of climate change, peak oil and food scarcity and on issues that support Council and communities in transition in a world constrained by climate change, peak oil and food scarcity • Advocate for the state government to fund an adaptation | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | 3 Public health and wellbeing – continuing social development Continue to foster the conditions that support social wellbeing and health for Manningham residents. Priority Actions • Investigate what more can be done in planning and operations to address challenges for public health and wellbeing caused by climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Advocate for state government leadership to provide council the necessary tools and knowledge to enable the Municipal Public Health Plan to respond to the challenges of climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Advocate for state government leadership to provide council the necessary tools and knowledge to enable the: • Council Plan • Strategic Resource Plan • Financial Plan • Municipal Public Health Plan • Municipal Strategic Statement • Strategic Asset Management Plan and • Municipal Emergency Management Plan to respond to the challenges of climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Advocate for state government leadership to provide local government authorities with the necessary resources, tools and knowledge to enable Council plans and strategies to respond to the challenges of climate change, peak oil and food scarcity. These plans include: − Council Plan − Strategic Resource Plan − Financial Plan − Municipal Public Health Plan − Municipal Strategic Statement − Strategic Asset Management Plan − Municipal Emergency Management Plan. • Continue to advocate for financial and non-financial resources to meet the extra demands placed on Council and the community as a result of climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Advocate for state government to amend the • • • Planning and Environment Act 1987 State Planning Policy Framework of the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP’s) VPP’s to include a food production overlay to plan for the use, development and protection of land in Victoria for the long-term interests of all Victorians in response to the challenges of peak oil, climate change and food scarcity | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Advocate for state government to fund an adaptation plan to respond to Climate Adaptation/Peak Oil/Food for Victorian local government authorities similar to that undertaken in South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia by JLT Insurance | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Appendix 1: Action Plan Description Manningham food security plan Action Investigate the development of a Manningham Food Security Plan to ensure the community has access to a reliable, affordable and nutritious food supply; Give consideration to resources required, methods and advantages, if any, to investigate and develop: − an understanding of the local food supply and factors influencing food security including access, population groups and their behaviours, cost and geographic areas; − risks to vulnerable communities, clients and services delivered by Aged and Disability Services and Social and Community Services 5.1 − Food Sensitive Planning and Urban Design(FSPUD) for Manningham: how it might be included in the Local Planning Scheme; report on the findings − provision of fresh food shops in all shopping areas across the municipality to provide access to fresh food for all, and to reduce private cars trips − alternative patterns of urbanisation that deliver improved sustainability and resilience outcomes eg higher densities combined with open space suitable for urban food production such as the Greening the Greyfields model (Newton and Newman) − encourage and support the community to establish grass roots initiatives such as food forests, and to participate in community farm gardening in consultation with council 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.8 Green Wedge food production Local food production Local food production Health & local food production Local food production 5.7 Victorian food security plan Provide support for heritage aspects of and new opportunities for agribusiness in the Green Wedge while protecting agriculturally productive land for food production Promote use of local / regional food produce in local business outlets Promote and encourage household food production; educate community on food production methods Continue to promote positive food habits through a network of community farm gardens and other initiatives Continue to promote farmers’ markets, fresh produce markets and food swaps in Manningham Advocate to the state Government to develop a Victorian Food Security Plan including: − in partnership with state government agencies, measures to be to be activated in times of food scarcity such as food rationing, food coupons, food kitchens; − assistance to councils to provide a framework for urban food production; and − preservation of agricultural land for food production | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Continue to advocate for application of the ‘polluter pays’ principle as a means of providing necessary resources to respond to the impacts of climate change, peak oil and food scarcity and to minimise pressures on ratepayers and Council service continuity | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Continue to advocate for financial and non-financial resources to meet the extra demands placed on Council and community as a result of climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Continue to consider the impacts of climate change, peak oil and food scarcity in strategic planning and management of Council’s assets | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Continue to monitor work-related health issues noting any trends related to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity impacts | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Continue to monitor work-related health issues noting any trends related to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity impacts such as stress, nutrition, loss of staff, injuries due to increased work demands Develop a food security plan to ensure council can continue to deliver services eg Meals on Wheels, internal catering and viability of Function Centre, particularly in the event of a sudden disruption to food supply and/or food shortages | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Continue to support the MAV Council and Communities in Transition (CACiT) program by encouraging and supporting formation of grass roots initiatives such as Sustainability Streets, Transition Towns, and Backyard PermaBlitz so as to foster the growth of resilient households and neighbourhoods. Appoint a program officer – 2 days per week. It is believed that by funding this position Council and community will be able to attract an equivalent amount of funding to progress resilient communities Continue to design and deliver programs that facilitate strong, informed, capable, self reliant, connected and willing communities especially in response to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity. Support neighbourhood houses and their relevant programs | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Council should consider developing a Food Security Strategy that would include asking the state government to develop similar measures – in order to prevent social unrest and the creation of food refugees. Food security planning would include: • Measures to be activated in times of food scarcity such as food rationing, food coupons and food kitchens, in partnership with state government agencies • State government assistance to Councils to provide a framework for urban food production • Preservation of agricultural land for food production | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Description 8.7 Food sensitive urban design 8.8 Housing 8.9 8.10 8.11 Planning development Planning development Planning development Action Investigate the development of Food Sensitive Planning and Urban Development (FSPUD) for Manningham: how it might be included in the Manningham Planning Scheme; the resources required to undertake such an investigation and preparation of Guidelines; report on the findings Identify and deliver pilot projects that provide the conditions to enable a diverse range of affordable and accessible housing options to accommodate the changing needs of our community while transitioning to a more sustainable and resilient future Continue to prioritise urban design and development that is walkable, cyclable, energy/water/food sensitive, that provides local access to services, improves resilience and sustainability outcomes and that is integrated with transport planning Investigate and foster alternative patterns of urbanisation that deliver improved sustainability and resilience outcomes eg higher densities combined with open space suitable for urban food production such as the Greening the Greyfields model (Newton and Newman) | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Develop strategies to mitigate climate change, peak oil and food scarcity risks to vulnerable communities and clients of services delivered by Community Services | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Develop strategies to mitigate climate change, peak oil and food scarcity risks to vulnerable communities, clients and services delivered by Aged and Disability Social Services and Social and Community Services | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Develop, resource and implement a Securing the Future Program that includes: regular review and | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | In all policies and strategic planning documents, consider responses to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity either at time of writing for new documents or when existing documents are reviewed | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | In preparing the Adaptation Plan, Council sought to address the following questions: a) In regard to Council service delivery and operations, how can Council ensure business continuity: • in the short-term during disruptive events such as extreme storms, bushfire, power failures or a sudden interruption and severe reduction in oil and food supplies? • in the longer term in the face of competing demands for potentially scarce resources; for example, a growth in demand for services accompanied by a decline in rates? b) How do we plan our city to meet future challenges better? c) How can Council and the community work together to make the transition to a secure future? These | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Long-term strategic resource planning – financial and nonfinancial, including human resources – will need to incorporate an assessment of how climate change, peak oil and food scarcity factors will affect both Council and whole-ofsector business | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Risk management and assessment Continuously improve risk management practice relating to: • Short-term disruptive events such as extreme climate events, bushfire, disruption to oil supply and disruption to food supply • Long-term trends associated with climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Schedule annual audits for 33 per cent of service units to determine how the units are responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity issues | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |