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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Service units to continue to assess peak oil, climate change and food scarcity risks to operations and service unit delivery | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Securing the Future Responding to climate change, peak oil and food scarcity | Strengthen council culture to embed consideration of peak oil, climate change and food security issues into all council processes and operations, eg: • • Ensure when engaging stakeholders that these issues are considered and addressed | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Principle Increase the level of affordable and social housing in Greater Geelong. Directions a. Support affordable housing in areas suitable for urban consolidation. b. Investigate model voluntary agreements, inclusionary zoning and development of surplus government site to deliver social housing. c. Work with the state government, community housing and the private sector to deliver more affordable and social housing options. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Increasing the City’s housing diversity is important for a number of reasons: • More efficient use of land. Increasing housing densities in existing and planned suburbs reduces the pressure to continually expand into farmland and areas with environmental significance. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | On the Bellarine, it emphasises the need to maintain the farmed landscape character between Geelong and Bellarine towns, requiring settlement boundaries, encouraging rural production, maintaining town identities and related tourism opportunities and minimising impacts on significant wetlands and coastal views. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Principle Maintain the unique township, landscape, tourism, farming and environmental values of the Bellarine Peninsula. Directions a. Recognise that Drysdale/ Clifton Springs, Leopold and Ocean Grove are fulfilling their roles as district towns. b. Discontinue the use of the term ‘growth area’ in favour of ‘district town’. c. Acknowledge the share of housing development going to the Bellarine Peninsula should decrease over time. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| Settlement Strategy | A major development has been proposed for the centre which would provide a larger supermarket and further specialty shops. This would expand the centre from a small neighbourhood activity centre to a more substantial neighbourhood centre that could cater for most of the weekly shopping requirements of trade area residents. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| Settlement Strategy | Dispersed residential development is likely to compromise the agricultural potential of farming land. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| Settlement Strategy | Ensure residential development is directed away from locations of higher quality productive agricultural land | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| Settlement Strategy | Ensures the conservation of rich agricultural land beyond the town boundary by preventing expansion of the urban footprint | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| Settlement Strategy | Protect land used for agriculture activities which remains a significant land use and economic function in the Shire. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| Settlement Strategy | Romsey and Lancefield providing a more modest level of growth, reflecting the more limited infrastructure available and the need to protect both the character of these towns and their surrounding higher quality agricultural land. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| Settlement Strategy | The objective of protecting agricultural areas from incompatible development | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Investigate links between the provision of tourism and entertainment related uses within agricultural zones and zone accordingly under Wyong LEP 2013. Examples include the provision of Cellar Doors / Restaurants at existing facilities, including the Lavender Farm and Macadamia Farms | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| Settlement Strategy | Protect land used for agriculture activities which remains a significant land use and economic function in the Shire. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Rural tourism can include farmstay, rural self-catering units, camping/caravan sites, and eco-tourism. Encouraging more tourism related activity in these areas will assist in diversifying the local economy whilst maintaining the significant character and amenity of these areas. Council will investigate links between the provision of tourism and entertainment related facilities with agricultural facilities and zone accordingly under Wyong LEP 2013. Examples include the provision of Cellar Doors / Restaurants and events and current facilities, including the Lavender Farm, Macadamia Farms, and so on | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Complete and implement the Affordable Housing Study, and investigate opportunities for Council to use planning powers to encourage affordable housing. SH19 Establish a policy that requires major development that may threaten the supply of housing choice and affordable housing to undertake a social impact assessment. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | How do we plan for OUR AGED HOUSING? Promoting Choice: A Local Affordable Housing Strategy for Wyong Shire (2008) Discussed previously in ‘Planning for Affordable Housing’, the purpose of this document is to provide a cohesive framework to address the housing choice issues affecting the LGA population. Whilst not the focus of the strategy, consideration is given to aged housing issues, such as demand for more aged housing units as well as more adaptable housing for people over 55 years of age and disabled residents from low income households. A study is currently being undertaken to examine planning controls and how they can support housing affordability and choice, including the identification of appropriate types and suitable locations. Aged housing needs will be included as a key consideration Affordable Housing Study – Planning Controls to Support Housing Affordability and Choice As discussed in ‘Planning for AFFORDABLE HOUSING’, Council is undertaking an Affordable Housing Study to examine planning controls that will support the provision of housing choice and affordability. This study will also consider appropriate forms of affordable aged housing, and will be included in an amendment to Wyong LEP 2013. Planning | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Introduced to increase the supply of affordable rental dwellings nationally by 50,000, the NRAS aims to address the shortage of rental housing and rising rents by offering an incentive to build and rent new dwellings at below market rates. A number of providers that operate in Wyong LGA have received funding under the NRAS. The Standard Instrument, Wyong LEP 2013 and Wyong DCP 2013: What provisions can be incorporated into our Planning Instruments to ensure planning for OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING can be met? Wyong LEP 2013 The following measures can be incorporated into Wyong LEP 2013 to improve our planning for affordable housing: Wyong LEP 2013 should review permissible landuses in existing zones to facilitate, where appropriate, alternative forms of housing (e.g. group homes, dual occupancies, attached dwellings etc). Following completion, the recommendations of the Affordable Housing Study should be implemented through an amendment to Wyong LEP 2013. Wyong LEP 2013 should consider the appropriateness of locations in which manufactured home estates (MHEs) and/or caravan parks are permissible, in relation to accessibility to essential services. This review should also have regard for protection of existing affordable housing stock. Existing MHEs and caravan parks zoned 7(b)(Scenic Protection Zone) to be zoned for the most part to RE2 Private Recreation, with a small proportion of these sites zoned R1 General Residential, R2 Low Density Residential depending on surrounding landuses. Wyong DCP 2013 The following measures can be incorporated into Wyong DCP 2013 to improve our planning for affordable housing: The Affordable Housing Study will provide appropriate development controls or incentives for the provision of housing choice and affordable housing. A DCP Chapter should be developed in this regard, as an amendment to Wyong DCP 2013. Key Planning Considerations: Key Planning Considerations for OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Support the delivery of a mix of housing types to assist housing diversity and affordability to better accommodate the housing needs of the community. Improve protection of affordable housing and investigate opportunities to provide additional affordable housing options | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Key Planning Considerations for OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Support the delivery of a mix of housing types to assist housing diversity and affordability to better accommodate the housing needs of the community. Improve protection of affordable housing and investigate opportunities to provide additional affordable housing options | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Planning for SETTLEMENTS and HOUSING Strategic Actions and Local Initiatives: PLANNING FOR OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING # ACTIONS SH18 Complete and implement the Affordable Housing Study, and investigate opportunities for Council to use planning powers to encourage affordable housing. SH19 Establish a policy that requires major development that may threaten the supply of housing choice and affordable housing to undertake a social impact assessment. RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY WSC IMPLEMENTATION DCP Other 2013 Am. 2013 Am. X X X LEP COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN No CSP actions. CENTRAL COAST REGIONAL STRATEGY WSC X X 4.13 Consider a range of affordable housing strategies, including forms of low-cost housing, suitable zonings and development controls to improve housing choice, and specific schemes. These strategies must be consistent with relevant State policies. 4.14 State Government will develop options for improving housing affordability, with a focus on affordable housing for particular groups in the community. The Department of Housing and Department of Planning to identify how these initiatives can be applied to the Central Coast. 4.15 Councils are to consider the appropriateness of the locations in which residential parks or caravan parks are permissible during preparation of principal LEPs, including their access to services. This review is also to have regard for protection of existing affordable housing stock | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Positive Ageing Strategy Council’s Community Plan (2008) identified aged housing issues such as housing affordability for people on the aged pension; as well as the ability to age in place. A recommendation of the Community Plan is that a Positive Ageing Strategy, be prepared. This will consider a range of factors that are important to older people in the community. What are other Government Authorities currently doing? Federal Government | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Promoting Choice: A Local Affordable Housing Strategy for Wyong Shire The purpose of Promoting Choice: A Local Affordable Housing Strategy for Wyong Shire (Wyong Shire Council. 2008), is to provide a cohesive framework to address the housing choice issues affecting the population. It identifies Council’s commitment and role in working towards minimizing the level of housing stress in the LGA by retaining and expanding the provision of diverse housing forms. The intention of the Strategy is that the principles of housing choice and affordability be included in Council’s overall LGA planning and become an integral consideration in planning residential development across the LGA to better reflect current and future demographic profile and to promote, protect and produce affordable housing choice and diversity. Most of the recommendations form part of reviews of Council’s policies and landuse controls including the LEP and DCPs. Affordable Housing Study – Planning Controls to Support Housing Affordability and Choice As part of the implementation of Promoting Choice: A Local Affordable Housing Strategy for Wyong Shire, Council is undertaking an Affordable Housing Study to examine, in more detail, planning controls that will support the provision of housing choice and affordability. This will include preparation of appropriate aims, objectives, local clauses and/or provisions for inclusion in Wyong LEP 2013. In addition, there is also scope to provide additional incentives or development controls within the Wyong DCP 2013. The study will also identify alternative opportunities in Wyong LGA for the provision of diverse affordable housing solutions such as voluntary planning agreements, development bonuses, flexible zonings or land dedications. Appropriate types and suitable locations for affordable housing will be identified. The findings of this study will be included in an amendment to Wyong LEP 2013. Protect existing Caravan Parks and Manufactured Home Estates Specific controls may be created in planning instruments to protect existing caravan parks and manufactured home estates. Council needs to investigate what controls can be implemented to protect vulnerable types of affordable housing. Major redevelopments that may threaten the existing supply of affordable housing will be required to undertake a social impact assessment that would assist in deciding if the development should go ahead as planned or if some mitigation plan should be put in place. Council will establish a policy that requires major re-development that may threaten the supply of housing choice and affordable housing to undertake a social impact assessment. Increase housing density around Town and Village Centres Increasing densities around Town and Village Centres will enable the provision of smaller dwellings, such as apartments and granny flats in centrally located areas. This will assist in abating the shortage of housing as well as providing appropriate housing forms to assist long term affordability. Settlement Strategy Other Methods Council can investigate other opportunities to encourage affordable housing, as follows: An approach that involves negotiations with developers for particular developments which lead to conditions being imposed through planning agreements acceptable to both parties. This may or may not deliver concessions to the developer A scheme that offers incentives to developers in DCPs in order to deliver some form of affordable housing or pay an equivalent levy Require major developments that may threaten the existing supply of housing choice and affordable housing to undertake a social impact assessment Move away from homogenous residential uses in low-density zones if appropriate Educate the public on housing needs – remove stigma, and increase community acceptance of dwelling types other than large single dwellings. Council is investigating affordable housing options for land at the new Warnervale Town Centre development site. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Provide for appropriate housing choice in new Urban Release Areas. This may be assisted by incorporating the findings of the Affordable Housing study | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Senior Communities are public housing complexes that house people over 55 years of age, and are generally located in areas with good access to shops, transport and other services. The Standard Instrument, Wyong LEP 2013 and Wyong DCP 2013: What provisions can be incorporated into our Planning Instruments to ensure planning for OUR AGED HOUSING can be met? Wyong LEP 2013 The following measures can be incorporated into Wyong LEP 2013 to improve our planning for aged housing: The Standard Instrument mandates additional uses in a range of residential zones such as “respite day care centres” and “seniors housing”. These will be included in Wyong LEP 2013. Following completion, the recommendations of the Affordable Housing Study will be implemented through an amendment to Wyong LEP 2013. This should include a review of permissible landuses in existing zones to facilitate aged housing (e.g. group homes, seniors housing, dual occupancies, attached dwellings etc | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Waste Prevention A large proportion of waste generated, such as food waste, could be avoided. Community awareness and education programs may be beneficial in raising awareness of waste management issues and encouraging higher rates of recycling and home composting, | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Approach the State Government and advocate for the updating of agricultural land mapping for Wyong LGA, including land capability and constraint studies | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | How do we plan for AGRICULTURAL LANDS? Minimum Lot Sizes In 1998, Council adopted the Wyong Valleys Planning Report and Strategy (Wyong Shire Council, 1998), which outlined the main planning issues in the Ourimbah, Yarramalong and Dooralong Valleys, where the majority of the LGA’s rural land is located. A major component of this strategy was the recommendation to retain the minimum lot size of 20ha within rural areas. This minimum lot size is a mechanism to maintain present and future agricultural opportunities and limit population numbers and densities within the water catchment. The 20ha minimum lot size also provides flexibility in managing rural landuse conflicts, as it is easier to provide buffers and setbacks on large lots to reduce the effects of potential nuisances from agricultural activities. The minimum lot size is also an important factor in maintaining the scenic rural atmosphere of the area. It is recommended that this minimum lot size be retained as part of Wyong LEP 2013. Rural Lands Development Control Plan Chapter The Wyong Valleys Planning Report and Strategy recommended that a Rural Lands DCP chapter be prepared for the Wyong Valleys, a component of which would incorporate guidelines and performance criteria for agricultural activities to address: Agricultural land management issues, such as the retention of vegetation on drainage courses, fencing of streambanks, and landscape screening measures for visually obtrusive agricultural structures Environmental requirements for “high” and ‘low” impact forms of agriculture Design and planning measures to reduce the potential for landuse conflicts to occur by establishing effective separation distances between landuses and establishing landscape design measures to reduce rural landuse conflicts potential Guidelines on best management practices for agricultural activities Appropriate forms of building design and the siting of rural workers dwellings. It is recommended that a DCP chapter for our rural lands be prepared and implemented as part of Wyong DCP 2013. Agricultural Potential Study Land capability (land suitable for soil based agriculture and livestock production) is an important consideration that needs to be given more focus within Wyong LGA. Council will approach the State Government and advocate for the updating of agricultural land mapping, including land capability and constraint studies. The final outcome could be packaged as an Agricultural Potential Study. Once this mapping is updated, an agricultural capability overlay should be added to Wyong LEP 2013 to require land with characteristics of Class 1, 2 or 3 Agricultural Land to be retained for agricultural purposes. Rural Residential Development Increasing rural residential development by way of rural-residential development (reduced lot sizes) raises a number of issues including fragmentation of agricultural lands and subsequent loss of efficiencies, conflict with other resource landuses such as extractive industries, water rights issues and higher servicing costs. The CCRS proposes that opportunities for new rural residential development be limited to those already provided in the Region and opportunities, if any, identified as a part of the NWSSP. Careful planning is required in order to limit the fragmentation of agricultural lands, and the potential conflicts that co-location of agricultural and residential landuses can create. It is however considered, that there may be scope for additional rural residential living opportunities, but this should be supported by a review of the Wyong Valleys Strategy and detailed investigations in other areas. This matter is discussed further under the Settlements and Housing Chapter | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Key Planning Considerations for OUR AGRICULTURAL LANDS: Ensure the long-term protection of agricultural land and prevent sterilisation of agricultural activities by way of encroaching development. Investigate potential rural residential living opportunities on unconstrained land in close proximity to the F3 Freeway and existing rural residential areas | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| SETTLEMENT STRATEGY | Once agricultural land mapping is updated, an agricultural capability overlay to be added to Wyong LEP 2013 to require retention of land with characteristics of Class 1, 2 or 3 Agricultural Land for agricultural purposes. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |