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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SINGLETON LAND USE STRATEGY | Ensure water availability is considered in new development proposals and that adequate supplies are maintained for existing agriculture. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| SINGLETON LAND USE STRATEGY | In conjunction with the CMA & DPI, develop a framework for requiring farm and property management plans to address water quality and availability. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| SINGLETON LAND USE STRATEGY | Future employment generating opportunities where Singleton has locational advantages and which offer high potential to contribute to sustainable employment generation are as follows: Tourism Development related to transport infrastructure (e.g. railways and highways) Home based businesses and clusters Energy sector related Local and regional food processing and agriculture related (e.g. abattoir) | Sustainability and Environment | Local, sustainable food processing | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| Skate and BMX Strategy | AMENITIES Shelter/shade Drinking fountain | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Skate and BMX Strategy | Provide advice on the provision of supporting infrastructure for skate and BMX park users and carers such as, but not limited to, seating, shade, fencing, signage, lighting, picnic facilities, drinking fountains, rubbish bins, access paths and landscaping considerations. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | Economic Development – continued use of farming land for productive and sustainable agricultural and horticultural purposes. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | Economic Development & Employment Agriculture & horticulture – to protect good quality agricultural land & support the productivity & sustainability of existing & future agricultural & horticultural activities. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | Economic development benefitting from the full diamond interchange at Wallace, natural gas, and surrounding agricultural use, should be explored via further strategic planning. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | Support effective agricultural production & assist genuine farming enterprises. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | To provide an indication of the amount of retail floor space, which may be able to be supported within each town and town cluster, consideration has been given to the amount of floor space that is sustainable when the towns reach the following population thresholds: 26 1,000 people: • A food store of 300 – 500 square metres. • A small number of specialty shops, potentially around 10 stores, of around 100 square metres each. • A limited range of non-retail stores, such as, a bank and a real estate agent, of around 150 square metres each. 2,000 people: • A small supermarket of 500 – 1,000 square metres. • A small number of specialty shops, potentially around 15 – 20 stores. • A limited range of non-retail facilities. 3,000 people: • A medium supermarket of 1,000 – 1,500 square metres. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | A number of other government initiatives underway will provide additional policy and guidance for Melbourne’s peri-urban areas. These include a review of significant agricultural land and earth resources, and the Animal Industries Advisory Committee, appointed to review intensive animal farming practices and regulations and examine ways for the planning system to better support agriculture and surrounding land uses. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | Avoid residential development within farming areas unless it is required for the agricultural use of the land | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | Avoid urban development where it is likely to impacts on highly productive agricultural land, environmental values and the long-term sustainability of natural resources. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | Develop rural areas to protect agriculture & avoid inappropriate rural residential development. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | Economic Development – continued use of farming land for productive and sustainable agricultural and horticultural purposes. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | Economic Development & Employment Agriculture & horticulture – to protect good quality agricultural land & support the productivity & sustainability of existing & future agricultural & horticultural activities. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | Industry – to provide for a range of industrial development and activities in proximity to transport networks & existing infrastructure & avoid offsite impacts on nearby rural residential amenity, environmental quality, or agricultural values. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | Limit residential development in areas without reticulated services where the development would compromise water quality (particularly in Special Water Supply Catchments), adversely affect agricultural production, or affect native vegetation and habitat values. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | Maintain productive farm sizes by discouraging fragmentation of land for non-rural use and development. Direct rural residential & rural living developments to strategic growth areas where they will not affect agricultural and horticultural production. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | Protect productive agricultural land from unplanned loss due to permanent changes of land use. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Small Towns and Settlements Strategy | A number of other government initiatives underway will provide additional policy and guidance for Melbourne’s peri-urban areas. These include a review of significant agricultural land and earth resources, and the Animal Industries Advisory Committee, appointed to review intensive animal farming practices and regulations and examine ways for the planning system to better support agriculture and surrounding land uses. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| SMART BATHURST A Smart Community Strategy for the Bathurst Region 2020-2025 | Investigate the development of a community-based app to connect community Long term Food industry, needs to hospitality industry food waste – reducing waste, improving access to food, promoting composting services | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Bathurst | Regional |
| SMART BATHURST A Smart Community Strategy for the Bathurst Region 2020-2025 | 3.1.3 Promote the uptake of emerging technology practices to the agricultural sector – inclusive of test farm sites (moisture sensors, drone use/applications, automation) | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Bathurst | Regional |
| SMART BATHURST A Smart Community Strategy for the Bathurst Region 2020-2025 | In this theme, Environmental Stewardship, Council recognises the need to balance population growth, protect our environment, support agriculture and build on our local fresh food production and other rural activities | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Bathurst | Regional |
| SMART BATHURST A Smart Community Strategy for the Bathurst Region 2020-2025 | Investigate the development of a community-based app to connect community Long term Food industry, needs to hospitality industry food waste – reducing waste, improving access to food, promoting composting services | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Bathurst | Regional |
| SMART BATHURST A Smart Community Strategy for the Bathurst Region 2020-2025 | 3.1.3 Promote the uptake of emerging technology practices to the agricultural sector – inclusive of test farm sites (moisture sensors, drone use/applications, automation) | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Bathurst | Regional |
| SMART CIT Y IMPLEMENTATION PLAN | Deliver a forum program for the community (e.g. Smart Agriculture, Data Security, Water Innovation) to increase the understanding of smart city thinking and smart technologies. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Wyndham | Metropolitan |
| SMART CIT Y IMPLEMENTATION PLAN | Smart City Small Verticals (e.g. BBQs, Water Fountains, Animal Management) | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Wyndham | Metropolitan |
| SMART CIT Y IMPLEMENTATION PLAN | Deliver a forum program for the community (e.g. Smart Agriculture, Data Security, Water Innovation) to increase the understanding of smart city thinking and smart technologies. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Wyndham | Metropolitan |
| SMART CIT Y IMPLEMENTATION PLAN | Deliver a forum program for the community (e.g. Smart Agriculture, Data Security, Water Innovation) to increase the understanding of smart city thinking and smart technologies. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Wyndham | Metropolitan |