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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ballarat Strategy | Today Tomorrow Together | Our Vision for 2040 | BWEZ Will offer Unencumbered Industrial Land for New Businesses For these reasons BWEZ has been planned as the next growth area for heavy industry. It provides approximately 430 developable hectares of new industrial land with high quality access to infrastructure, transport connections (Western Freeway/ Ballarat Western Link Road/ railway connections), and includes carefully planned buffer and land use transition provisions so businesses can develop in these areas without encumbrance. The land between Ring Road and Western Freeway, which contains significant food-manufacturing plants, such as McCain’s, is another key area that is well serviced by infrastructure, transport and currently separated from sensitive uses. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Ballarat | Regional |
| The Ballarat Strategy | Today Tomorrow Together | Our Vision for 2040 | Initiative 4.16 – Encourage freight intensive developments to locate in areas appropriately serviced by identified strategic freight corridors Further investment along defined freight routes and through key freight gateways will be crucial into the future. Given the shape of Ballarat, new orbital road connections to better link Geelong and areas to the south and south east of the city to the inter-state rail and road networks will be crucial and requires consideration of preparatory work for these linkages. It is fundamentally important the Ballarat West Employment Zone Master Plan is fully implemented, including support for intensive freight dependent industries to co-locate in areas with the appropriate access to the strategic freight network. Improvements to intermodal freight and the establishment of new advanced manufacturing precincts, with excellent road and rail connections will help to capture and process food and fibre that is grown across the region and transported through the municipality. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Ballarat | Regional |
| The Ballarat Strategy | Today Tomorrow Together | Our Vision for 2040 | Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Agriculture The following changes may be experienced due to increased temperate, reduced average rainfall and streamflow and elevated CO2 levels: In short-medium term elevated levels of atmospheric CO2 may promote faster growth. Some regions may experience declining productivity or changes in the distribution of where species can be grown viably. Increased extreme events may impact productivity and increase production costs as farmers implement protective measures. Increased production volatility in some sectors and regions may impact or reduce access to key overseas markets due to reduced supply. Increasing incidences of pest and disease may impact agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and affect Victorian primary producers’ access to key overseas markets and reduce their competitive advantage. Increased biosecurity threats also place pressures on services delivered by Biosecurity Victoria. Drought may impact agriculture productivity and result in a reduction in agricultural output. Drought generally decreases farm incomes and can increase costs for primary producers. A direct decline in agricultural activity that arises from drought can have flow on effects to other businesses through reduced spending on goods and services, which in turn may lead to businesses changing work hours and reducing staff. Primary producers may also be affected by the flow-on impacts of climate extremes to energy supply systems and transport infrastructure. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Ballarat | Regional |
| The Ballarat Strategy | Today Tomorrow Together | Our Vision for 2040 | At a practical level, disaster resilience also needs to consider minimising the impacts on community assets such as sporting grounds, meeting places and recreation facilities. These assets are often Council owned and managed, and are particularly important in times of crisis such as bushfire and flood as they are often used as a meeting place, temporary accommodation or shelter, and drop-off point for donations. In many instances, community assets are the central organising point for outreach services and distributing food and other donations. These considerations are a fundamental part of Council’s risk based management approach. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Ballarat | Regional |
| The Ballarat Strategy | Today Tomorrow Together | Our Vision for 2040 | Fisheries Marine ecosystems and habitats are at risk from possible increased water temperatures, changes in ocean current and changed ocean chemistry. This, in turn, may have implications for the fisheries industry and recreational fishing. In particular, the forecast warming effect on Victorian coastal waters could impact upon some of Victoria’s key commercial (cold-water) species, and marine fisheries may be affected by long-term shifts in ocean currents. Inland fisheries may be affected by extreme events impacting on the aquatic environment. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Ballarat | Regional |
| The Ballarat Strategy | Today Tomorrow Together | Our Vision for 2040 | Continue to enhance the identity and promotion of local food for tourism | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Ballarat | Regional |
| The Ballarat Strategy | Today Tomorrow Together | Our Vision for 2040 | Continue to enhance the identity and promotion of local food tourism | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Ballarat | Regional |
| The Ballarat Strategy | Today Tomorrow Together | Our Vision for 2040 | Master Planning for this area has already been undertaken, and identified development potential for a multi-purpose stadium, accommodating 6,000 spectators, with the capacity to stage world-class sporting and cultural events, such as hosting AFL games and agricultural events. The adjacent rail-line could provide game-day rail access for major events. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Ballarat | Regional |
| The Ballarat Strategy | Today Tomorrow Together | Our Vision for 2040 | Accordingly, Council will only support the construction of a dwelling in the FZ where it can be demonstrated the dwelling is reasonably required to support and enhance agricultural activity. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Ballarat | Regional |
| The Baw Baw Shire Integrated Water Management Plan | Healthy and valued urban, rural, agricultural and green landscapes | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Baw Baw | Regional |
| The Baw Baw Shire Integrated Water Management Plan | 1-G Undertake an investigation to identify the feasibility of large-scale alternative water supply to supply water-intensive industries/employers in a local Future Employment Zone around Longwarry and other growth townships. Establishing water intensive peri-urban agriculture should be considered as a demand. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Baw Baw | Regional |
| The Baw Baw Shire Integrated Water Management Plan | Direction: Adequate and suitable water is available for homes, industry and agriculture. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Baw Baw | Regional |
| The Baw Baw Shire Integrated Water Management Plan | Strategy 3.3 Support a local food system that uses sustainable practices (excess urban water – recycled wastewater or harvested urban stormwater can provide alternative water supplies to local agriculture and in doing so reduce impacts on local waterways and nuisance flooding). | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Baw Baw | Regional |
| The Baw Baw Shire Integrated Water Management Plan | WWTP could be used to supply Rawson Recreation Reserve. Additional treatment to Class A is required for unrestricted spray irrigation at significant costs, however lower classes of recycled water can be tolerated with subsurface irrigation and access restriction. Rawson WWTP could also supply other demands that could be satisfied with recycled water (e.g. agriculture) | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Baw Baw | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | Targeting industry growth in agribusiness, clean technology and advanced manufacturing. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | Develop a feasibility study for a livestock and information exchange facility. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | • Ensure housing supply, diversity and affordability meets the needs of our growing community. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | Develop a housing policy to provide a range of social and affordable housing options. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | Promote healthy eating and support active living. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | Continue to work with sporting clubs, community groups and businesses to promote healthy eating. | Health and Wellbeing | Partner with sport clubs to provide healthy choices | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | Foster best agricultural and environmental management practices in rural and peri-urban communities and on Council land. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | Foster best agricultural and environmental management practices in rural and peri-urban communities and on Council land. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | Develop a feasibility study for a livestock and information exchange facility. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | Complete feasibility study of the Food Organics Processing and Transfer Station. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | Reduce single-use plastic across the region. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | Trial the Plastic Wise Program at events in our region. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | CENTRE TYPE Neighbourhood ROLE/FUNCTION NO. OF CENTRES (CURRENT/FUTURE) A retail centre that serves a neighbourhood catchment and is anchored by one or more supermarkets, plus speciality stores. 21/24 INDICATIVE RETAIL FLOOR SPACE RANGE 2,000 to 15,000 square metres CENTRE Shannon Avenue (Geelong West), Separation Street, Pakington Street (Newtown), Highton, Newcomb Central, Geelong East, Bellarine Village, Bell Post Shopping Centre, Barrabool Hills Shopping Centre, Shannon Ave (Newtown), Ocean Grove (Marketplace), Vines Road, Fyansford, Grovedale Central, Dorothy Street, Ash Road, Rosewall, Jetty Road, Warralily, Lara West, Armstrong Creek West, Horseshoe Bend North East, Kingston Downs, Surf Coast Highway | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | SUPERMARKETS Figures 15a to 15c focus on the need for local food and groceries. • Green circles indicate floor space demand met by a supermarket up to a 20-minute drive. • Red circles indicate unmet demand. • The size of the circles represent the quantum of floor space demand. This analysis | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | TABLE 2: RETAIL HIERARCHY – ROLE AND FUNCTION OF CENTRES CENTRE TYPE Regional ROLE/FUNCTION A major retail centre that serves a wide catchment and is anchored by one or more department stores, discount department stores, supermarkets, mini major or speciality stores. Often associated with restricted retail adjacent to, or near the core, retail centre. Provides a full range of retail needs. Is more successful when associated with entertainment and leisure activities, such as cinemas and restaurants, or niche retail precincts. Sub-regional A major retail centre serving a wide catchment, although it is smaller than a regional centre. Is anchored by one or more discount department stores, supermarkets, mini major and speciality stores. Because of their smaller size, they have fewer higher-order activities, including full-line department stores, and the range of specialty shopping is less extensive. Specialised Traditional major centres that have grown from strip shopping centres. They are typically located along main arterial routes and/or public transport nodes. Tend to capture niche trade from wider catchments and play an important community role, as the focus for retail, civic and community uses. Town centre Major community shopping locations. Provide weekly grocery shopping for the local township, in combination with specialty store shopping that also services visitors. NO. OF CENTRES (CURRENT/FUTURE) 1 INDICATIVE RETAIL FLOOR SPACE RANGE More than 100,000 square metres CENTRE Central Geelong 4/5 15,000 to 60,000 square metres Belmont, Waurn Ponds, Corio, Leopold, Armstrong Creek 1 15,000 to 60,000 square metres Pakington Street (Geelong West) 6 2,000 to 20,000 square metres Ocean Grove, Drysdale, Lara, Barwon Heads, Portarlington, St Leonards | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |
| THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | The location of retail centres, particularly supermarket based centres, provide convenient access for residents, most centres can be reached in less than a 20 minute drive from home. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Greater Geelong | Regional |