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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018 – 2019 | Efficient commercial management of the Central West Livestock Exchange 2018/2019 Activity 2018/2019 Action Implement the Central West Livestock Exchange Operational Plan to budget Investigate future opportunities for market growth for the Central West Livestock Exchange Responsible Officer Director Corporate Services Comments Council has restructured the work order structure of the CWLE business to better capture information on the CWLE’s cost base, and various revenue streams, has lobbied for improved freight access to the CWLE sight and is commencing work on a new Saleyards Business Plan to identify future growth opportunities for the CWLE. Council has also now completed 4 year forecasts for the CWLE business as part of the 2019/20 budget process. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Forbes | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018 – 2019 | SALEYARDS ADVISORY: The Committee’s purpose is to advise Council on strategic matters relating to the Central West Livestock Exchange. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Forbes | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018 – 2019 | Support the value-add to regional strengths, for example: Parkes Regional Airport and Central West Livestock Exchange | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Forbes | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018 – 2019 | Undertake maintenance at the Central West Livestock Exchange within budget 2018/2019 Action Complete capital improvements to Central West Livestock Exchange within business requirements and budget | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Forbes | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018 – 2019 | 2018/2019 Activity Engage with other stakeholders to identify and improve agriculture supply chain protections 2018/2019 Action Initiate at least three contacts with Local Members to lobby for increased agricultural supply chain protections. Responsible Officer General Manager Comments Lobbied Federal Government and received significant funding through the Drought Communities program. Lobbied Federal Government requesting assistance with Chain of Responsibilities issues. Ag Strategy launched, State and Federal members invited to attend. Engage with other stakeholders to identify and improve agriculture supply chain protections Initiate at least three contacts with State and Federal Government departments to increase agricultural supply chain protections. General Manager Lobbied Federal Government and received significant funding through the Drought Communities program. Lobbied Federal Government requesting assistance with Chain of Responsibilities issues. Ag Strategy launched, State and Federal members invited to attend. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Forbes | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018 – 2019 | Influence the protection and enhancement of the agricultural supply chain to increase economic output and sustain employment in the Shire 2018/2019 Activity Undertake industry profiling and gap analysis of local agricultural sector 2018/2019 Action Six monthly reports from REMPLAN including consultation with industrial groups and relevant state government organisations Engage with other stakeholders to identify and improve agriculture supply chain protections Attend the quarterly meeting with the Centroc Economic Development forum Responsible Officer Economic Development Officer Comments Consultations with REMPLAN to upgrade all key economic, social and demographic indicators has occurred. Economic Development Officer Council continues to attend Centroc Economic Development Forum to ensure that we engage with other stakeholders to identify and improve agricultural supply chain protections. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Forbes | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018 – 2019 | As in many parts of the country, our Shire has felt the impacts of the ongoing drought especially given the significance of the agricultural sector to our local economy. Agriculture contributes around $97m of Gross Regional Product to the Shire and provides approximately 18% of the local employment opportunities. Council, as a leader in our community, has risen to the challenge and taken meaningful actions by increasing support and assistance to those affected. This is highlighted though our Farm to Trade program and employment of a Drought Coordinator. Our Drought Coordinator role was developed to support and assist the community by providing connections with drought relief services. With the Federal Government’s Drought Relief Funding, Council established its Farm to Trade program, which employed 12 community members with various trade skills to help deliver projects in one of Council’s largest capital works programs. This program provided employment for farmers and those associated with the agricultural industry in a time when farm employment had grown scarce. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Forbes | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018 – 2019 | Lobbied Federal Government and received significant funding through the Drought Communities program. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Forbes | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018 – 2019 | Container deposit scheme refund sharing negotiations. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Forbes | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018 – 2019 | Council in conjunction with Netwaste continued to promote its Food and Organic recycling education program through FOGO pledge program which included FOGO television, social and print media, pop up displays at supermarkets and market days. Council continued with its Primary School waste education program. Council provided energy efficiency tips in the Winter 2018 and Summer 2019 Council newsletter. Council supported the Love Food Hate Waste workshop in the Forbes Town Hall. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Forbes | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018 – 2019 | Council provides a weekly kerbside food and organics collection service with 931.84 tonnes of food and organics being collected for composting during the reporting period | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Forbes | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018 – 2019 | Ensure best practice public and environmental health controls 2018/2019 Activity 2018/2019 Action Implement a food safety program in accordance with the NSW Food Authority Participate in the Scores On Doors program Responsible Officer Director Planning and Growth Comments Council inspected 66 food premises as part of Council's Scores On Doors Food Safety Program. 50 premises were awarded 5 stars, 9 premises were awarded 4 stars and 6 premises were awarded 3 stars. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Forbes | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Healthy Together Victoria Achievement Program for Workplaces – a stateside health promotion program that encourages best practice in workplaces around Mental Health and Wellbeing, Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, Smoking and Alcohol. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Central Goldfiedls | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | The valuation base used to calculate general rates for 2018–2019 was $1,930 million (2017–2018 was $1,757 million). The 2018–2019 general rate – cents in the CIV dollar was 0.5131 (2017–2018, was 0.5447). Residential Commercial Industrial 7,728,163 1,187,977 207,336 Farm and Rural | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Central Goldfiedls | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Locks Lane Moolort Road reconstruction – $ 201,000 • Locks Lane provides Link Road access to the Moolort Chicken farms and was part funded through the Federal Governments Roads To Recovery Program ($150,000) | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Central Goldfiedls | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Service Performance Indicators Service/indicator/measure Food Safety Health and safety Critical and major noncompliance outcome notifications 80.00% 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% As no food safety assessment were undertaken during the reporting period, no critical or major noncompliant outcomes were identified. Subsequent to 30 June 2019 51% of food safety assessments have been completed. Following these assessments 3 critical or major noncompliant outcomes were identified and have been followed up. [Number of critical non-compliance outcome notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical non-compliance outcome notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises] ×100 Governance Transparency Council decisions made at meetings closed to the public 11.02% 10.34% 7.26% 0.00% Council has not had any meetings which have been closed to the public in the reporting period. Council has moved to a practice of hearing contractual matters in open council meetings as much as practicable. [Number of Council resolutions made at ordinary or special meetings of Council, or at meetings of a special committee consisting only of Councillors, closed to the public / Number of Council resolutions made at ordinary or special meetings of Council or at meetings of a special committee consisting only of Councillors ] ×100 Consultation and engagement Satisfaction with community consultation and engagement 57.00 54.00 45.00 55.00 Council adopted a Community Engagement Framework and improved its methods of engaging with the community at the end of 2017. These changes and the large amount of work undertaken to improve community and stakeholder engagement has been reflected in a significant increase in the community satisfaction survey results in relation to community consultation and engagement. Community satisfaction rating out of 100 with how Council has performed on community consultation and engagement Results 2016 Results 2017 Results 2018 Results 2019 Material Variations and Comments | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Central Goldfiedls | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Service Performance Indicators Service/indicator/measure Food Safety Timeliness Time taken to action food complaints Results 2016 Results 2017 Results 2018 Results 2019 Material Variations and Comments 1.00 1.17 1.00 15.75 Council received four food safety complaints in the reporting period. The food safety complaints were not actioned within an appropriate timeframe. Council has ensured the appropriate resources are now in place to ensure all food safety complaints are actioned within an appropriate timeframe in 2019-2020. [Number of days between receipt and first response action for all food complaints / Number of food complaints] Service standard Food safety assessments 32.26% 67.78% 38.78% 0.00% No food safety assessments were undertaken during the data reporting period. Council have ensured the appropriate resources are now in place to ensure all food safety assessment are conducted in 2019-2020. Subsequent to 30 June 2019 51% of food safety assessments have been completed. [Number of registered class 1 food premises and class 2 food premises that receive an annual food safety assessment in accordance with the Food Act 1984 / Number of registered class 1 food premises and class 2 food premises that require an annual food safety assessment in accordance with the Food Act 1984] ×100 Service cost Cost of food safety service $439.10 $458.16 $438.43 $112.14 As no food safety assessment were undertaken during the reporting period, there has been a significant decrease in the costs of Council’s food safety service. [Direct cost of the food safety service / Number of food premises registered or notified in accordance with the Food Act 1984] | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Central Goldfiedls | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Advocate for diverse and affordable housing options within Lockhart Shire. Work with developers, investors and service providers to realise the development of diverse housing options to address affordable housing across the Shire. DIAP – Liveable communities | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lockhart | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Advocate for diverse and affordable housing options within the Lockhart Shire. Work with developers, investors and service providers to realise the development of diverse housing options to address affordable housing across the Shire. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lockhart | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Consideration to be given to further development opportunities at The Rock following completion of Carson Road Stage 2 subdivision. Consideration be given to utilising Department of Planning subsidised loan facility aimed at provision of affordable housing options. Ensure the forthcoming review of Council’s LEP provides for diverse housing options. Council is working with a service provider to convert a Council owned building into housing for the physically and intellectually disabled. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lockhart | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Options available include Magnolia Lodge, Youth Flats and vacant residential land developed by Council at both ends of the price spectrum ranging in price from $25,000 to $115,000. Stage 2 of the Carson Road The Rock residential development comprising 8 lots was completed in November 2018. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lockhart | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Water Refill Station, Urana Street, The Rock | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Lockhart | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Strive to assist development of strong farming businesses. Tourism and Economic Development Officer Ongoing 75% Government funding has been secured under the Fixing Country Roads and work commenced to upgrade bridges and culverts in the Shire that will open the Shire’s road network to HML and larger trucks, e.g. B-Doubles. Council has gazetted road access for Grain Harvest and Livestock Management schemes. Council’s Environmental Officer provides support with weeds investigation and control. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Lockhart | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Promote affordable housing in the Shire to external markets | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Lachlan | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Lobby to increase the use of rail for agricultural transportation. General Manager Ongoing 100% The upgrade of The Rock to Boree Creek rail line has been included in the Regional Economic Development Strategy – Action Plan. Advocacy for the upgrade of the branch line occurred at a Transport Forum held in Wagga in December. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Lockhart | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Meals on wheels and community care | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Lachlan | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Strive to assist development of strong farming businesses. Tourism and Economic Development Officer Ongoing 75% Government funding has been secured under the Fixing Country Roads and work commenced to upgrade bridges and culverts in the Shire that will open the Shire’s road network to HML and larger trucks, e.g. B-Doubles. Council has gazetted road access for Grain Harvest and Livestock Management schemes. Council’s Environmental Officer provides support with weeds investigation and control. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Lockhart | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Investigate a Bush Tucker/ Bush medicine shop | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | NSW | Lachlan | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Council resolved in October 2017 to introduce a three bin kerbside waste collection service to include food organics upon expiration of the current waste collection contract. Part grant funding to assist in implementing the new contract was secured in November 2018. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Lockhart | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | Ground water options were not investigated further as they were deemed not viable. Opportunity to purchase a high security licence through the Drought Communities program was rejected by the Grant body. Establishment of a reserve fund for the future purchase of a High Security Water licence. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Lachlan | Regional |