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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 / 2019 A NNUA L R E POR T | Agriculture; A range of economically, environmentally and socially sustainable initiatives to enhance agricultural opportunities across the Kyogle LGA and further strengthen the region | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Kyogle | Regional |
| 2018 / 2019 A NNUA L R E POR T | 1,935,340 Drink containers recycled | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Kyogle | Regional |
| 2018 | 2019 ANNUAL REPORT | 1. Singleton Regional Livestock Market – 100% complete – New tender awarded to AAM Investment Group Pty Ltd, commencing July 1, 2019 | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| 2018 | 2019 ANNUAL REPORT | Council also supported our community in a vast range of ways, most notably by bringing people together. Council led the response to the ongoing drought with practical assistance for farmers to access help on offer from government agencies and organisations, such as Rural Aid. Pass the Hat, a special community event in October 2018 hosted in partnership with Hunter Valley Operations, also served to bring thousands of people to the Civic Green, raising about $8,000 for the farmers who needed it most. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| 2018 | 2019 ANNUAL REPORT | Council improvements have been communicated via publication of the 2017/18 Annual report, distribution of the Singleton EDIT to all ratepayers, Singleton Argus editorials and regular updates through social media outlets such as Facebook. For example, outsourcing of the Singleton Regional Livestock Markets for improved financial sustainability and service delivery to customers. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| 2018 | 2019 ANNUAL REPORT | New management contracts were established for Singleton Regional Livestock Market, | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| 2018 | 2019 ANNUAL REPORT | Planning and design has commenced for the Regional Livestock Market Kiosk, however due to the site now being leased, consultation with the lessee is currently being undertaken. Work is scheduled to be complete within the 2019/20 Capital Works Program. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| 2018 | 2019 ANNUAL REPORT | 2.3.3.1 Maintain high quality water supply to Singleton through annual review of Singleton's Drinking Water Management System. Position Status Comments Water & Sewer Partially completed – target not met An internal review of the DWMS was conducted as part of the preparation of the Annual Drinking Water Management System Report to NSW Health; which includes a review of critical control point performance and progression against the improvement program. An annual review of the Drinking Water Management System will be undertaken during quarterly water quality meetings with the Upper Hunter Water Alliance. These meetings will commence from the next Upper Hunter Water Alliance meeting in September 2019. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| 2018 | 2019 ANNUAL REPORT | 1. Singleton Regional Livestock Market – 100% complete – New tender awarded to AAM Investment Group Pty Ltd, commencing July 1, 2019 | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| 2018 | 2019 ANNUAL REPORT | Council improvements have been communicated via publication of the 2017/18 Annual report, distribution of the Singleton EDIT to all ratepayers, Singleton Argus editorials and regular updates through social media outlets such as Facebook. For example, outsourcing of the Singleton Regional Livestock Markets for improved financial sustainability and service delivery to customers. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| 2018 | 2019 ANNUAL REPORT | New management contracts were established for Singleton Regional Livestock Market, | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| 2018 | 2019 ANNUAL REPORT | Planning and design has commenced for the Regional Livestock Market Kiosk, however due to the site now being leased, consultation with the lessee is currently being undertaken. Work is scheduled to be complete within the 2019/20 Capital Works Program. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| 2018 | 2019 ANNUAL REPORT | Council also supported our community in a vast range of ways, most notably by bringing people together. Council led the response to the ongoing drought with practical assistance for farmers to access help on offer from government agencies and organisations, such as Rural Aid. Pass the Hat, a special community event in October 2018 hosted in partnership with Hunter Valley Operations, also served to bring thousands of people to the Civic Green, raising about $8,000 for the farmers who needed it most. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| 2018 | 2019 ANNUAL REPORT | Provide regulatory and education services to facilitate good public health standards in local food premises Code Action Position 1.3.1.1 Promote "star on door premises" program to facilitate good public health standards in local food premises. 1.3.1.2 Increase community awareness of "star on door premises" program. Development & Environmental Services Status Comments Completed to plan – target met All eligible businesses have had benefits of the program explained during site visits and in a newsletter. A list of participating 5 star premises is published on council’s website. Development & Environmental Services Completed to plan – target met A Communication and Promotion Strategy for the program was developed and actions completed. These included updating information on Council's website and an article featured in Singleton Council Edit Magazine | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Singleton | Regional |
| 2018 to 2019 Annual Report | Finalist — Making housing more affordable | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Port Stephens | Regional |
| 2018 to 2019 Annual Report | War on weeds: some success but invasion continues We liken it to a war — and this is no exaggeration given the environmental risk posed by 32 invasive weed species in Port Stephens. These are priority-listed for attack and control as part of our compliance with the Biosecurity Act 2015. Weeds such as Pampas Grass, Chinese Violet, Frogbit, African Olive, Alligator Weed, Water Hyacinth and Giant Salvinia might look pretty but they cause serious harm to our environment and economy. It was our most successful year to date in terms of funding for our weeds campaign. Our Invasive Species team worked hard to secure more than $750,000 for weed and bushland management programs over the year. ‘We live in a beautiful part of the world but unfortunately woody weeds like African Olive are threatening our native species, and taking over our natural bushland and farming land,’ says Steve Peart, our Council’s Strategy and Environment Section Manager. How we fought the war on weeds in 2018 to 2019: • successfully applied for a $100,000 grant to rehabilitate and protect the Mambo Wetlands at Salamander Bay for future generations Costa Georgiadis and Invasive Species Planner, Sam at our African Olive awareness day • treated more than 250 kilometres of aquatic areas for weed invasion • issued 34 biosecurity directions, including one seizure of 30 plants • inspected 371 sites covering more than 1000 hectares with an 82% success rate for adequate control of high-risk infestations • held 2 African Olive awareness days, including a successful field day featuring Costa Georgiadis, host of ABC TV’s Gardening Australia program and passionate biosecurity advocate | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Port Stephens | Regional |
| 2018 to 2019 Annual Report | Goal 2: Environmental sustainability Our community uses resources sustainably, efficiently and equitably. Rule change causes compost challenge In October 2018, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) made a surprise announcement that significantly affects how we manage domestic waste in Port Stephens. A regulation known as the Resource Recovery Exemption Order was revoked for mixed organic waste, effective within 24 hours. According to the EPA, this was due to new independent research that posed potential environmental concerns about compost made from mixed domestic waste. Previously, the order allowed this compost to be used on land for grazing agriculture, in forestry plantations and rehabilitated mine sites. Suddenly, this was forbidden due to potential physical contaminants and environmental risks. This meant an immediate stop to an important part of our waste management process. No longer were we permitted to use the compost material from mixed domestic waste in ordinary garbage bins. This had been a key feature of the successful Newline Road Waste and Composting Facility, commercially operated by SUEZ. While many other councils are just starting to compost food waste, we’ve been doing it for 20 years with this state-of-the-art system. We’ve been advised by the EPA that further discussions will be held with our Council to determine the financial impacts on our waste management system — with a view to providing compensation. A review is underway but for now, we have no choice but to send the waste to landfill. This will clearly impact our waste-reduction targets | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Port Stephens | Regional |
| 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT | o Discover Deans Marsh (35,000 views) and Explore Winchelsea (68,000 views) clips created o Interactive online food trail map created | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Surf Coast | Regional |
| 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT | Made significant progress in implementing the actions of Sustainable Agriculture Strategy for the G21 Region including o Virtual hub created which includes agribusiness database o Food expos attended at MCG Country Game, Deans Marsh Festival and Autumn Yield Showcase resulting in significant exposure and over $75,000 in sales for producers o Discover Deans Marsh (35,000 views) and Explore Winchelsea (68,000 views) clips created o Interactive online food trail map created o Collaborative workshops staged to educate our farmers and producers (Soil regeneration 30 & Bugs 48 attendees) o Established Agribusiness Network – 120 rural businesses signed up | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Surf Coast | Regional |
| 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT | Delivered the Home Grown series of workshops and events encouraging building capacity for local food | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Surf Coast | Regional |
| 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT | o Interactive online food trail map created | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Surf Coast | Regional |
| 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT | Our health and wellbeing program Swellness program focused on the three pillars of healthy bodies, healthy minds and healthy workplaces. The 2018-19 Swellness program was positively received and more than 90 per cent of survey participants rated it with a positive response. Some of the key initiatives of the Swellness program aligned with the recommendations of WorkSafe Victoria and included: participation in Surf Coast Shire healthy activity communities regular communications on holistic health topics nutritional education and demonstrations | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Surf Coast | Regional |
| 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT | Improve the re-use of resources and support local food production | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Surf Coast | Regional |
| 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT | Support local food production | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Surf Coast | Regional |
| 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT | Delivered the Home Grown series of workshops and events encouraging building capacity for local food | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Surf Coast | Regional |
| 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT | Adopted the Local Food Program Action Plan and implemented food organics trial in Anglesea | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Surf Coast | Regional |
| 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT | During the year we trialled a food organics collection service in Anglesea. The trial received a positive response and resulted in an additional 22% of material being diverted from landfill. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Surf Coast | Regional |
| 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT | Highlights: Piloted a Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) collection service in Anglesea | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Surf Coast | Regional |
| 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT | Kerbside bin collection requests [Number of kerbside garbage and recycling bin collection requests / Number of kerbside bin collection households] x1000 Service standard Kerbside collection bins missed [Number of kerbside garbage and recycling collection bins missed / Number of scheduled kerbside garbage and recycling collection bin lifts] x10,000 Service cost Cost of kerbside garbage bin collection service $83.65 $86.36 $83.54 $85.57 Current cost reflects the Consumer Price Results 2017 2018 2019 Material Variations and Comments 68.46 88.94 107.46 144.62 Council introduced a pilot Food Organics, Garden Organics (FOGO) program and our contractor had issues which increased the number of requests. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Surf Coast | Regional |
| 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT | Service Performance Indicators Service/ indicator/ measure Time taken to action food complaints [Number of days between receipt and first response action for all food complaints / Number of food complaints] Service standard Food safety assessments [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] x100 Service cost Cost of food safety service [Direct cost of the food safety service / Number of food premises registered or notified in accordance with the Food Act 1984] Health and safety Critical and major noncompliance outcome notifications [Number of critical noncompliance outcome notifications and major noncompliance notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical non-compliance outcome notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises] x100 Roads Satisfaction of use 57 98.39% 99.37% 98.84% 95.00% All required follow-up inspections completed. Two food premises had closed and no follow-up inspection was able to be conducted, and two food premises had administrative noncompliances only requiring information to be provided to Council to comply i.e. evidence of food safety training completed. Results Material Variations and Comments 2016 1.55 2017 2.07 2018 1.63 2019 2.02 Council received 42 food related complaints for 2018 and followed up on 35 (83%) of these within 1 day. Overall performance was consistent with the last four years. 104.09% 107.04% 98.62% 99.34% The number of businesses fluctuates throughout the year. All registered premises received their mandatory annual food safety inspection. $521.55 $510.29 $440.41 $500.97 Increase in use of contractors due to staff shortages. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Surf Coast | Regional |