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 2018-19 | 15 Council led food and cultural tours were delivered. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Greater Dandenong | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 | Council established a partnership with Whittlesea Community Connections, Melbourne Polytechnic and Yarra Valley Water to investigate the establishment of the Whittlesea Food and Farm Collective project. The project aims to develop new agricultural practices suitable for peri-urban areas, based on recycled water and renewable energy, improving productivity and driving employment growth in agricultural areas adjoining cities. It will provide quality fresh food for up to 2,000 households facing food insecurity each year and training opportunities for students. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | CAMPHOR LAUREL – A SHADY CHARACTER Once actively planted as a fast-growing shade tree, the Camphor Laurel is quick to invade natural landscapes and agricultural pastures along the east coast of Australia, pushing out blue gums and other native species. In 2014, the Camphor Laurel was declared a noxious weed in the MidCoast region. • Mature Camphor Laurels disperse over 100,000 seeds each year • They can be found on street verges, along roadsides, in native bushland, rainforest edges and gaps, moist open woodlands, pastures, and along riverbanks • Across the state it is estimated they are negatively impacting over 25 endangered ecological communities, 13 threatened plant species and 4 threatened animal species • They are listed on the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD 2005) Focus on Gloucester River Catchment – in August 2018, we removed approximately 80 Camphor Laurels, poisoning them before removal to prevent re-establishment from resilient root systems. 215 native trees and shrubs were planted in their place to re-establish this natural space. Sterilisation trial – In September 2018 we commenced a ground-breaking pilot program that aims to sterilise mature Camphor Laurels, preventing them from producing and dispersing seeds. Working in conjunction with neighbouring councils, Hunter Local Land Services and NSW Department of Primary Industries, a successful outcome will see significant historic trees retained in our towns and villages, without the ability to spread. The evergreen Camphor Laurel tree grows to around 20 metres, and matures and spreads at a much faster rate than native figs and other species. Its seeds are dispersed by fruit-eating birds and through waterways. An extensive root system means removal is easiest before the plant matures. Leaves smell of camphor when crushed, and all parts of the plant are mildly toxic and can cause nausea, respiratory distress and allergies. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | 15 food and cultural tours were conducted | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Greater Dandenong | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | • Scraps to Soil, composting workshops • Compost Crusade, supporting Community Gardens Scraps to Soil, online composting tutorial Partnering with Tumbleweed, we extended the Scraps to Soil workshop concept, to cater for busy householders wanting to learn about composting in their own time. By completing the online tutorial, participants were eligible for a subsidised compost bin and aerator to get them started. In the past 12 months 547 MidCoast households have participated, and through feedback provided in follow-up interviews, it is estimated that up to 57 tonnes of food waste can be removed from the landfill waste stream each year by composting. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | 5.1.1.3 Facilitate assistance of small business start-ups Business Development Regular business enquiries come through Council’s Business Development service every week, some with quite large employment prospects. Enquiries include assisting in setting up fish export opportunities, a small animal abattoir, business relocation, to start a new business, local Aboriginal artist business, looking for premises and seeking permission to run businesses from home. Assistance provided includes the drafting of business plans, referrals to Southern Region Business Enterprise Centre and meetings with several other NSW and Australian Government agencies. The areas businesses needed assistance included funding, business structure, business premises, planning, digital set-up and human resources. Council is helping to promote the "Easy-to-doBusiness" program in partnership with Service NSW | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Eurobodalla | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | Host 15 cultural and food tours across Dandenong and Springvale | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Greater Dandenong | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 | Implement the conomic Development Strategy’ with a focus on the priority application approval process, the launch of an investment prospectus and the land capability assessment ANNUAL MEASURES 100 per cent of year two conomic evelopment actions are completed by une 2019 PROGRESS STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE: e sness an nestent are aracte to or ct ear two of the conomic evelopment trategy has been implemented successfully, including • the introduction of the priority application development process • investment prospectus  a marketing tool that supports business investment and job creation • Land Capability Assessment outlining opportunities to support the emerging agricultural sector • provide support for small business through the implementation of a case management model. his strategy aims to create 10,000 new jobs in five years. Approximately 2,800 new jobs have been created in the first year, which has exceeded the average 2,000 jobs/year target over five years. mployment opportunities for the community will continue to be supported through the work of this strategy. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | Nabiac Aquifer operational We officially opened the Nabiac Aquifer Water Supply System in February 2019, after the project’s inception 20 years earlier and environmental approval in 2005. Seeing the $34.6 million project become a reality is a huge win for the community, improving water security in times of drought, and supplementing the Manning scheme which services around 70,000 people, or up to 100,000 in peak holiday periods. The new system has the capacity to deliver 6 – 10 million litres of drinking water every day. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | Our local industry, once based primarily on dairying, forestry and fishing, is now a diverse economy built around tourism, agriculture, aquaculture, retail, property and health services. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Eurobodalla | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | Number of food and cultural tours conducted | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Greater Dandenong | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | • Scraps to Soil, composting workshops • Compost Crusade, supporting Community Gardens Scraps to Soil, online composting tutorial Partnering with Tumbleweed, we extended the Scraps to Soil workshop concept, to cater for busy householders wanting to learn about composting in their own time. By completing the online tutorial, participants were eligible for a subsidised compost bin and aerator to get them started. In the past 12 months 547 MidCoast households have participated, and through feedback provided in follow-up interviews, it is estimated that up to 57 tonnes of food waste can be removed from the landfill waste stream each year by composting. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | 5.1.1.2 Promote Eurobodalla at business and industry expos Complete The main promotion of Eurobodalla occurred during a Consular General visit organised by Department Premier and Cabinet. The visit saw over 30 VIP's and Diplomats from 15 countries experience a tour of the shire, visiting Central Tilba, lunching on local produce at Wogonga Inlet in Narooma, listening to short presentations, a narrated trip to Batemans Bay included an Oyster experience at Wray’s Oyster shed | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Eurobodalla | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | Tourism is a key focus for Council and the area has many attractions including cultural precincts, culturally diverse cuisine, and food and shopping tours. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Greater Dandenong | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 | ÓÅ¥hiÓÜ©lesea Agricultural ÓÅûhow, | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | Bees Wax Wraps workshops | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | 5.1.1.2 Promote Eurobodalla at business and industry expos Business Development The main promotion of Eurobodalla occurred during a Consular General visit organised by Department Premier and Cabinet. The visit saw over 30 VIP's and Diplomats from 15 countries experience a tour of the shire, visiting Central Tilba, lunching on local produce at Wogonga Inlet in Narooma, listening to short presentations, a narrated trip to Batemans Bay included an Oyster experience at Wray’s Oyster shed | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Eurobodalla | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | Completion of significant upgrade works at the Dandenong Market site including back of house cool rooms and utility upgrades. | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Greater Dandenong | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | Once sorted, recyclable plastics such as soft drink bottles, takeaway containers and plastic fruit punnets are processed by specialist recycling businesses into PET flakes. These then become an ingredient used in manufacturing things like new PET bottles, clothing, carpets, and packaging. In the MidCoast, plastics are sent to businesses including Australian Recycled Plastics in Narrabri. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | Moruya Country Markets | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | NSW | Eurobodalla | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | Dandenong Market Pty Ltd commitments | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Greater Dandenong | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 | In May we held our very first Farmers and Makers market, a tremendous success which attracted 3000 people and had 45 local stallholders. The market received very positive community comment through social media and will continue to be held to attract and promote local businesses. | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | 5.1.1.2 Promote Eurobodalla at business and industry expos Complete The main promotion of Eurobodalla occurred during a Consular General visit organised by Department Premier and Cabinet. The visit saw over 30 VIP's and Diplomats from 15 countries experience a tour of the shire, visiting Central Tilba, lunching on local produce at Wogonga Inlet in Narooma, listening to short presentations, a narrated trip to Batemans Bay included an Oyster experience at Wray’s Oyster shed | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Eurobodalla | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | Dandenong Market Pty Ltd* | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Greater Dandenong | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | 5.1.1.2 Promote Eurobodalla at business and industry expos Business Development The main promotion of Eurobodalla occurred during a Consular General visit organised by Department Premier and Cabinet. The visit saw over 30 VIP's and Diplomats from 15 countries experience a tour of the shire, visiting Central Tilba, lunching on local produce at Wogonga Inlet in Narooma, listening to short presentations, a narrated trip to Batemans Bay included an Oyster experience at Wray’s Oyster shed | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Eurobodalla | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | For 2018–19 this represents the consolidated performance of the Council and Dandenong Market Pty Ltd. | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Greater Dandenong | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 | he conomic evelopment team continue to engage and encourage the participation of local businesses. his includes the new Farmers arket in outh orang to support local businesses. | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | 5.1.1.3 Facilitate assistance of small business start-ups Business Development Regular business enquiries come through Council’s Business Development service every week, some with quite large employment prospects. Enquiries include assisting in setting up fish export opportunities, a small animal abattoir, business relocation, to start a new business, local Aboriginal artist business, looking for premises and seeking permission to run businesses from home. Assistance provided includes the drafting of business plans, referrals to Southern Region Business Enterprise Centre and meetings with several other NSW and Australian Government agencies. The areas businesses needed assistance included funding, business structure, business premises, planning, digital set-up and human resources. Council is helping to promote the "Easy-to-doBusiness" program in partnership with Service NSW | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Eurobodalla | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | Other income ($15.68 million) – This item of income essentially relates to Dandenong Market revenue from operations, interest received on investments and other sundry income. | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Greater Dandenong | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-19 | 5.1.1.4 Capitalise on visitor and freight opportunities resulting from Canberra International Airport Business Development Council continues to build its relationship with Canberra Airport recently reviewing its strategic plan and sharing Advancing Eurobodalla: Economic Development Strategy. Discussions with potential export businesses are continuing, including looking at improving capacity for future growth into markets such as Asia. Products showing freight opportunities include dairy, oysters, other seafood. Export workshops are in the planning process which will educate potential exporters as to the services of new facility Pak Fresh at Canberra Airport. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Eurobodalla | Regional |