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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | 190,976 Cattle 1,139,717 Sheep 6,905 Goats 5,434 Livestock Truck Washes | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Dubbo | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | 120% 100% 100% 100% 100% All 252 registered Class 1 and 2 premises received a food safety assessment in 2018-2019. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Nillumbik | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | Community and Verge Gardens Working Group established and draft policy commenced | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Canterbury Bankstown | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | DUBBO REGIONAL LIVESTOCK MARKETS | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Dubbo | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | Timeliness 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 non-compliance outcome notifications [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] x100 – 3.20 3.63 2.31 2.14 A continued focus on implementing new procedures since 2018 have seen a continued decrease in the time taken to action food-related complaints from previous years. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Nillumbik | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | Local community and schools engaged to install a community garden in High Street, Canterbury | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Canterbury Bankstown | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | 5478 tonnes Food Organics & Garden Organics – kerbside | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Dubbo | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | Coraki was awarded a $15,000 grant to implement healthy initiatives such as establishment of a walking group, introduction of healthy food options at local takeaway shops, the local supermarket adopting a healthy catering policy, investment in lights for the local tennis court to allow night usage and sponsoring a local youth to complete a Certificate III in Fitness. | Health and Wellbeing | Dietary guidelinse for external settings | NSW | Richmond Valley | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | 643 inspections of 373 registered food/health premises | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Nillumbik | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | Water Sensitive Urban Design workshop held at Ashbury Community Gardens • E | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Canterbury Bankstown | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | Since the Dubbo Regional Organics Processing Plant (DROPP) opening in 2018, there have been 7,970 tonnes of food and garden waste diverted from landfill and turned into compost which has been used by farmers to return vital nutrients to the soil. That figure is made up of Narromine, Mid-Western and Dubbo combined; however, on its own, Dubbo produced 5,500 tonnes of organic waste. Most of the organics are processed at the Whylandra Waste Facility, while a small amount is landfilled at the Wellington waste facility. The DROPP has been a great addition to Dubbo Regional Council’s waste management, working alongside our collection of recyclables. The Dubbo Region currently diverts an average of 3,700 tonnes annually through the kerbside recycling services. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Dubbo | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | Casino Community Soup Kitchen | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Richmond Valley | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | Food Safety Health and safety Critical and major non-compliance outcome notifications [Number of critical non-compliance outcome notifications and major noncompliance notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical noncompliance outcome notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises] x100 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 Council's relative socio-economic disadvantage remains stable and the current result is comparable to the previous year. 92.00% 100.00% 100.00% 95.24% 94.12% There was a slight decrease in the proportion of critical and major non-compliance notifications followed up during the reporting period. The measure can vary depending on timing of the report and follow up at the beginning and end of the calendar year. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Nillumbik | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | Workshops held in various local community gardens • E | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Canterbury Bankstown | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | Casino Community Soup Kitchen – new oven | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Richmond Valley | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | Service/indicator/measure 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Material variations and comments Food safety | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Nillumbik | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | CanterburyBankstown Community Gardens | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Canterbury Bankstown | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | Casino Food Basket | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Richmond Valley | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | Community and Verge Gardens Working Group established and draft policy commenced | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Canterbury Bankstown | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | Coraki was awarded the winner of the 2018 Healthy Town Challenge, an initiative of the NSW Office of Preventative Health and the Heart Foundation, which encourages regional and rural communities to get active and adopt a healthy diet. A total of 32 people in Coraki signed up to the free, personalised telephone coaching ‘Get Healthy Service’ as part of the Challenge, with participants succeeding in reducing their body weight. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Richmond Valley | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | Gardening activities from ‘Seeding with Seniors’ an innovative approach to reduce social isolation and address environmental sustainability and food security challenges in local neighbourhoods by bringing volunteers and the frail aged community together. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Canterbury Bankstown | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | Educational garden at Casino Library designed to create awareness and highlight the problems associated with contamination from collection through to processing | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Richmond Valley | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | Local community and schools engaged to install a community garden in High Street, Canterbury | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Canterbury Bankstown | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | NCMC Casino Beef Week | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Richmond Valley | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | To support youth with intellectual disability to take part in horticultural activities for them to enjoy the many health and social benefits of gardening. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Canterbury Bankstown | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | Coraki was awarded a $15,000 grant to implement healthy initiatives such as establishment of a walking group, introduction of healthy food options at local takeaway shops, the local supermarket adopting a healthy catering policy, investment in lights for the local tennis court to allow night usage and sponsoring a local youth to complete a Certificate III in Fitness. | Health and Wellbeing | Encourage existing retailers/caterers to sell healthy, sustainable and affordable food | NSW | Richmond Valley | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | Water Sensitive Urban Design workshop held at Ashbury Community Gardens | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Canterbury Bankstown | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | Blue-Green Algae The Richmond River experienced a blue-green algae event due to drought, heightened water restrictions and a hot summer. Photos taken at the boat ramp at McDonald Park show the river in bloom in early February 2019, together with two weeks later showing the difference to the water body after decent rain. Collaboration between Council’s water treatment plant and environmental health staff ensured this event was closely monitored and processes were continually adjusted to ensure safe water delivery. This event required on-going communication with various stakeholders including NSW Public Health Unit, Water NSW (North Coast Regional Algal Coordinating Committee) and the general public whose concerns were for recreational water use and the aesthetics of the drinking water. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Richmond Valley | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 | Workshops held in various local community gardens | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Canterbury Bankstown | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018-2019 | A new seed library was launched in April 2019 at the Casino Library by Mayor Robert Mustow. The seed library is a partnership with Richmond Valley Council and is now available at all library branches. The new service has proven to be popular with 1454 seed loans in the first three months. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Richmond Valley | Regional |