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.
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| Document title | Relevant text in the policy | Domain | Topic | State | Local Government name | Council type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Report 2018–19 | 685 tonnes of seaweed material removed from beaches, creating compost for horticultural purposes. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | • Mabu Mabu – October 2018 – Dips, sauces and curry pastes using native herbs and vegetables (formerly Kalaparee Olives); | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | 685 tonnes of seaweed material was composted from our beaches to utilise for horticultural purposes. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | • Pieno di Grazia – October 2018 – Italian influenced café and pizza eatery in Food Hall (formerly Store 6); • La Central – December 2018 – Spanish deli and bodega (formerly Boisdale Best); | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Sustainable Living Show 2019 More than 500 people braved the wet and windy conditions to attend the inaugural Sustainable Living Show in Queenscliff in March 2019. Organised by volunteers from Transition Towns Queenscliffe, the event was a one-stop shop for smart, simple, sustainable living. Displays, demonstrations, quick talks and market stalls covered a range of topics such as growing your own food, solar power, worm farming at home, upcycling, and beekeeping, to name a few. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | In September 2018 the Simply Spanish team took out the coveted World’s Best Paella Outside Spain award for the second time in three years, at the world Paella championships, the Concurso Internacional de Paella, in the Spanish city of Valencia. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Sustainable Living Show 2019 More than 500 people braved the wet and windy conditions to attend the inaugural Sustainable Living Show in Queenscliff in March 2019. Organised by volunteers from Transition Towns Queenscliffe, the event was a one-stop shop for smart, simple, sustainable living. Displays, demonstrations, quick talks and market stalls covered a range of topics such as growing your own food, solar power, worm farming at home, upcycling, and beekeeping, to name a few. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | A social housing report has been commissioned that addresses connections between the need for more social and affordable housing in Cardinia Shire and the high rates of family violence as one of the main reasons for displacement. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Port Phillip Mussel & Jazz Festival The Port Phillip Mussel & Jazz Festival took place 9 and 10 March 2019 on Cecil Street at the Market. Record crowds enjoyed feasting, dancing and celebrating seafood, all to the sounds of Melbourne’s hottest jazz musicians. Sangria and piping hot mussel paella, wok cooked drunken mussels and craft beer, mussels cooked in a light buttermilk batter served with crispy cos lettuce and chimichurri were on offer, and artisan ice-cream and fun for the kids. Some of Melbourne’s top chefs and restaurants take part each year, as well as our own South Melbourne Market restaurants Bambu, Claypots Evening Star, Paco y Lola, Köy and Simply Spanish. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Council’s inaugural Transition Towns Queenscliffe Sustainable Living Show proved a resounding success when it drew in more than 500 visitors to the Queenscliff Community Hall in March 2019. This volunteer-organised event attracted attendees from throughout the Bellarine, Melbourne, and even interstate to learn more about how to incorporate sustainable practices in everyday life. The six-hour expo included displays, demonstrations and quick talks covering a range of topics including solar power, worm farms, beekeeping and tiny homes, to name a few. One of the sustainability initiatives that was implemented on the day saw more than 150 jars distributed to attendees to take home and replace their plastic containers. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Council’s commitment to working with key stakeholders to guide local solutions and increase the supply of social and affordable housing in the shire. Our Shade Policy was adopted in March | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Port Phillip Mussel & Jazz Festival The Port Phillip Mussel & Jazz Festival took place 9 and 10 March 2019 on Cecil Street at the Market. Record crowds enjoyed feasting, dancing and celebrating seafood, all to the sounds of Melbourne’s hottest jazz musicians. Sangria and piping hot mussel paella, wok cooked drunken mussels and craft beer, mussels cooked in a light buttermilk batter served with crispy cos lettuce and chimichurri were on offer, and artisan ice-cream and fun for the kids. Some of Melbourne’s top chefs and restaurants take part each year, as well as our own South Melbourne Market restaurants Bambu, Claypots Evening Star, Paco y Lola, Köy and Simply Spanish. T | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Following the success of our Community Environment Alliance grants program last year, Council continued the program and awarded $3,712.40 in funds to three community groups to reduce their impact on the environment. Grant recipients were announced in June 2019, and are as follows: • Weed reduction continues Council continues to engage with organisations such as the Bellarine Catchment Network, Conversation Volunteers Australia, and Corrections Victoria to undertake weed reduction and revegetation across sites throughout the Borough. Throughout 2018–19, work was chiefly conducted in the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve, the Point Lonsdale Foreshore, Queenscliff Front Beach, and The Narrows. Queenscliff Uniting Church received funding to organise and host workshops in household waste minimisation, particularly plastics during the SacredEdge Festival, as well as composting all food waste and associated tableware used at the festival. • Point Lonsdale Primary School received funding to introduce china mugs to the community market and encourage patrons to use a reusable cup to reduce the detrimental effects of plastics in the environment. The project includes construction of cup trees by the Men’s Shed, while students will design posters to promote the project. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Social and Affordable Housing Strategy unci ded i fir Social and Affordable Housing Strategy 2018–25 in February 2019. Cardinia Shire is experiencing a severe shortfall in social and affordable housing for people on low incomes, single-parent families or people with special needs. The strategy takes a human rights approach and cements Council’s commitment to work collectively with key stakeholders to strategically guide local solutions and increase the supply of social and affordable housing. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | saying goodbye to plastic with a sustainable beeswax wrap workshop; and Market trader, Field Barnes & Co showing their loyal customers how to transform their ethical eggs and cream into a delicious Greek galaktoboureko. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Placing recycling bins in the staff room for mixed recyclable products (e.g. paper, cans, plastic bottles) and soft plastics, and a chook bin for food products | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | We want to achieve: To achieve this we will: Action Tender documentation and consideration includes weighting for local products and services. A local economy supporting the improved health and wellbeing of our communities. Encourage the procurement and consumption of local food. Result Cardinia Council applied a 5 per cent weighting for local products and services on all tenders in 2018–19. Business unit Finance Completion Completed | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | The Indigenous Torres Strait owned and run business, Mabu Mabu, was a new business that tested itself at the Market. We are proud that this is now a flourishing food and catering business that started at the Market | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Promoting reusable cups | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Action Provide education material and support to schools and ELC to improve engagement and resource recovery. Promote practices that result in the reduction per household of the amount of waste going to landfill, particularly food waste. Result Council provides support to eligible schools and Early Learning Centres through the provision of free recycling bins, related educational materials and compost bin rebates. The schools program continues to deliver recycling education programs via incursions and supporting resources for participating schools. A new education program for schools on managing their waste though student-run bin audits, education sessions and Council-provided engagement materials began in Term 2, with 10 schools participating. Business unit Infrastructure Services Completion Completed | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | The Neff Market Kitchen Over 2,400 participants attended The Neff Market Kitchen (TNMK) in 201819 with the cooking classes achieving an average occupancy rate of 96.6%, with 98% of participating rating their experience very good / excellent. The number of classes held in TNMK increased by 8.5% on the previous year, with 65 Master Classes, 69 Cooking Classes, 29 Market2Table and 30 Kids Can Cook classes held. The range of classes offered in 2018-19 reflected the dynamic, changing trends of Melbourne’s food scene: Argentinean has taken over from Mexican as the new favourite Latin American cuisine, with classes from San Telmo and Asado selling out quickly, while the everincreasing interest in plant-based eating has seen a growing demand for meatfree classes. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Queenscliffe and District Neighbourhood House commenced its Boomerang Bags project in July 2018. More than 500 free, reusable and unique cloth bags have since been created and the movement has been growing throughout the Borough and beyond. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Enhance food literacy and security within the community | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | The number of classes held in TNMK increased by 8.5% on the previous year, with 65 Master Classes, 69 Cooking Classes, 29 Market2Table and 30 Kids Can Cook classes held. The range of classes offered in 2018-19 reflected the dynamic, changing trends of Melbourne’s food scene: Argentinean has taken over from Mexican as the new favourite Latin American cuisine, with classes from San Telmo and Asado selling out quickly, while the everincreasing interest in plant-based eating has seen a growing demand for meatfree classes. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Sustainable Living Show 2019 More than 500 people braved the wet and windy conditions to attend the inaugural Sustainable Living Show in Queenscliff in March 2019. Organised by volunteers from Transition Towns Queenscliffe, the event was a one-stop shop for smart, simple, sustainable living. Displays, demonstrations, quick talks and market stalls covered a range of topics such as growing your own food, solar power, worm farming at home, upcycling, and beekeeping, to name a few. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Result Council officers have been attending working groups with the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group on the development of a food waste service guide. Food waste recovery services are in place at Council’s offices to understand more about the service potential for businesses. A specialist waste consultant and Council officers have conducted a Food into Green Waste bin feasibility study to assist in making key decisions around what the residential food and green waste system will look like and what resources are needed for the implementation phase. Accepting food waste into the kerbside green waste bin will be factored into new kerbside collection contracts, for which the tender is currently being written. Business unit Infrastructure Services Completion Completed | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | being a trusted destination for fresh, organic, free range and whole food; | Health and Wellbeing | Encourage existing retailers/caterers to sell healthy, sustainable and affordable food | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | To reduce the use of plastic bags in the community by providing reusable fabric bags | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Community Grocer Pakenham had its first birthday. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | In 2018-19 the Market licenced the following stalls to join the family: • South Melbourne Poultry – July 2018 – supplier of premium free range, organic, hormone and chemical free chicken and poultry products (formerly Chicken Johns); • Mabu Mabu – October 2018 – Dips, sauces and curry pastes using native herbs and vegetables (formerly Kalaparee Olives); | Health and Wellbeing | Encourage existing retailers/caterers to sell healthy, sustainable and affordable food | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |