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 2018–19 | trict Neighbourhood house have created more than 500 reusable cloth bags this financial year. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Action Provide for the sustainable development of rural townships while taking into account their existing character and community needs. Result Implement the Westernport Green Wedge Management Plan and continue advocacy for Green Wedge Management Plan for the remainder of Cardinia Shire. To achieve this we will: Action Implement the Westernport Green Wedge Management Plan and continue advocacy for Green Wedge Management Plan for the remainder of Cardinia Shire. Implement the ESO for bandicoot corridors. The Westernport Green Wedge Management Plan has been included in the Cardinia Planning Scheme. Advocacy continues for the area. Business unit Policy, Design and Growth Area Planning Completion Completed | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | The Village Juicery – March 2019 – health and wellbeing juice and smoothie stall (formerly Happy Place by Lola Berry); | Health and Wellbeing | Encourage existing retailers/caterers to sell healthy, sustainable and affordable food | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Year Ahead ▖ Conduct an organic food waste pilot. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Actions of the Westernport Green Wedge Management Plan continued to be implemented. The policy is considered as part of all planning applications within this area. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | A lot of locals choose to walk, or catch public transport, with the No. 96 tram stop located behind the Market, and other tram and bus options on Cecil and Coventry Streets. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Year ahead • Conduct an organic food waste pilot. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Council is committed to leveraging this to attract investment, employment opportunities and securing fertile land required for food supply. Council must continue to balance these competing priorities to ensure that urban growth and economic progress do not come at the expense of the shire’s environmental character and liveability. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Our Mission The South Melbourne Market will achieve our Vision by: 1. being accessible and inclusive for the whole community; | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Environmental Health Food Safety Indicator: Timeliness Measure: Time taken to action food complaints [Number of days between receipt and first response action for all food complaints / Number of food complaints] Indicator: Service standard Measure: 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 Indicator: Service cost Measure: 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] Indicator: Health and safety Measure: Critical and major noncompliance notifications [Number of critical non-compliance notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical noncompliance notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises] x100 $667.31 $609.76 $682.29 100.00% 98.48% 100.00% Result 2018 Result 2019 Material variations and other general comments 1.25 1.00 1.00 Calculated by calendar year. There was a reduction from 79 premises in 2017–18 to 73 in 2018–19, resulting in an increased cost of the service on a per premises basis. 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Facilitate investment in farm practices and work with State Government to review the regulatory system whilst implementing the Westernport green wedge management plan. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | The Market is easily accessible by tram, bus, bike and car. Two hours free parking makes it attractive to drive to the Market to pick up your weekly shopping. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Food Safety Indicator: Health and safety Measure: Critical and major noncompliance notifications [Number of critical noncompliance notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical non-compliance notifications and major noncompliance notifications about a food premises] x100 | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Manage agricultural land use by supporting farmers to utilise sustainable farming practices. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | The Market is easy to get to by bike with more bike parking racks installed during the year. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Key activities undertaken in 2018–19 as part of Council’s environmental health service included the following: • 111 food safety assessments and inspections were conducted (excluding temporary and mobile premises). • 26 food samples were submitted for analysis and statutory sampling numbers achieved. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | our commitment to protecting the environment was further demonstrated with the adoption of two key strategies in June; the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy guides long-term strategic direction and efforts to preserve the natural habitats and wide variety of plant and animal life within the shire and the Weed Management Strategy aims to reduce weed infestations that threaten agriculture, human health and the environment in bushland areas, roadsides and waterways. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | A first for retail seafood in Australia – in March 2019 The Fish Shoppe achieved Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Chain of Custody. MSC certifies fisheries that harvest only from fish populations that are healthy and productive; a balancing act between how many fish are caught and how many are left to breed for another season. Having the MSC blue fish label easily identifies that seafood has been caught or harvested sustainably. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | The Environmental Health program monitors and maintains a safe environment for public health and wellbeing. This program is designed to meet Council’s statutory obligations regarding public health notably under the Food Act 1984 and Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008. Mandatory assessments of food safety, accommodation and beauty treatment premises are completed in accordance with the regulations and risk management frameworks | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Supported local consultation for the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Strategic Agricultural Land Review. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | being a trusted destination for fresh, organic, free range and whole food; | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | The Weed Management Strategy aims to reduce weed infestations that threaten agriculture, human health and the environment in bushland areas, roadsides and waterways. It provides direction for delivering community education and engagement, planning controls and enforcement, and on-ground works and monitoring. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | of organic waste diverted from landfill and processed onsite into fertiliser | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | We also provide differential rates for agricultural and cultural or recreational land use properties to help our local businesses. In 2018–19, almost 1,180 properties were recorded as farming and cultural or recreational land use and received a 25 per cent discount on the base general rate. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Organic Waste Recycling: The Market’s green waste is taken to a farm on the outskirts of Melbourne where it is fed to millions of worms. This nutrient-rich vermicompost contains minerals and a highly active biological mixture of bacteria and enzymes that are beneficial to plant growth. The Market sells this vermicompost as an organic fertiliser called Market Magic. For the remainder of the organic waste, it is processed onsite by the GaiaRecycle machine, converting it to SoilFood™. SoilFood™ is rich in concentrated nutrients and makes an excellent highnitrogen, slow release plant fertiliser. Waste that is processed in the Gaia includes coffee grounds, fish offal, prep waste from restaurants and cafés, left over waste from customers, deli waste, bread, high acidic products such as citrus, pineapples, onions and more. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | community uptake of compost rebates ignificn increed | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | This year the Market conducted 19 Sustainable Food Systems school tours. The tours visit a range of stalls, using their produce as a launch pad to explore the sustainability of our food systems, from how and where our food is grown, through to how we can transform our waste into valuable resources. The tours are a popular tie-in with the Year 9 Biomes and Food Security Geography unit and VCE Food Studies Unit Food Issues, Challenges and Futures, as they give the students the opportunity to see the theory of the class room in practice. The students love the passion of the traders, learning about the Market’s organic waste management program, and trying a range of foods they may not have experienced before including oysters, which is always a great photo opportunity. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Council provides support to eligible schools and Early Learning Centres through the provision of free recycling bins, related educational materials and compost bin rebates. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | • South Melbourne Poultry – July 2018 – supplier of premium free range, organic, hormone and chemical free chicken and poultry products (formerly Chicken Johns); | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–19 | Action Advocate for easier access to markets via regional food plan and enabling infrastructure including airports, Bunyip Food Belt and Thompsons Road extension. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |