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 2018–2019 | Composting and worm farming workshop feedback | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Glen Eira | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–2019 | Achievements in Leaving a legacy: Looking out for future generations Organics processing facility The Tweed is one step closer to processing its own organics with the awarding of the contract for an organics processing facility at Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre. It will be the largest organics processing facility in the Northern Rivers and will process nearly 8,000 tonnes a month of Tweed’s food and garden waste, turning it into high quality compost for reuse. The contents of residents’ green bins were previously processed outside the Tweed. It is part of the Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre Masterplan, which plans for waste management for the next 50 years – a $40 million investment in responsibly minimising and managing Tweed’s waste. A 99 kilowatt solar power system is among environmentally sustainable design features and is expected to offset 22 per cent of the facility’s power consumption. Rainwater will be captured from the roof for use within processing operations and all wastewater generated in the processing of organics will be recycled back though the facility. The facility is planned for operation by mid-2021. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | Environmental strategy and services This service looks after household waste, green waste and hard rubbish and co-ordinates environmental sustainability initiatives. It includes: recycling for paper; plastic; glass and cans; and cleaning activities like street sweeping and weed control. Waste collection includes: hard rubbish; green waste; bundled branches; refuse; rubbish bins; and mixed recyclables. It also oversees waste management education and enforcement. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Glen Eira | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018–2019 | You’ll be pleased to hear the Tweed is one step closer to processing its own organics with the awarding of a contract for an organics processing facility at Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre. It will be the largest organics processing facility in the Northern Rivers and will process nearly 8,000 tonnes a month of Tweed’s food and garden waste, turning it into high quality compost for reuse. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | Food waste recycling paying dividends Glen Eira was one of the first councils in Melbourne’s south-east to introduce food waste recycling, inviting you to put food scraps in green bins from 1 May 2018. Within one year, more than to 65 per cent of households surveyed said they were using the service. Before the program started, food waste made up around half of the 31,000 tonnes of garbage that went into Glen Eira’s household bins each year. We want to move as much food waste as possible into green bins. This will mean less waste in landfill, lower greenhouse gas emissions and more compost for farms, parks and gardens. The program offers every household with a green bin a free kitchen caddy. You simply order the caddy online, fill it with food scraps and empty it into your green bin with the garden waste. You can recycle many everyday foods, including egg shells, coffee grounds, meat scraps and bones, bread, pasta and rice. The service has been a massive success. We’ve delivered 15,000 kitchen caddies and reduced the amount of food waste going to landfill by around 2,000 tonnes in the first year. This means 3,800 tonnes less CO2 equivalent is going into the atmosphere. Local resident Diane Shonberg, who has been composting for around 10 years, says her food waste has reduced even further since our service started. “We are very proud that sometimes when our bin goes out, there is only one bag of rubbish at the end of the week,” she said. Many of you have also asked us to move from fortnightly to weekly green bin collections. Community consultation indicated that approximately 50 per cent of you would prefer a weekly collection and 50 per cent would prefer to stay with a fortnightly collection. We will be investigating this further and your bin collection frequency will be considered by Council in 2019–20. The food waste recycling service is part of our move towards zero net carbon emissions by 2030. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Glen Eira | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | Food waste recycling service success The recycling of food waste in Glen Eira has been a very successful initiative. More than 65 per cent of households participating in a recent survey said they were recycling food scraps. We have reduced garbage going to landfill from 31,000 tonnes in 2016–17 to 28,000 tonnes in 2018–19. By sending less waste to landfill we have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions from waste by 3,800 tonnes CO2 equivalent and food scrap processing has produced compost for farms, as well as our parks and gardens. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Glen Eira | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | Since introducing food waste recycling in May 2018, we have delivered 15,000 kitchen caddies and reduced the amount of food waste going to landfill by around 2,000 tonnes. This means 3,800 tonnes less CO2 equivalent (CO2 e) is going into the atmosphere. Prior to offering this service, food waste made up around half of the 31,000 tonnes of garbage that went into Glen Eira’s household bins each year. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Glen Eira | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | SERVICE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2019 SERVICE / Indicator / Measure FOOD SAFETY 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 100.00% 98.52% 100.00% 96.52% Critical and major non-compliance outcome notifications are reported by calendar year. Previously this indicator was reported by financial year. This has been implemented to better align reporting with the Department of Health and Human Services. This may result in some variances year-on-year. $638.83 $606.38 $640.40 $747.12 Council has adopted a new data model which more accuratley reflects the cost of delivering the service. We expect this data to remain consistent in the future. 102.86% 103.21% 104.03% 100.00% Council inspects every registered food premises at least once a year. Additional assessments are conducted for premises that have transferred ownership during the registration period. Results 2016 Results 2017 Results 2018 Results 2019 Material variations 1.64 2.00 1.49 1.69 Council has established highly effective and efficient operating procedures in relation to actioning food safety complaints in | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Glen Eira | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | Bellingen Neighbourhood Centre (Affordable Housing Local Solutions Forum) | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | We have a mixture of affordable sustainable housing options for all in our community Council has translated the community’s hopes and aspirations into a meaningful Growth Management Strategy for our Shire, which will guide decisionmaking and investment in the region for decades. Growth Management Strategy Working together is a winning combination for Bellingen Shire Council and the local community according to the Judges of the 2019 New South Wales Local Government Professionals Excellence Awards. That’s because our collaborative efforts to develop a new Growth Management Strategy for our Shire were recently announced as the winner of the Awards’ Community Partnerships and Collaboration Category. Council’s submission featured our Homes for Our Future Community Engagement Project, which saw council and our community come together to create a shared vision on how to sustainably manage growth in the shire and maintain its existing character. Engagement activities focussed on identifying our community’s long-term views on how we wanted our shire to grow, our priorities for future planning and ideas on how to address complex challenges facing our shire. Council’s Strategic Land Use Planning Team gathered feedback from a truly diverse range of stakeholders and engaged with more than 500 community members, collected 250 detailed submissions and logged 1900 comments during the Homes for Our Future Community Engagement Project. This shared vision has subsequently been used to translate the community’s hopes and aspirations into a meaningful Growth Management Strategy for our shire, which will guide decision-making and investment in the region for decades. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | Bellingen Neighbourhood Centre (Affordable Housing Local Solutions Forum) | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–2019 | The valuation base used to calculate general rates for 2018-2019 was $2,119 million (2017-2018 was $1,695 million). The 2018-2019 general rate – cents in the CIV dollar was 0.4228 (2016-2017, was 0.4980). Farm and Rural Residential Waste service charges Vacant land | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Pyrenees | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | We value, honour and actively acknowledge our Gumbaynggirr culture and heritage It is essential to recognise and celebrate the oldest, continuing living culture on the planet and Council is committed to supporting and acknowledging our Gumbaynggirr heritage in consultation with our community. Bush Tucker School Education A community grant of $5000 has funded the establishment and maintenance of an outdoor classroom for Bellingen Public School to learn more about Aboriginal culture and the continuation of connection to country. Ongoing activities will include the planting of 250 new bush tucker specimens, associated weed control activities, regeneration of more than 500m2 of bushland and the improvement of 75 metres of riverbank. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–2019 | Work with Grampians Wimmera Mallee (GWM) Water and other partners to plan for and develop the East Grampians water project and agricultural precinct. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Pyrenees | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | We value, honour and actively acknowledge our Gumbaynggirr culture and heritage It is essential to recognise and celebrate the oldest, continuing living culture on the planet and Council is committed to supporting and acknowledging our Gumbaynggirr heritage in consultation with our community. Bush Tucker School Education A community grant of $5000 has funded the establishment and maintenance of an outdoor classroom for Bellingen Public School to learn more about Aboriginal culture and the continuation of connection to country. Ongoing activities will include the planting of 250 new bush tucker specimens, associated weed control activities, regeneration of more than 500m2 of bushland and the improvement of 75 metres of riverbank. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–2019 | 75.00% 100.00% Notifications increased in 2018/19 to 100% as a result of a program, started last year, to increase public safety and compliance monitoring within the Shire. $402.42 $391.43 The cost of the food safety service remained similar to last year, reflecting the cost of an effective, contracted out service. 91.78% 98.68% The number of food safety assessments increased by 7.52% in 2018/19 as part of a program, started in 2017/18, to increase public safety and compliance monitoring within the Shire. 1.00 1.00 Food complaint response remains a priority for the department. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Pyrenees | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | Investing in the Shire’s Water Future With drought still impacting our region, water security has never been more important so Council has invested in the shire’s water future, with a new two megalitre drinking water reservoir at South Bellingen, and a new 90 kilolitre wastewater pump station at Urunga having just come online. The two projects, which follow a $9m investment at Dorrigo’s waste water treatment plant, were constructed during the past 12 months, have doubled Bellingen’s drinking water storage capacity and tripled the capacity and performance of Urunga’s Pilot Street wastewater pump station. Council invested close to $2.5 million to ensure Bellingen had access to clean drinking water and to protect the environmental health of the Bellinger and Kalang Rivers. Previously, in the event of major treatment plant, pump or power failure Bellingen had to rely on its 0.9 mega litre reservoir, which provided less that one days’ emergency drinking water supply. The new reinforced concrete reservoir stands 12 metres tall, has a diameter of 16 metres and boasts a two mega litre capacity, so Bellingen’s emergency drinking water supply has more than doubled. Council’s new Urunga Pilot Street wastewater pump station facility has also significantly improved upon the 30 kilolitre capacity and performance of the old pump station. The new pump station’s 90 kilolitre capacity and improved infrastructure will enable the facility to meet the needs of the Urunga community, inclusive of a South Urunga 300 lot subdivision currently under construction, and accept additional loads in the future from Mylestom, Repton and the Raleigh Industrial Estate. Council has also committed $10 million and secured a further $10 million in State Government funds to develop detailed designs and deliver the Coastal Villages Sewer Project, which will connect seaboard homes and properties to a reticulated sewer network protect the environmental health of the Bellinger and Kalang Rivers. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–2019 | Food safety Critical and major non-compliance outcome notifications [Number of critical and major noncompliance outcome notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical and major noncompliance outcome notifications about a food premises] x 100 | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Pyrenees | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | With drought still impacting our region, water security has never been more important, and Council has invested in the shire’s water future, with a new two megalitre drinking water reservoir at South Bellingen and a new 90 kilolitre wastewater pump station at Urunga. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–2019 | Food Safety Timeliness FS1 Time taken to action food complaints. Service standard FS2 Percentage of required food safety assessments undertaken. Service cost FS3 Cost of food safety service per premises. Health and safety FS4 Percentage of critical and major non-compliance outcome notifications followed up by Council. Home and Community Care (HACC) Reporting on HACC ceased on 1 July 2016 due to the introduction of the Commonwealth’s NDIS and CHSP programs. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Pyrenees | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | Environmental Levy Projects 2018-2019 Introduction Bellingen Shire Council applied to the Minister for Local Government in May 2005 for a special variation to General Income for environmental projects. On the 30th June 2005 Council received notice that an increase of 4% was approved on an on-going basis. As identified in the Shire of Bellingen 2030 Community Vision, the environment levy supports the implementation of projects to achieve the strategic directions, outcomes and aspirations for the future from our local community. The key focus areas are as follows; • Invasive plant management; • Biodiversity management; • Coastal and river ecosystem management; • Sustainable food production; | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | We value, honour and actively acknowledge our Gumbaynggirr culture and heritage It is essential to recognise and celebrate the oldest, continuing living culture on the planet and Council is committed to supporting and acknowledging our Gumbaynggirr heritage in consultation with our community. Bush Tucker School Education A community grant of $5000 has funded the establishment and maintenance of an outdoor classroom for Bellingen Public School to learn more about Aboriginal culture and the continuation of connection to country. Ongoing activities will include the planting of 250 new bush tucker specimens, associated weed control activities, regeneration of more than 500m2 of bushland and the improvement of 75 metres of riverbank. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | We value, honour and actively acknowledge our Gumbaynggirr culture and heritage It is essential to recognise and celebrate the oldest, continuing living culture on the planet and Council is committed to supporting and acknowledging our Gumbaynggirr heritage in consultation with our community. Bush Tucker School Education A community grant of $5000 has funded the establishment and maintenance of an outdoor classroom for Bellingen Public School to learn more about Aboriginal culture and the continuation of connection to country. Ongoing activities will include the planting of 250 new bush tucker specimens, associated weed control activities, regeneration of more than 500m2 of bushland and the improvement of 75 metres of riverbank. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | Dorrigo Saleyards Management Committee | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | Our preliminary focus is the renewal or rehabilitation of council’s load limited bridges, which has significantly impacted council’s ability to provide essential access to commuters, the local agricultural and industrial sectors and subsequently, has also compromised the operations of our shire’s emergency service agencies and utility providers. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | Investing in the Shire’s Water Future With drought still impacting our region, water security has never been more important so Council has invested in the shire’s water future, with a new two megalitre drinking water reservoir at South Bellingen, and a new 90 kilolitre wastewater pump station at Urunga having just come online. The two projects, which follow a $9m investment at Dorrigo’s waste water treatment plant, were constructed during the past 12 months, have doubled Bellingen’s drinking water storage capacity and tripled the capacity and performance of Urunga’s Pilot Street wastewater pump station. Council invested close to $2.5 million to ensure Bellingen had access to clean drinking water and to protect the environmental health of the Bellinger and Kalang Rivers. Previously, in the event of major treatment plant, pump or power failure Bellingen had to rely on its 0.9 mega litre reservoir, which provided less that one days’ emergency drinking water supply. The new reinforced concrete reservoir stands 12 metres tall, has a diameter of 16 metres and boasts a two mega litre capacity, so Bellingen’s emergency drinking water supply has more than doubled. Council’s new Urunga Pilot Street wastewater pump station facility has also significantly improved upon the 30 kilolitre capacity and performance of the old pump station. The new pump station’s 90 kilolitre capacity and improved infrastructure will enable the facility to meet the needs of the Urunga community, inclusive of a South Urunga 300 lot subdivision currently under construction, and accept additional loads in the future from Mylestom, Repton and the Raleigh Industrial Estate. Council has also committed $10 million and secured a further $10 million in State Government funds to develop detailed designs and deliver the Coastal Villages Sewer Project, which will connect seaboard homes and properties to a reticulated sewer network protect the environmental health of the Bellinger and Kalang Rivers. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | With drought still impacting our region, water security has never been more important, and Council has invested in the shire’s water future, with a new two megalitre drinking water reservoir at South Bellingen and a new 90 kilolitre wastewater pump station at Urunga. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 | Bellingen Shire was also one of the first in the state to introduce a three bin system, which no doubt contributed towards our exemplar diversion rates, with food organics and garden organics (FOGO) collected by the green bin and material collected from the red bins diverted and processed at an alternative waste treatment facility in our region. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Bellingen | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–2019 | Noradjuha Quantong Football Netball Club – Fridge for healthy food options | Health and Wellbeing | Partner with sport clubs to provide healthy choices | Victoria | Horsham | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018–2019 | Key changes to Council’s Rating Strategy include: • Reduction in the farm differential from 80 percent to 67 percent | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Horsham | Regional |