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 | $200,000 Grant for Combating Pests & Weed Impacts During Drought Program Towards the conclusion of the financial year the Environment Unit successfully secured a significant federal government grant for a weeds and rabbit control program to be run throughout the 2019/20 financial year. This program will have substantial positive benefits for rural and farming communities across the Shire by enabling a landscape scale approach to weed and pest control across both private and Council-managed land. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Colac Otway | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | 435 Food safety inspections | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Colac Otway | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Council celebrate the completion of a number of major community infrastructure projects, including significant progress on the final stages of the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange (HRLX) project, delivery of over 90% of the entire capital works program | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Food Safety Health and safety Critical and major noncompliance outcome notifications [Number of critical noncompliance outcome notifications and major noncompliance notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical non-compliance outcome notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises] x100 | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Colac Otway | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | 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 1.00 1.30 2.00 2.32 The increase in time to action complaints is related to better reporting data; also complaints received over the weekend results in delays to action complaints. 71.63% 64.26% 100.00% 95.02% Colac Otway Shire's registration period is not calendar year, therefore it's not uncommon for some premises to be inspected outside the calendar year but still within registration period. For example if a premise was registered from 1 July 2017 – 1 July 2018, an assessment can occur between 1 July 2017 – 31 December 2017, this inspection would not be captured in the 2018/19 reporting period. This assessment will still meet Council's legislative requirements | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Colac Otway | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Council has continued significant effort and investment into digital transformation and this culminated in the hugely successful Digital Innovation and Smart Agriculture Festival or DISA, held in May 2019. This event ran over two days with visits to ‘smart farms’, a conference day in Hamilton and then topping off with students and youth showcasing the technology available for learning and education in the Hub at Hamilton. It is likely this event will continue and grow with more support from across Australia. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | 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 noncompliance outcome notifications [Number of critical noncompliance outcome notifications and major noncompliance notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical noncompliance outcome notifications and major noncompliance notifications about food premises] x100 | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Colac Otway | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Council hosted the inaugural Digital Innovation and Smart Agriculture festival in 2018/19. The three-day event showcased smart agriculture and how IoT is transforming farm management, rural councils who are leading the way in transforming into smart communities, insights from industry leaders on data-driven decision making and business optimisation. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Developing the regional economy and businesses Service Ojective: To develop our regional economy and businesses and achieve a strong, diversified local and regional economy. Services include: economic and business development, events support, tourism and visitor services, caravan parks, Land development, airport and livestock exchange operations and development. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Development of masterplans for the Hamilton Livestock Exchange and the Hamilton Airport and subsequent capital works to improve these vital assets | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | FUNDING FOR CATTLE YARD ROOF In March 2019, Council received funding of $715,000 for the cattleyard roof at the Hamilton Regional livestock Exchange. The funding, made available through the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, combined with Council’s contribution, will see the $1.3 million project complete by the end of the 2019/20 financial year. Council made the decision to roof the cattle yards at the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange (HRLX) following a review of operations in early 2018. The review comprised one-on-one discussions with key stakeholders including producers, buyers and agents to better understand the drivers and inhibitors to the Hamilton facility. Council pursued the review in an effort to ensure not only the ongoing viability of HRLX, but to ensure growth of the current and future offerings. Among the recommendations in the report, adopted at Council November meeting, was the commitment of $1.3 million to roof cattle yards 1- 99. Councillors agreed that the lack of a roof on the cattle yards has impacted cattle sales and it was the view of Council that commitment to this capital expenditure would entice agents and buyers to HRLX. Construction commenced in late June 2019. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange Advisory Committee | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Implement a pro-active strategy to promote and grow the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange Ongoing Integrated marketing and promotion strategy developed, aligned with existing council platforms and distributing information to buyers, vendors and agents through a range of traditional and non-traditional streams. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Implement an investment attraction program that focuses on the key industries of agriculture, manufacturing, retail, tourism and the digital economy | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Implementation of a pro-active strategy to promote and grow the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Livestock Exchange | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Animals through the Colac Regional Saleyards | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Colac Otway | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Livestock exchange $199K | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Colac Livestock Selling Centre Advisory | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Colac Otway | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Colac Regional Saleyards Advisory Committee | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Colac Otway | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | PROMOTION AND MARKETING OF HAMILTON LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE Implementation of pro-active strategy to promote and grow the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange was identified as priority for Council in the 2018/19 Budget. Following the appointment of a dedicated part-time resource to this initiative, promotion and marketing activities of the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange (HRLX) commenced. A new logo was been created for the facility which has been used in a variety of ways throughout marketing and promotion activities along with the tagline ‘Your Livestock Exchange’ which is used in conjunction with the logo when suitable. The HRLX social media strategy includes both a Facebook page and an Instagram account, sharing sale day images, truck ramp information and Meat and Livestock Association reports. These pages have proved popular already with substantial following of local agents and vendors. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | This service provides a vital link in our rural infrastructure by providing a marketplace for buying and selling livestock. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Colac Otway | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | The highlight of Council’s smart community journey thus far occurred in May 2019 when Council hosted the inaugural Digital Innovation and Smart Agriculture (DISA) 2019 Festival. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | The other economic focus has been to support a diversified economy. This includes leveraging and growing our offerings in agriculture, while also working towards other markets including horticulture, viticulture and most importantly value-adding to our current agricultural commodities. I am very confident that these efforts will be rewarded in the next 12 months. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Food for Fines | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Bland | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | The three-day festival showcased smart agriculture and how IoT is transforming farm management, rural councils who are leading the way in transforming into smart communities, insights from industry leaders on data-driven decision making and business optimisation. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | 16.1.3 Ensure orderly, feasible and equitable development whilst safeguarding the communities interests, environment, agribusiness and residential amenity KPI: Review LEP and DCP Progress update to 30/9/2018 Progress update to 31/12/2018 Progress update to 31/3/2019 Progress update to 30/6/2019 LEP and DCP review has commenced Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Bland | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Action 16.1.1 Retain prime agricultural land, farm viability and manage rural subdivision KPI: Address agricultural land and rural subdivision in Land Use Strategy Progress update to 30/9/2018 Progress update to 31/12/2018 Progress update to 31/3/2019 Progress update to 30/6/2019 16.1.2 Progress update to 30/9/2018 Progress update to 31/12/2018 Progress update to 31/3/2019 Progress update to 30/6/2019 Land use strategy has commenced. Ongoing Ongoing Currently working to complete Local Strategic Planning Statement to meet Department of Planning requirements. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Bland | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | This service is responsible for the management and operation of the Hamilton Livestock Exchange. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |