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 | 15 Compost giveaway | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Maitland | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Tourism/Economic Development Field to Forest Festival (1-30 April 2019) The Field to Forest Festival was a month long array (April 2019) of activities in and around Oberon that explored the delicacies and rare finds that one can forage for across the region. This first of its kind event included specialised forage tours for wild mushrooms, secluded forest lunches, a newly launched wine and beer trail and workshops with experts recounting their skills and know-how on foraging in the forest. The festival offered an array of free and ticketed events in order to appeal to both Foraging experts and the broader lifestyle market. The event was recognised at the Regional Tourism Awards as a finalist in the Events category due to the following benefits it brought to the region: · · · · · Media coverage generated: $88,000 · Tourism spend generated for the region: $78,000 Business Development Outcomes Enhanced supplier networks for local vineyards. Tour Development opportunities for local tour operators. Generation of midweek footfall for local hospitality businesses. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Oberon | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Café Connect Wollondilly Shire Council partnership with Macarthur Disability Services Council has the opportunity to establish a collaborative partnerhsip with Camden Council, Campbelltown Council and funding body Macarthur Disability Services (MDS). The outcome of this community partnership will be the project ‘Café Connect’. Café Connect is based on Camden Council liveable communities project and is supported by the community sector through the Macarthur Ageing Forum. The aim will be to promote collaboration between aged care and community organisation across the Macarthur Region. Wollondilly Council will launch its activities in 2019/20for over 55’s community members to support our commitment to social inclusion. | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Conduct minimum of 4 Food handling Workshops with food businesses across our Local Government Area | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | 2. Continue to support and develop agriculture and other existing industries, but reduce reliance on the agriculture industry via development of alternative income sources. Council Actions: • Improving road access with successful funding submissions for road, bridges and grids and engaging with local contractors and Council day labour to undertake where possible. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Compost giveaways were held in July, November and March, with 200 bags given away at each event. The giveaway demonstrates the cycle of kerbside garden organics from collection on the kerbside, through processing, then for use as a compost and soil conditioner. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Maitland | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Number of instances drinking water guidelines not met Number of drinking water complaints | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Oberon | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Councils Commitment to Sustainability was demonstrated by its support of 16 ‘SustainaDilly’ Courses. All courses were well received by the community and had positive feedback with many of the courses were oversubscribed. Courses included Composting and Worm farming Workshops, Introduction to Bee Keeping, Plant Propagation | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Five (5) food handling workshops were hosted by Council between April 2019 – June 2019. Various locations across the local government area. Minimum requirement is four (4). Exceeded target | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Council successful with lobbying funding of over $23m for sealing and bridge works on Goodooga Road and undertakes routine management under contract with RMS. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Garden Organics Collection The joint councils kerbside Garden Organics collection service, a partnership between Cessnock City, Maitland City and Singleton councils, collected 7,813 tonnes of garden organics within Maitland. Garden organics are transported to a composting facility at Tea Gardens where the vegetation is shredded before being placed into wind rows for around 6 months. Temperature and moisture is checked regularly to ensure all weed seeds and pathogens are destroyed. Once the compost is mature it is sold to a range of end users including home gardeners, landscapers, farmers and viticulturists. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Maitland | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Ø Water Bores at Black Springs and O’Connell – $161,150 This project installed public access water bores at two of Oberon’s surrounding villages, Black Springs and O’Connell. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Oberon | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | 2. Viable agriculture Agriculture and associated industries are encouraged and supported and continue to be a productive, sustainable and integral part of our economy, our Community and our landscape. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | As part of our plan to bring the Moonee Valley Festival to multiple locations we held a spectacular event, Illuminate the River, on the banks of the Maribyrnong. The weather was against us but that didn’t stop hundreds of residents, armed with raincoats and umbrellas, from coming together to enjoy live music, fireworks, interactive art displays, food trucks and more | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Moonee Valley | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Review the effectiveness of the Food Handling Workshops, identify specific issues and develop a tailored educational program | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | 2.3 Our local planning instruments supports the agricultural, industry, business/tourism and residential growth demands in a sustainable manner 2.3.1 Ensure planning activities support long term sustainability of agricultural sector Adopt a comprehensive Development Control Plan for the Shire Review the 2008 Blayney, Cabonne & Orange Sub Regional Rural and Industrial Strategy | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Blayney | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Objective 2.1: Strengthening agriculture and existing local industries and exploring other options Strategies Responsible Support 2.1.3 Elevate the need for bitumen access from Brewarrina / Goodooga / Hebel | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Maitland Taste 2019 marked the 10th anniversary of Maitland Taste, a celebration of great food, wine and produce from the Hunter Region and surrounds. The program featured diverse cooking and gardening demonstrations, interactive displays and workshops, kids activities and pop up music spaces. A highlight of the weekend was the appearance of Hunter born celebrity chef Cory Campbell. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Maitland | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | The drought impacted many lives and businesses during 2018/19 and shows no sign of abating. Council was please to assist both farmers and out of town residents in need by making potable water available at a much reduced cost. During the period 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 3,217KL was issued, saving consumers $18,949. Council also assisted in several drought relief programs including issuing shop local vouchers, distributing hampers, facilitating mental health initiatives and assistance information sessions. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Oberon | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | 4. Diverse environment The Shire’s diverse environmental assets, including its waterways and catchments, riparian land, groundwater and dependent ecosystems natural areas, biodiversity and agricultural lands are valued and protected because of their environmental significance. Degraded natural resources are enhanced and maintained. 5 | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Avondale Heights hosted our first Food Fair Festival — a smorgasbord of food trucks, free tastings, cooking classes, food pairing, live entertainment and kids’ activities! We were thrilled to see so many people taking part and enjoying a cannoli or two, or three | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Moonee Valley | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Future Direction 3 – Promote Blayney Shire to grow the Local and Visitor Economy 3.1 A viable and productive, sustainable agricultural sector with opportunities for niche production and access to markets Explore and promote opportunities for Agricultural value adding industries 3.1.1 Support the growth of the Shire in order to preserve productive agricultural land and integrate sustainable industrial diversity into the future Review the 2008 Blayney, Cabonne & Orange Sub Regional Rural and Industrial Strategy Participate in Central NSW Joint Organisation Planners Group, ensuring input into Department of Planning and Environment proposed policy changes | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Blayney | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | • Developing and promoting options for kangaroo abattoir, tou | Sustainability and Environment | Local, sustainable food processing | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Our rural areas and landscape contribute significantly to the unique character and identity of Maitland’s towns and villages as shown by the Slow Food Maitland Earth Markets, which provides a sustainable outlet for farmers to sell their local produce to the community. T | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Maitland | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Loss of primary agricultural land through rezoning (ha) | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Oberon | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | 5. A strong and viable agricultural sector supported by the protection and preservation of agricultural assets and resources. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | This year has seen the commencement of our Central West Livestock and Equestrian Centre at the Blayney Showground. This is an extremely exciting project that will give our shire a genuine regional facility that will support and grow horse sports and other activities within a modern covered arena. This project is supporting many local businesses in its construction and is another strong example of all three tiers of government working together to deliver facilities for our communities and stimulating economic activity. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Blayney | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | 2. Economic Significant economic challenges and issues that have influenced the composition of the community’s Economic strategies include: • The need to connect our communities by bitumen roads to encourage economic growth and development in all industries. • Investigation of and encouragement of other potentially viable industries such as tourism and an abattoir. | Sustainability and Environment | Local, sustainable food processing | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Slow Food Earth Market recognised The Maitland Slow Food Earth Markets were the 2018 winner of the International Gigi Frassanito award at the Earth Market Summit held in Turin, Italy. Held on the first and third Thursday of the month at The Levee, the market, which showcases local produce, has continued its success as one of over 60 Earth Markets Worldwide and the first of its kind in Australia. Council has worked closely with Slow Food Hunter Valley in the form of promotion, operational guidance and approvals, established through a memorandum of understanding, to deliver produce markets in The Levee. Slow Food Hunter Valley reported strong uptake of their offering by the public, in turn supporting local farmers and highlighting the Slow Food movement. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Maitland | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Tourism/Economic Development Field to Forest Festival (1-30 April 2019) The Field to Forest Festival was a month long array (April 2019) of activities in and around Oberon that explored the delicacies and rare finds that one can forage for across the region. This first of its kind event included specialised forage tours for wild mushrooms, secluded forest lunches, a newly launched wine and beer trail and workshops with experts recounting their skills and know-how on foraging in the forest. The festival offered an array of free and ticketed events in order to appeal to both Foraging experts and the broader lifestyle market. The event was recognised at the Regional Tourism Awards as a finalist in the Events category due to the following benefits it brought to the region: · · · · · Media coverage generated: $88,000 · Tourism spend generated for the region: $78,000 Business Development Outcomes Enhanced supplier networks for local vineyards. Tour Development opportunities for local tour operators. Generation of midweek footfall for local hospitality businesses. | Sustainability and Environment | Agrobiodiversity and wild foods | NSW | Oberon | Regional |