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 | Strategy EN7 – Agricultural Land and Capacity Protect agricultural land and the natural resources which support agricultural capability Str | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Blayney Shire Council has continued to focus on its bridge replacement program and this year saw the completion of our biggest bridge in the shire at Browns Creek. This $2.5m two lane concrete bridge has replaced a single lane timber bridge and has greatly improved access to this part of our shire increasing safety and agricultural productivity | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Blayney | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Regional recycling of metal and oil waste successful however, container deposit facilities neither practical or cost effective and no facilities available in remote areas. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Citizen of the year Local journalist and drought crisis advocate Belinda-Jane Davis was recognised as Maitland’s Citizen of the Year during Australia Day celebrations in January. Belinda-Jane has written important stories of people on the land in a unique way that has contributed towards building a strong, supportive community around our farmers. In 2018 she won a Walkley Award for Excellence in Journalism for her drought campaign ‘The Big Dry’ and helped start the huge ‘Buy a Bail’ campaign. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Maitland | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | How to Adult – Skils4Life The Oberon Youth Council, Council’s Community Services team, Oberon CBA, Oberon Rotary and Central West Lifeline hosted the inaugural SKILLS4LIFE “HOW TO ADULT” in May 2019 as part of Youth Week. Oberon Skillz4Life was a fun, successful event at the Oberon Showground with 16 active participants. Sessions started with MoneyIn/MoneyOut where they learnt tips on responsible money management. Mayfield Garden hosted a food and nutrition afternoon, where participants helped pick edible flowers from the garden, prepare and serve dinner. Gary Bertwhistle gave an inspirational talk before dinner. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Oberon | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Strategy GR2 – Built Environment Manage land use and development to achieve a high quality built environment and innovative planning outcomes, while protecting our agricultural and rural landscapes | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Expression of Interest to NSW Growing Local Economies program for construction of Blayney Heavy Vehicle Route – Stage 1 submitted in March 2019. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Blayney | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | State The purpose of the technology park is to educate the community on waste minimisation techniques, worm farming, recycling and green shopping. This project commenced in the 2007/08 financial year. Currently due to economic issues this initiative has come to a halt. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | 15 Compost giveaway | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Maitland | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Drought Assistance Program Oberon Council coordinated a collection of non perishable items during August and September 2018 to assist local farmers. Oberon SuperIGA, Foodworks and Reliance Bank all had drop off points for the donations. We gathered items such as non perishable grocery items, toiletries, pet food and other non-perishable items. Council staff distributed the items collected to local farmers. The Oberon Correctional Services staff put together hampers and they were included in the distribution to farmers. In addition to the hampers, we were able to provide Shop Local Vouchers to local farmers to assist with supporting them and local businesses. Oberon Council, Oberon Rotary, Sutherland Shire Council and the Oberon Council Golf Day donated funds for the vouchers. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Oberon | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Strategy GR7 – Agriculture Encourage and support agriculture and associated industries so that they continue to be a productive, sustainable and integral part of our economy, community, landscape and environment | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Funding opportunities are identified and applications are prepared and submitted for funding 1.1.4 Prepare business cases for submission to NSW and Federal Governments for the upgrade and undertaking of capital works along local roads which provide market access for primary production, tourist drives, and for achieving road safety outcomes Representations are made through the local State and Federal Government Agencies for assistance to obtain additional funding for significant projects | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Blayney | 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. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | 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. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Oberon | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Water Innovation As the country continues to be gripped by drought and increasingly volatile weather events, Council has identified the need to look at how we can innovate to be resilient and sustainable for the future. The development of new water policy and water sensitive urban design guidelines mean we can look at achieving a zero impact on local waterways from future development including residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial’ and using water in a way to support sustainable development including community liveability, green neighbourhoods, enhancing biodiversity and climate resilience. Council will not only be looking at how we can design our policy and guidelines, but how we can leverage partnerships to innovate in the Shire to protect our water sources and waterways. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Projects are identified and prioritised via Central NSW Joint Organisation Develop a priority list of road projects for regional review that are worthy of funding and investment by NSW and Federal Governments from the Blayney, Orange and Cabonne Regional Economic Development Strategy. Develop plans for a Heavy Vehicle Traffic Relief Route north of Blayney to link the Mid-Western Highway to Orange Road | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Blayney | 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. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Maitland | 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 | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | DA approved for private CDS operator in the Blayney Industrial Area. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Blayney | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | In July the local ClubGRANTS Committee members agreed to provide funding to 12 of the 50 applicants for initiatives for mental health; physical activity; food provision and safety | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Maitland | 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 | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Investigate installation of a CDS reverse vending machine for Blayney | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Blayney | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Water Innovation As the country continues to be gripped by drought and increasingly volatile weather events, Council has identified the need to look at how we can innovate to be resilient and sustainable for the future. The development of new water policy and water sensitive urban design guidelines mean we can look at achieving a zero impact on local waterways from future development including residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial’ and using water in a way to support sustainable development including community liveability, green neighbourhoods, enhancing biodiversity and climate resilience. Council will not only be looking at how we can design our policy and guidelines, but how we can leverage partnerships to innovate in the Shire to protect our water sources and waterways. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Participation in NetWaste regional waste procurement of the following services: – Collection and processing of used mattresses; – Scrap steel collection; – Household chemical cleanout and removal; – Waste organics processing; – Audit of Council Landfill Operations; and – Container Deposit Scheme refund agreement. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Blayney | 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 | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | 3.3.4 Ensure Food Premises comply with the requirements of the Food Act | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Blayney | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | 3.13 Food Inspection Program | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | 86 temporary food shop inspections undertaken in the period. 49 inspections of permanent food shops undertaken in the period. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Blayney | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | To improve food safety for our community, Council conducts food inspections throughout the year. Under the NSW Food Regulation partnership (an agreement with the NSW Food Authority), Council as a Category B Enforcement Agency has committed to inspect 100 percent of high and medium risk food businesses within the Shire and provide an annual report on the results. Council issued 1 Prohibition Notices and 15 Improvement Notices under the Public Health Act for 2018/19. Council again delivered on inspection of all registered high and medium risk premises within the Shire. 38 “Temporary Food Shops” and 43 Mobile food vans were also inspected. The number of 5, 4 and 3 star ratings under the Scores on Doors Program were maintained with most eligible food shop premises keen to participate in the program. There are 24 ‘high risk’, 154 medium risk’ and 60 ‘low risk’ categorised food businesses located in the Shire. The following table records inspection results for the past four years: 2018/19 Primary inspections conducted Business found satisfactory Businesses found to be unsatisfactory Prohibition or Improvement Notices issued 143 112 31 16 2017/18 181 159 22 6 2016/17 175 148 27 3 2015/16 167 127 40 0 | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Undertake annual food shop inspections and investigate any food related complaints | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Blayney | Regional |