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 | Council maintains ongoing dialogue with the State Government regarding water security. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Work to secure water for agriculture and urban use | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Key priorities completed in 2018/19 1.5.1.1.1. Partner with the University of South Australia for research on affordable housing. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Moonee Valley | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | 2.1.4 Assist and encourage the development of new business | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | No action currently due to a lack of community requests for the program. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Strategic planning portfolio advisory | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Moonee Valley | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | • Developing and promoting options for kangaroo abattoir, | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Promote home composting initiatives for green waste | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Parkes Shire Show Circuit Parkes Shire Council attended Shire-wide Agricultural shows in Parkes, Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore. The Parkes Shire remains one of the few local government entities in rural NSW to boast four individual show stagings. Council representatives were present at each Show and provided Parkes Shire promotional material such as flyers, brochures and promotional gift bags, as well as a noxious weeds display, with the aim being to educate the general public on the varied types of noxious weeds within the Shire. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Parkes | Regional |
| 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 | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Moonee Valley | Metropolitan |
| 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Mudgee Saleyards Committee Councillor Representative: Cr Kennedy The Saleyards Committee provides advice and recommendations to Council on matters relating to the future direction and long term planning of the saleyards� | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Drinking Water The new $45m Parkes Water Treatment Plant celebrated its 1st anniversary in March 2019, on World Water Day. Council's water operations team successfully worked to maintain a high level of water quality during the year with only 39 complaints received, an average of 5.2 unplanned service interruptions per 100km of mains achieved and 18 burst water mains recorded. As the team's experience with the new plant developed, further cost savings have been seen, with a reduction in chemical costs per KL at an average of $87, a reduction of $22ML from 2017/18. In response to the pressures on water supplies, Level 2 water restrictions were put into effect for 163 days of the year. On the implementation of these Water Restrictions, water saving tips and restriction conditions were shared with the community through media releases, social media and Council website content. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Parkes | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | For the first time we held the Moonee Valley Festival across multiple locations. 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 | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Moonee Valley | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Our Community’s 2026 Economic Strategies 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 2.1.4 Assist and encourage the development of new business Council Council, NSW Government, local businesses Local business and government Regional Development Australia, local businesses Timing Ongoing Council successful with lobbying funding of over $23m for sealing and bridge works on Goodooga Road and undertakes routine management under contract with RMS. Ongoing Progress on major infrastructure works, completed Goodooga Bore Baths and active support for Goodooga store reopening. Council successful with Drought Communities funding and topped up works to keep local contractors working during the drought. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Number of growers markets/local food retailers specialising in local food | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | The social and financial challenges currently being faced by our community due to this devastating drought are indeed heartfelt. Over the past year we have tried to help at the local level, albeit in a small way, including free standpipe water to farmers, facilitated the Drought Response Oicer and free entry to the Shire's pools, improvements to community halls and places while remaining committed to ensuring our community is well supported by a diverse economy as we capitalise on our strategic position at the "crossroads of the nation". | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Parkes | Regional |
| 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 | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Moonee Valley | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Apply for available grants under the NSW Government 'Waste Less Recycle More' package | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Affordable housing Council has been working closely with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to determine the exact feasibility of an affordable rental housing provision in the planned Frenchs Forest Precinct. This will support essential workers to live and work in our community, benefiting us all. A draft Affordable Rental Housing Scheme has been prepared for exhibition together with rezoning documentation for Frenchs Forest. Consultants were also appointed to prepare a Housing Strategy. This strategy will also analyse the supply of and demand for affordable housing in the Northern Beaches. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | WATER INDUSTRY OPERATORS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CERTIFICATION The commitment and professionalism of Parkes Shire Council's water operations staff was formally recognised with national certification through the Water Industry Operators Association (WIOA) October 2018. 5 Parkes Shire Council Staff were among 18 operators to receive their certification. Parkes Shire Council, along with 4 Centroc councils and the Centroc team, have been working at both State and Federal level to gain recognition for the invaluable role that water treatment plant operators play in providing safe drinking water for their communities. Operators from the five councils were in the pilot of a NSW based accreditation scheme, and have now been accredited and certified under a newly formed National Certification of Water Treatment Plant operators. In order to achieve certification, operators are required to complete a set of fit-for-purpose units of competency from the nationally recognised Water Training Package as well as demonstrate relevant industry experience. Certified operators are also required to keep their skills and knowledge current. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Parkes | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | During Cultural Diversity Week we celebrated Flemington’s multicultural community at the first ever Twilight Market. The response was fantastic and it was great to see so many people enjoying cultural dances, food stalls, arts and crafts, face painting, circus acts and more! | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Moonee Valley | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Apply for grants to upgrade or introduce services to the community that reduce landfill tonnes and CO2 emissions | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | FA2-14 Affordable Housing Policy and action plan | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | With more pressure placed on our urban water supply during these dry times, the commencement of construction of the Recycled Water Scheme (RWS) was opportune. Once fully operational the RWS, which forms part of the award-winning Parkes Integrated Water Infrastructure Renewal Program, will supply high quality recycled water for the Advanced Water Recycling Facility to our public green spaces for irrigation. The scheme strengthens Parkes’ water security by providing an additional source of water for non-potable (nondrinking) use, reducing the demands on treated drinking water and lower Council’s operational costs. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Parkes | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Moonee Valley is made up of 13, 20-minute neighbourhoods which are planned so that people can access most of their everyday needs within a 20-minute walk of their home. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Moonee Valley | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | Food and Garden Organic Waste Collection Implemented Collection of Food and Garden Waste successfully commenced across the region� Organic waste is transported to the Dubbo Regional Organics Processing Plant (DROPP) where it is transformed into compost as part of the joint regional waste project between MidWestern Regional Council, Dubbo Regional Council and Narromine Shire Council� The resulting compost is now available for purchase� | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | G5 G7 Implement an Affordable Housing Policy | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Northern Beaches | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Parkes Shire Show Circuit Parkes Shire Council attended Shire-wide Agricultural shows in Parkes, Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore. The Parkes Shire remains one of the few local government entities in rural NSW to boast four individual show stagings. Council representatives were present at each Show and provided Parkes Shire promotional material such as flyers, brochures and promotional gift bags, as well as a noxious weeds display, with the aim being to educate the general public on the varied types of noxious weeds within the Shire. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Parkes | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Health and safety FS4 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 noncompliance notifications about a food premises] x100 Governance | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Moonee Valley | Metropolitan |