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 | Council continued to promote the NSW Government's Love Food Hate Waste program with sponsorship and education at Councils Taste Food and Wine Festival. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Camden | Metropolitan |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 | Encouraged State Government support for the Murrurundi pipeline, Scone Airport, Scone Regional Livestock Selling Centre and White Park. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Upper Hunter Shire | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Economic and Social Development Promote business opportunities – Bourke Goat Abattoir operational 2019 | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Bourke | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 | Fourteen workshops on sustainability were held across the Shire with topics including worm farming, composting, renewable energy, water saving gardening, backyard chickens, no dig gardening, kicking the plastic habit and fermentation. 352 people attended these workshops in total. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Upper Hunter Shire | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | MR 404 Drought Relief Program Naree S/Bends Allocation: $300,000.00 Expenditure: $300,164.13 Why are roads getting funding in drought? Poor sections of road, particularly those with corrugate, can have a huge impact on poor condition stock being transported and can add extra time to trips. What roads are going to be upgraded? All Council roads are eligible. The application for funding will be communicated direct to Councils. Council applied and was successful under the program and received the maximum allocation of $300,000.00 to seal the corrugated S/Bends at Naree on MR 404 Bourke Hungerford road. Council sealed 2.8 km of road to give relief for graziers to transport their stock in drought conditions. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Bourke | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 | Obtained Environmental Protection License for Scone Regional Livestock Selling Centre. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Upper Hunter Shire | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | MR 404 Drought Relief Program Naree S/Bends Allocation: $300,000.00 Expenditure: $300,164.13 Why are roads getting funding in drought? Poor sections of road, particularly those with corrugate, can have a huge impact on poor condition stock being transported and can add extra time to trips. What roads are going to be upgraded? All Council roads are eligible. The application for funding will be communicated direct to Councils. Council applied and was successful under the program and received the maximum allocation of $300,000.00 to seal the corrugated S/Bends at Naree on MR 404 Bourke Hungerford road. Council sealed 2.8 km of road to give relief for graziers to transport their stock in drought conditions. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Bourke | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 | Saleyards Community Strategies G3 CS10 G4 CS15 G5 CS18 Advocate for, facilitate and support programs that protect and sustain our diverse environment for our future generations. Plan, facilitate and provide for a changing population for current and future generations. Encourage a diverse economy whilst promoting and preserving our agriculture and equine industries. G8 CS30 Effectively and efficiently manage the business of Council, while encouraging an open and participatory Council with an emphasis on transparency, Community engagement, action and response. G8 CS33 Utilise emerging innovative communication technologies and techniques to increase awareness of Council’s activities and services. This is what we provide • An efficient and cost effective saleyards facility that meets customer needs. • The implementation and management of Environmental Management and WHS systems within the saleyards facility. This is how we provide it • By operating a quality livestock selling facility. This is how we measure it Cattle sales per annum Achieve operating compliance by recording the number of noncompliance incidents. Target Actual >55,000 37,712* <2 2.00 Statement of commitment • Operate and maintain an efficient and safe saleyard operation, within environmental guidelines. • Manage a saleyard operation that maintains approved environmental standards Community Priorities Rural lifestyle and country feel are valued and protected and the Upper Hunter Shire remains quiet, safe, healthy and welcoming. Upper Hunter Shire Council is an effective and efficient organisation, focusing on Community engagement, action and response. *Cattle sales impacted by drought. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Upper Hunter Shire | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | A year two action of the Water in Sport initiative is to develop a policy to embed the Healthy Choices guidelines in all Council facilities. A draft Healthy Facilities Policy has been prepared. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Greater Bendigo | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Economic and Social Development Promote business opportunities – Bourke Goat Abattoir operational 2019 | Sustainability and Environment | Local, sustainable food processing | NSW | Bourke | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 | Scone Regional Livestock Selling Centre increased in throughput by 23.6% & ranked No. 9 in Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) Survey, which is up from 13 last year. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Upper Hunter Shire | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Implement policy for Council facilities to offer healthy food and drink options | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Greater Bendigo | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | MR 404 Drought Relief Program Naree S/Bends Allocation: $300,000.00 Expenditure: $300,164.13 Why are roads getting funding in drought? Poor sections of road, particularly those with corrugate, can have a huge impact on poor condition stock being transported and can add extra time to trips. What roads are going to be upgraded? All Council roads are eligible. The application for funding will be communicated direct to Councils. Council applied and was successful under the program and received the maximum allocation of $300,000.00 to seal the corrugated S/Bends at Naree on MR 404 Bourke Hungerford road. Council sealed 2.8 km of road to give relief for graziers to transport their stock in drought conditions. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Bourke | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 | Drought Communities Programme – Drought Relief Coordinator Drought Communities Programme – Local Investment Initiatives Drought Communities Programme – Upper Hunter Community Infrastructure | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Upper Hunter Shire | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Detailed design of a regional food hub that can support food relief, education and production. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Greater Bendigo | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Food Premises Bourke Shire Council is an active member of the combined North West/Central West and Far West Regional Food Group who meet regularly with the NSW Food Authority to discuss issues concerning food premises. Being part of the group enables Council staff to keep abreast with new legislation and procedures and provides Council staff with a good network of colleagues with whom food related issues can be discussed. Bourke Shire Council is a Category B Enforcement Agency in food safety with the NSW Food Authority partnership model. The Food Regulation Partnership clarifies the responsibilities of local government in relation to food regulation, improves food safety coordination between Councils and the Food Authority in several areas, including food inspections, enables quicker responses to food emergencies and food recalls, enables all Councils to recover the costs of food regulation enforcement and provides a food regulation forum for consultation with Councils and the retail food sector. Category B is the most common level of food regulation responsibility. It is the duty of a Category B enforcement agency to exercise the functions within “the area” conferred on, and delegated to, them through their instrument of appointment (s.111D of the Act). Like Category A, these enforcement agencies and their authorised officers act where there is an imminent threat to public health and safety or the health of any individual in connection with food; and exercise functions with respect to retail food businesses. For example, routinely inspecting retail premises and examining food. All required food premises were inspected in Bourke with 25 inspections being undertaken. Overall the standard of food premises in the Bourke Shire Council was generally good with an education based enforcement practice generally works well. The NSW Food Authority standard assessment inspection report books were used in food shop inspections, which provide a consistent approach throughout. These assessments are signed off by the proprietor and a copy provided to them at the end of the inspection, the details of which are discussed on site negating the need for additional letters to be sent out. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Bourke | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 | Empowering Our Communities – Doing It For Our Farmers | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Upper Hunter Shire | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | The grand opening of the Eaglehawk Regional Play Space occurred in September 2018. This $1.3M project has provided a fantastic new community asset to Eaglehawk. Some key features of the new play space include: • Large play space, approximately 165m in length • Five shade shelters • 60 new trees • Nine custom picnic settings, five barbecue hotplates, two drinking fountains and 12 bench seats | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Greater Bendigo | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 | HIGHLY COMMENDED – Community Spirit and Inclusion Award – Population Category A – Bugger the Drought – Merriwa • WINNER – Community Spirit and Inclusion Award – Population Category A – Doing it for our Farmers – Murrurundi | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Upper Hunter Shire | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Detailed design of a regional food hub that can support food relief, education and production. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Greater Bendigo | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 | In October 2018 Council was notified that we were eligible for $1 million from the Federal Government’s ‘Drought Communities Programme’. Our initiatives were unique and far reaching, providing ongoing economic stimulation to our drought impacted Shire. Staff engaged with charities and support workers, to identify projects that would best assist drought impacted communities and stimulate the local economy. In March 2019, several successful projects were announced which included water-filling stations, and upgrades to community, sport and recreation facilities. Together these projects drive jobs growth in our region and help drought-proof and diversify our economy, ultimately raising the standard of living for our residents | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Upper Hunter Shire | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 | Advocacy and planning for a potential Shire wide connectivity project that would support agricultural innovation. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Weddin | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | 1.15M sheep and lambs sold at the Bendigo Livestock Exchange | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Greater Bendigo | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 | Local infrastructure projects that had been overlooked by funding bodies for many years were funded under this program, ensuring community cohesion during times of great stress due to the drought. Small community halls benefited from the funding, with projects from water tanks to shelving for a pop up pantry assisting farmers in Murrurundi. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Upper Hunter Shire | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 | Advocacy continued for a connectivity project solution that would support agricultural innovation. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Weddin | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Bendigo Livestock Exchange | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Greater Bendigo | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 | Provided solutions-focused submissions to relevant organisations related to supporting the Upper Hunter Shire in terms of the drought and water security. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Upper Hunter Shire | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 | Inform local ag industry about sustainable practices | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Weddin | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | The Business Services unit operates the Bendigo Airport and Bendigo Livestock Exchange in line with all regulatory requirements. It also supports other businesses including Bendigo Heritage Attractions, Golden Dragon Museum, Discovery Science and Technology Centre, and Bendigo Stadium. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Greater Bendigo | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Increased drinking water refill stations throughout the Shire. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |