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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BENALLA RURAL CITY COMMUNITY LOCAL LAW 2017 | Keeping Animals in Residential Areas | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Benalla | Regional |
| BENALLA RURAL CITY COMMUNITY PLAN | Tatong Market | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Benalla | Regional |
| BENALLA RURAL CITY COMMUNITY PLAN | Violet Town Market | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Benalla | Regional |
| BENALLA RURAL CITY COMMUNITY PLAN | Support the development of agriculture and agri-business of all sizes and assist the farming community to respond to market opportunities, build resilience and attract investment | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Benalla | Regional |
| BENDIGO | the City Centre. The Farmers Markets and summer | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Greater Bendigo | Regional |
| BENDIGO | drinking fountains, preferably in high-visibility | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Greater Bendigo | Regional |
| BENDIGO LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE LOCAL LAW LOCAL LAW NO.9 | to promote and enforce appropriate adherence to occupational health and safety practices at the; Bendigo Livestock Exchange. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Greater Bendigo | Regional |
| BENDIGO LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE LOCAL LAW LOCAL LAW NO.9 | to promote and enforce appropriate adherence to occupational health and safety practices at the; Bendigo Livestock Exchange. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Greater Bendigo | Regional |
| Bendigo Sustainable Water Use Plan | Pursue funds to replace potable water at the Bendigo Livestock Exchange with recycled water. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Greater Bendigo | Regional |
| Bendigo Sustainable Water Use Plan | Treating and re-using wash-down water at the Bendigo Livestock Exchange The CoGB applied for $225,000 from the Victorian Government’s Smart Water Fund to install a bio-reactor water treatment system at the exchange so treated and recycled truck and yard washing water can be re-used in place of potable water. The project is expected to reduce potable water usage at the exchange by 23ML. Though unsuccessful in the most recent distribution of grants, the CoGB will continue to pursue funds for this project. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Greater Bendigo | Regional |
| Berrigan Shire 2027 Our Community Strategic Plan | 3.1.4 Coordinate and facilitate the delivery of potable water | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Berrigan | Regional |
| Berrigan Shire Land Use Strategy 2018 | Prepare local housing strategies that provide housing choice and affordable housing. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Berrigan | Regional |
| Berrigan Shire Land Use Strategy 2018 | Locate new rural residential areas: In close proximity to existing urban settlements to maximise the efficient use of existing infrastructure and services, including roads, water, sewerage and waste services and social and community infrastructure. To avoid or minimise the potential for land use conflicts with productive zoned agricultural land and natural resources, and To avoid areas of high environmental, cultural and heritage significance, important agricultural land or areas affected by natural hazards. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Berrigan | Regional |
| Berrigan Shire Land Use Strategy 2018 | Rural planning strategy response Identifying and protecting agricultural land is fundamental to the future of agriculture in Berrigan Shire. As agricultural output continues to increase, expanding value-added manufacturing of agricultural produce, including food and beverage manufacturing, will also help drive diversity in the economy. Taking guidance from the Riverina Murray Regional Plan 2036 and the advice of the 2015 RMCG Report into agricultural industries in the Riverina-Murray, it is important that Berrigan continue to provide the optimal policy setting to support agriculture and agribusiness as part of the ‘food bowl of Australia’. For Berrigan, the following challenges are identified by Council: 7.5 Changes in agricultural land use as a result of rationalised water allocations, such as growth of existing farms due to reduced water allocations and conversion of irrigated land to dry-land farming. Increasing rural land values as the result of increased commodity prices. The growth of industries such as the dairy and pork industry, and the potential growth of value-add industries associated with these industries. The introduction of new farming practice and industries within rural zones, without undue constraint from rural dwellings, rural residential living or urban growth. Council’s planning response to the future of agriculture in Berrigan is to ensure that the agricultural sector is supported and new agricultural development facilitated by: 1. 2. Ensuring the LEP land use tables for the RU1 Primary Production Zone do not permit inappropriate land uses or urban encroachment through unnecessary fragmentation 3. Retaining the subdivision provisions for rural land for agriculture as set out by the Berrigan LEP 2013, and 4. Retaining the current minimum lot size on land zone RU1 Primary Production of 120 hectares for a dwelling house, until further notice. Retaining and reinforcing the current rural zoned areas of Berrigan Shire, with the exception of the areas identified in this Strategy for future urban development on the fringe of the four townships. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Berrigan | Regional |
| Berrigan Shire Land Use Strategy 2018 | The overall purpose of the Strategy is to guide future development and use of land within the Shire for the next 20 years. More specifically, the Strategy will assist in: Providing a basis for future land use planning decisions; providing the community with a degree of certainty for the location of various future land uses; strategically managing land uses to minimise potential land use conflicts; supporting and protecting productive agricultural land; | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Berrigan | Regional |
| Berrigan Shire Land Use Strategy 2018 | The Strategy protects the operation of the Mulwala canal to ensure a continuation of irrigation and water supply to the region through appropriate land zoning and uses for agriculture and riverine land. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Berrigan | Regional |
| Better Buildings Strategy | Age and disability support facilities (Meals on Wheels) | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| Better Buildings Strategy | Allow adequate space for waste storage to allow for recycling, food and garden waste (where applicable), other waste streams such as pallets and cardboard (if some commercial level building use) and residual garbage bins, and composting or worm farming by building occupants if relevant to building use; | Planning Frameworks | Modify housing/property designs to ensure adequate food storage/preparation areas | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| Better Buildings Strategy | Community garden | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| Better Buildings Strategy | 4.3.1 Green walls There are now a number of buildings within the City with green walls. The Masonic Hall at Speers Point and the amenities building at Warners Bay are two of these sites. A well-designed and maintained green roof, wall or facade can. (Green Roofs and Walls Policy 2014, City of Sydney). • improve building efficiency through heating, cooling and sound insulation; • provide extra space for urban greening, food production and private open space; | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| Better Buildings Strategy | Allow adequate space for waste storage to allow for recycling, food and garden waste (where applicable), other waste streams such as pallets and cardboard (if some commercial level building use) and residual garbage bins, and composting or worm farming by building occupants if relevant to building use | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| Better Buildings Strategy | Community garden | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| Better Buildings Strategy | Allow adequate space for waste storage to allow for recycling, food and garden waste (where applicable), other waste streams such as pallets and cardboard (if some commercial level building use) and residual garbage bins, and composting or worm farming by building occupants if relevant to building use; | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| Better Buildings Strategy | An analysis of the expected quantities of waste by the waste streams: general waste, commingled recyclables (glass, cardboard, paper, rigid plastics, soft plastics, cans), special recyclables (other metals, moulded polystyrene (EPS), toner cartridges, e-waste, oils, household batteries, car batteries, gas cylinders, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, light globes, fluorescent light tubes), organics (green waste, food waste); | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Lake Macquarie | Regional |
| Bicycle Action Plan 2019 | Install two bicycle repair stations with drinking water on the Bay Trail | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Bicycle Action Plan 2019 | Investigate opportunities to provide additional drinking water stations along shared paths | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Bayside | Metropolitan |
| Bike Plan 2019-2029 | Ensure other amenities to support cycling are considered in pathway planning – continue to work with the Open Space and Recreation Unit to ensure shade, water bubblers, toilets and rest areas are co-located with shared pathways. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| Bike Plan 2019-2029 | Include supporting facilities such as shade, lighting and water bubblers where appropriate | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| Biodiversity and Natural Vegetation Policy | to conserve biodiversity, protect river water quality and conserve soil resources, including on private land managed for agriculture | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Latrobe | Regional |
| Biodiversity Management Strategy 2010 | D. Action 2 Educate and support the community on weeds and their control D.2.1 Run field days, and attend displays at events such as agricultural shows, to distribute information. D.2.2 Promote and distribute information to the community about websites that contain information on weeds and their control. D.2.3 Undertake assisted removal programs to remove priority weeds from the landscape, with priority given to properties adjacent to high conservation value assets such as National Park estate. D.2.4 Promote the use of plants included in the Bushland Friendly Nursery Scheme to the community, plant wholesalers and retailers, and in Council’s landscape guidelines, development control plans and policies. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Clarence Valley | Regional |