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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| blue mountains community strategic plan 2035 | Community access to healthy affordable food choices | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | NSW | Blue Mountains | Metropolitan |
| blue mountains community strategic plan 2035 | permaculture activities | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Blue Mountains | Metropolitan |
| blue mountains community strategic plan 2035 | Local food initiatives – including for example community, schools and household gardening and permaculture activities | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Blue Mountains | Metropolitan |
| blue mountains community strategic plan 2035 | Local food initiatives – including for example community, schools and household gardening and permaculture activities | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Blue Mountains | Metropolitan |
| blueprint 2014 – 2029 for social community infrastructure | Parcels of land owned by Council and accessible to the public including Community Gardens. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | South Gippsland | Regional |
| blueprint 2014 – 2029 for social community infrastructure | Parcels of land owned by Council and accessible to the public including Community Gardens. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | South Gippsland | Regional |
| Boroondara Community Plan 2017-27 | A vibrant local economy and shops that are accessible | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Boroondara | Metropolitan |
| Boroondara Community Plan 2017-27 | value the presence of vibrant shops close to home | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Boroondara | Metropolitan |
| Boroondara Housing Strategy | Advocate to the Australian and Victorian Government to provide social housing for low-income residents in Boroondara. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Boroondara | Metropolitan |
| Boroondara Housing Strategy | Advocate to the Victorian Government to develop under-utilised Victorian Government land holding (e.g unused Victrack landholdings) for affordable and/or social housing where appropriate (excluding land identified in the Boroondara Open Space Strategy as open space). | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Boroondara | Metropolitan |
| Boroondara Housing Strategy | Advocate to the Victorian Government to explore various planning mechanisms to support affordable housing in appropriate locations, such as applying “inclusionary zoning” to land owned by the Victorian Government and all designated urban renewal areas. • Advocate to the Victorian Government to develop underutilised Victorian Government land holding (e.g unused Victrack landholdings) for affordable and/or social housing where appropriate (excluding land identified in the Boroondara Open Space Strategy as open space). | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Boroondara | Metropolitan |
| Boroondara Housing Strategy | The availability and direct provision of social housing is also outside Council’s role and sphere of influence. These matters are determined, in the most part, by Victorian and Australian Government funding schemes and housing policies, and by market forces. The City of Boroondara does not offer financial subsidies or assets for the development of social housing as this housing is the responsibility of other levels of government. Council does, however, play a very active role in advocating to other levels of government for social housing for those most in need. Council will advocate to the Victorian Government to take initiatives to explore various planning mechanisms to support affordable and social housing in appropriate locations, including applying “inclusionary zoning” to land owned by the Victorian Government and all designated urban renewal areas. This mechanism mandates a stated percentage of housing within a development must be sold or rented below market rate and helps to support the development of social and affordable housing. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Boroondara | Metropolitan |
| Boroondara Housing Strategy | The Department of Human Services (DHS) also manages public housing in the municipality. Social housing is provided and managed by the Victorian government and non-government organisations, supported by funding from the Australian Government, to assist those who are in greatest need. The City of Boroondara is not directly involved in the management of these housing types but plays an active advocate role with relevant government agencies. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Boroondara | Metropolitan |
| Boroondara Housing Strategy | The proposed local planning policy (Clause 22.18) sets out land use guidance and seeks to increase housing diversity in the centre for all age groups, including the provision of housing for lower income households and student housing. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Boroondara | Metropolitan |
| Boroondara Open Space Strategy | Community gardens have positive features including growing food sustainably and social connectedness, but do restrict access for other purposes. As they can be run successfully on public land other than open space as well, future proposals for them in open space will be assessed within this context. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Boroondara | Metropolitan |
| Boroondara Open Space Strategy | Community gardens have positive features including growing food sustainably and social connectedness, but do restrict access for other purposes. As they can be run successfully on public land other than open space as well, future proposals for them in open space will be assessed within this context. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Boroondara | Metropolitan |
| Borough of Queenscliffe Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2017–2021 | Assist childcare centres, kindergartens and schools to meet healthy eating benchmarks. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Borough of Queenscliffe Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2017–2021 | Promote healthy eating policies and or behaviours in the community and at all early years settings, events, community group settings and Council lease buildings. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Borough of Queenscliffe Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2017–2021 | Assist childcare centres, kindergartens and schools to meet healthy eating benchmarks. | Health and Wellbeing | Dietary guidelinse for external settings | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Borough of Queenscliffe Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2017–2021 | Promote healthy eating policies and or behaviours in the community and at all early years settings, events, community group settings and Council lease buildings. Borough of Queenscliffe Bellarine Community Health G21 | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Borough of Queenscliffe Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2017–2021 | Promote positive employment policies regarding general employment arrangements (breastfeeding, childcare, cultural and ceremonial duties) | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Borough of Queenscliffe Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2017–2021 | Environmental Health: – Provision of safe and healthy food through food safety surveillance. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Queenscliff | Regional |
| Breastfeeding friendly workplace protocol | 6.0 Protocol Kiama Municipal Council recognises employees’ choices to breastfeed, accepts and supports employees returning to work after the birth of their child to continue breastfeeding. 6.1 Suitable facility The following suitable and reasonable workplace facilities for employees who choose to express breastmilk or breastfeed their child should be provided, where practicable: comfortable chair that is washable (ideally not cloth) providing sufficient back support and allowing the feet of an average size woman to touch the floor table/flat surface or counter top to put the breast pump and other supplies next to the chair a power point a door that locks from inside to allow for privacy and suitable signage refrigerator to store breast milk microwave in the room to sterilise pump equipment wink in the room with soap and paper towels to clean breast pump and related equipment with soap and wipes or access to these facilities close by change table and waste bins (appropriate for nappy disposal). Where suitable workplace facilities are not available on-site, the employee and their employer should discuss suitable alternatives and agree on the most appropriate arrangement. Employees should be made aware that toilet facilities are not safe or suitable for breastfeeding or expressing. Employees using the lactation facilities should ensure that: breastfeeding/expressing is only taking place in the designated workplace facility or another safe and suitable location as negotiated with your supervisor/manager expressed breastmilk is appropriately stored and labelled in the refrigerator lactation room is left clean and tidy caregivers and children leave the workplace at the completion of each lactation break children are provided safe transportation to and from the lactation room. 6.2 Alternatives to on-site facility If a suitable on-site facility is not available, alternatives may include, but are not limited to: using suitable workplace facilities provided by another community organisation (if agreed with upon by that community organisation) using a carers’ room, parents’ room or similar facilities located off-site going home or to a caregiver’s home, or attending a childcare centre. 6.3 Lactation breaks Access to lactation breaks during work hours are to be negotiated with supervisor/manager under Councils protocols (Flexible Work Arrangements Policy and Indoor Accrued Time Protocol) and the National Employment Standards. Lactation breaks should be negotiated | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | NSW | Kiama | Regional |
| Breastfeeding friendly workplace protocol | between the mother and supervisor/manager and will enable the mother to either express breast milk, leave her workplace to feed her baby or have the baby brought to her. Staff have an obligation to ensure that the timing of lactation breaks is to take into account reasonable business and organisational needs with a focus on minimising disruption to the workplace and service delivery. Employees or supervisors should seek advice from the Human Resources Team regarding suitable options. 6.4 Flexible work options Supporting access to flexible hours where possible should be mutually agreed to with supervisor/manager prior to staff returning to work under Councils existing protocols (Flexible Work Arrangements Policy and Indoor Accrued Time Protocol) and the National Employment Standards. Flexible work options that may assist employees who choose to breastfeed to make a successful transition back to work are to take into account reasonable employee, business and organisational needs. Disruption to operational and service delivery requirements as a result of agreed arrangements is to be minimised. 6.5 Communication and support Staff should be made aware of breastfeeding protocols and facilities via staff newsletter/noticeboards/signs/staff meetings. Expecting mothers applying for maternity leave will be reminded of this protocol by their supervisor/manager and will be encouraged to discuss the incorporation of breastfeeding in their return to work plans. Employees returning from maternity leave who are seeking support to breastfeed following their return to work are encouraged to discuss their plans with their manager/supervisor to ensure that appropriate facilities and arrangements can be made available. | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | NSW | Kiama | Regional |
| Breastfeeding friendly workplace protocol | Breastfeeding friendly workplace protocol 1.0 Purpose 1.1 The aim of this protocol is to provide a framework that accepts and supports employees’ choice to breastfeed after returning to work following the birth of their child. 2.0 Objectives 2.1 The objectives of this protocol are to: provide a supportive environment for breastfeeding employees in the work place inform and support employers and employees to enable women to continue breastfeeding after returning to work following the birth of their child ensure any female employee member who chooses to breastfeed feels confident, comfortable and supported to do so eliminate breastfeeding as a barrier for women returning to the work place after the birth of their child. 3.0 Scope 3.1 This protocol applies to all persons employed with Kiama Municipal Council. The protocol supports female employees to breastfeed and/or express breast milk upon their return to work following the birth of their child. | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | NSW | Kiama | Regional |
| BREATHING SPACE The Darebin Open Space Strategy | Identify opportunities to collaborate with community groups on urban food production projects, including mentoring programs. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| BREATHING SPACE The Darebin Open Space Strategy | Celebrate diversity in open space by programming open spaces to reflect the community’s unique make-up. This can include art, music, food, storytelling or celebrating culturally significant dates. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| BREATHING SPACE The Darebin Open Space Strategy | Consult with the Aboriginal community regarding opportunities and concepts for growing indigenous foods. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| BREATHING SPACE The Darebin Open Space Strategy | A5.2 Install water fountains at key nodes such as trail junctions and key destinations along all major cycling trails and walking paths throughout the municipality including as a priority the Darebin Creek Trail, Merri Creek Trail and St Georges Road Shared Path/Northern Pipe Trail. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| BREATHING SPACE The Darebin Open Space Strategy | Basic Minimum Requirements Public toilet Lighting Internal path network catering for a range of users Path connections to surrounding footpaths BBQ Picnic tables Bike racks Drinking water | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |