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.
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| Document title | Relevant text in the policy | Domain | Topic | State | Local Government name | Council type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Council’s Sustainability Unit supports community groupsthrough a range of initiatives: • 2nd Muswellbrook Scout Group • Ability Links. • Denman Children Centre • Denman Community Garden | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Council’s Sustainability Unit supports community groupsthrough a range of initiatives: • 2nd Muswellbrook Scout Group • Ability Links. • Denman Children Centre • Denman Community Garden • | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Implement a pro-active strategy to promote and grow the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange Ongoing Integrated marketing and promotion strategy developed, aligned with existing council platforms and distributing information to buyers, vendors and agents through a range of traditional and non-traditional streams. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Council’s Sustainable Futures Program received two state awards this year: • Winner, Environmental Communication Category – Keep Australia Beautiful NSW 2018 Sustainable Communities Awards – November 2018; • Winner, Division A and Overall Communication, Education and Empowerment Category Winner – Local Government NSW 2018 Excellence in the Environment Awards – December 2018. The Sustainable Futures Program includes a range of activities which help to empower the community to make sustainable choices and improve outcomes by reducing food waste, improving water efficiency, growing local food and increasing rates of up-cycling and renewable energy uptake | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Sustainability engagement The Sustainability Hub allows Council to demonstrate practical ways that the community can be water and energy efficient and reduce waste going to landfill. A range of community events have been held at the Sustainability Hub, including school holiday activities for Muswellbrook High School, Girl Guides Muswellbrook, Pacific Brook Christian School, Hunter Park Family Centre and Goodstart Early Learning Muswellbrook. Warrior Disability Services also runs a weekly composting system from the Hub, showcasing how to reduce food waste going to landfill | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Implement an investment attraction program that focuses on the key industries of agriculture, manufacturing, retail, tourism and the digital economy | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Challenges The relentless drought has been the dominant challenge for Council, the Shire, our region and more broadly across NSW for 2018/19. Council has responded in various ways, for example: Council provided over 850KL of free water to farmers in 2018, working closely with Rotary to provide free delivery of water to farmers across the region. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | A comprehensive education program to facilitate increased community understanding of reducing food and green waste diversion to landfill was conducted during 2018/19. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Implementation of a pro-active strategy to promote and grow the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Council’s Sustainable Futures Program received two state awards this year: • Winner, Environmental Communication Category – Keep Australia Beautiful NSW 2018 Sustainable Communities Awards – November 2018; • Winner, Division A and Overall Communication, Education and Empowerment Category Winner – Local Government NSW 2018 Excellence in the Environment Awards – December 2018. The Sustainable Futures Program includes a range of activities which help to empower the community to make sustainable choices and improve outcomes by reducing food waste, improving water efficiency, growing local food and increasing rates of up-cycling and renewable energy uptake. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Electrical and water supply services have been installed for a proposed MAF (Mobile Aerated Floor) system. Specifications have been prepared for a public tender as per Council procurement policy. This project is aimed at providing an economical means of managing Food Organics and Garden Organics. A report on the implementation of the project will be submitted to Council during 2019/20. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Livestock Exchange | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Sustainability engagement The Sustainability Hub allows Council to demonstrate practical ways that the community can be water and energy efficient and reduce waste going to landfill. A range of community events have been held at the Sustainability Hub, including school holiday activities for Muswellbrook High School, Girl Guides Muswellbrook, Pacific Brook Christian School, Hunter Park Family Centre and Goodstart Early Learning Muswellbrook. Warrior Disability Services also runs a weekly composting system from the Hub, showcasing how to reduce food waste going to landfill | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Council inspects food premises, skin penetration, caravan parks and monitors air handling systems to ensure compliance with relevant legislative requirements. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Livestock exchange $199K | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | PROMOTION AND MARKETING OF HAMILTON LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE Implementation of pro-active strategy to promote and grow the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange was identified as priority for Council in the 2018/19 Budget. Following the appointment of a dedicated part-time resource to this initiative, promotion and marketing activities of the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange (HRLX) commenced. A new logo was been created for the facility which has been used in a variety of ways throughout marketing and promotion activities along with the tagline ‘Your Livestock Exchange’ which is used in conjunction with the logo when suitable. The HRLX social media strategy includes both a Facebook page and an Instagram account, sharing sale day images, truck ramp information and Meat and Livestock Association reports. These pages have proved popular already with substantial following of local agents and vendors. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | The highlight of Council’s smart community journey thus far occurred in May 2019 when Council hosted the inaugural Digital Innovation and Smart Agriculture (DISA) 2019 Festival. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | The other economic focus has been to support a diversified economy. This includes leveraging and growing our offerings in agriculture, while also working towards other markets including horticulture, viticulture and most importantly value-adding to our current agricultural commodities. I am very confident that these efforts will be rewarded in the next 12 months. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | The three-day festival showcased smart agriculture and how IoT is transforming farm management, rural councils who are leading the way in transforming into smart communities, insights from industry leaders on data-driven decision making and business optimisation. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | This service is responsible for the management and operation of the Hamilton Livestock Exchange. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | With the above key strategies to boost our local economy, we have helped to create another problem in access to affordable housing. A significant body of work is currently underway to look at strategies to address both housing for purchase and rental across the shire and we expect to see some tactics employed to alleviate some pressure in this area during the coming year. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | 1,011,364 – Sheep and lambs sold at the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Complete stage three of the Livestock Exchange roof over the Cattle Yards • Completion of canteen facilities upgrade at Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Completion of stage three of the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange works | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Council celebrate the completion of a number of major community infrastructure projects, including significant progress on the final stages of the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange (HRLX) project, delivery of over 90% of the entire capital works program | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Developing the regional economy and businesses Service Ojective: To develop our regional economy and businesses and achieve a strong, diversified local and regional economy. Services include: economic and business development, events support, tourism and visitor services, caravan parks, Land development, airport and livestock exchange operations and development. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Development of masterplans for the Hamilton Livestock Exchange and the Hamilton Airport and subsequent capital works to improve these vital assets | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | FUNDING FOR CATTLE YARD ROOF In March 2019, Council received funding of $715,000 for the cattleyard roof at the Hamilton Regional livestock Exchange. The funding, made available through the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, combined with Council’s contribution, will see the $1.3 million project complete by the end of the 2019/20 financial year. Council made the decision to roof the cattle yards at the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange (HRLX) following a review of operations in early 2018. The review comprised one-on-one discussions with key stakeholders including producers, buyers and agents to better understand the drivers and inhibitors to the Hamilton facility. Council pursued the review in an effort to ensure not only the ongoing viability of HRLX, but to ensure growth of the current and future offerings. Among the recommendations in the report, adopted at Council November meeting, was the commitment of $1.3 million to roof cattle yards 1- 99. Councillors agreed that the lack of a roof on the cattle yards has impacted cattle sales and it was the view of Council that commitment to this capital expenditure would entice agents and buyers to HRLX. Construction commenced in late June 2019. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| 2018/19 Annual Report | Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange Advisory Committee | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |