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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cycling Strategy | Install water-bubblers and bench seats at key destinations, including sportsgrounds, To improve comfort and encourage greater usage for neighbourhood parks, skate parks, Council facilities, cyclists. such as administration centres/customer service centres, libraries and swimming pools, information centres and train stations. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| D Drinking Water Quality Policy | POLICY OBJECTIVE To provide Council with a preventative strategy and frame work approach to drinking water quality as required for Council’s Drinking Water Management Plan. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Goulburn Mulwaree | Regional |
| Darebin Active and Healthy Ageing Strategy 2011–2021 | Throughout the lifespan of this Strategy Council will explore and develop local models for providing nutritional assistance to meet the changing needs, expectations and preferences of older Darebin residents. The policy shift to an active ageing approach provides the opportunity and framework to implement a more integrated and capacity building response to support isolated and at risk older people. Council will seek opportunities to enhance centre based meals service provision by actively engaging with eligible food service recipients to participate in communal based meal programs; Council will facilitate and support innovative meals service developments that focus on opportunities for older people to socialise whilst sharing a meal; and also support opportunities to enhance the skills and knowledge generally on nutrition and meals preparation. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Embed avoidance of consumption and minimising carbon-intensive products (including food) 2017-2022 2017-2022 Advocate for actions in “What do we need others to do section” Through the organisational review of all Council programs and policies embed: – questioning and where possible avoiding consumption – specifically reducing consumption of carbon-intensive products (including food) – providing more vegetarian and other sustainable catering options at Council-run events. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | building the capacity of residents to produce and share food locally, decreasing dependence on global food systems | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Consider updating and relaunching the Budget Bites booklet and pocket guide and / or promote other sustainable food guides | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Investigate providing food waste service options to residents. Continue to encourage residents and businesses to reduce food waste through avoidance, home composting systems and participation in programs / workshops | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Annual Continue to run Backyard Harvest to celebrate and educate on home grown food, giving residents the tools to be more resilient in the face of climate change impacts. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | building the capacity of residents to produce and share food locally, decreasing dependence on global food systems | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Consider updating and relaunching the Budget Bites booklet and pocket guide and / or promote other sustainable food guides | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Continue to encourage residents and businesses to reduce food waste through avoidance, home composting systems and participation in programs / workshops | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Council events such as the Backyard Harvest Festival, the Homemade Food and Wine Festival and the Kite Festival provide residents with an engaging way of thinking about climate change issues. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Establishing a seed bank at Northcote Library Food Garden Establishing a community garden near the Bell St station | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Explore opportunities to develop urban food production sites on Council land as demonstration sites for integrated food growing, water and waste management | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Food makes up a large proportion of waste. In Darebin, food waste is around 38% by weight and almost all of this food waste (92%) is home compostable. This high proportion of food waste is despite Council promoting at-home management of food and more than 40% of Darebin households reporting that they use compost bins or worm-farms | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Give greater explicit prominence to reducing consumption (including carbon intensive dietary choices) in existing programs such as the Sustainable Homes and Communities Program, Sustainability News and other programs. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Identify suitable sites in pocket parks and other streetscapes that have the required resident support for fruit and nut trees Explore opportunities to develop urban food production sites on Council land as demonstration sites for integrated food growing, water and waste management | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Provide climate change and climate emergency education through events – both those specifically organised by Council to raise awareness, and general events Annual Continue to run Backyard Harvest to celebrate and educate on home grown food, giving residents the tools to be more resilient in the face of climate change impacts. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Strategies Place a stronger emphasis on reducing consumption (including carbon-intensive foods) through existing environmental education programs (see also Key Direction 8) Timeframe 2017-2022 75 Actions Give greater explicit prominence to reducing consumption (including carbon intensive dietary choices) in existing programs such as the Sustainable Homes and Communities Program, Sustainability News and other programs. 2017-2022 Give consideration to how education and promotion around lowest carbon dietary choices can best be effected, building on our existing food-related strategies. Consider introducing a specific program/campaign on reducing high-impact choices (e.g. Meat Free Mondays) as part of the Environmental Education Program. 2017-2022 | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | The Sustainable Homes and Communities Program is a key environmental education partnership program between Darebin and Banyule Councils. This program has had a broad reach, including workshops, direct programs with diverse communities, community leaders programs, sustainability awards and resources to engage the wider community. It has been effective in reducing household energy and water use, minimising waste, increasing the use of sustainable transport and promoting sustainable gardening and sustainable food in line with Council targets | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | providing more vegetarian and other sustainable catering options at Council-run events. | Health and Wellbeing | Encourage existing retailers/caterers to sell healthy, sustainable and affordable food | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Adopts Urban Food Production Strategy | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Apply principles of Food Sensitive Planning and Urban Design to urban renewal projects | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | building the capacity of residents to produce and share food locally, decreasing dependence on global food systems | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Identify suitable sites in pocket parks and other streetscapes that have the required resident support for fruit and nut trees Explore opportunities to develop urban food production sites on Council land as demonstration sites for integrated food growing, water and waste management | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Adopts Food Security Policy, to guide local provision of community gardens and associated programs | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Establishing a community garden near the Bell St station | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Identify suitable sites in pocket parks and other streetscapes that have the required resident support for fruit and nut trees Explore opportunities to develop urban food production sites on Council land as demonstration sites for integrated food growing, water and waste management | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Identify suitable sites in pocket parks and other streetscapes that have the required resident support for fruit and nut trees Explore opportunities to develop urban food production sites on Council land as demonstration sites for integrated food growing, water and waste management | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| DAREBIN CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLAN 2017–2022 | Adopts Food Security Policy, to guide local provision of community gardens and associated programs | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |