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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drinking water supply | This policy and associated procedures describe the processes implemented by Council to facilitate delivery of services to residents who are connected to reticulated potable water and trunk water supplies. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Bega | Regional |
| Drinking Water Supply | Purpose • To provide water supply services in accordance with adopted Strategic Business Plan objectives and levels of service. • To manage water supply assets in a financially sustainable manner. • To provide water supply services in accordance with NSW Government regulatory requirements relating to environmental health, public health, dam safety and workplace safety. • To implement water restriction procedures based on the scarcity of source water. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Snowy Monaro | Regional |
| DRINKING WATER SUPPLY CARTERS POLICY | Introduction Water carters provide a drinking water supply in areas where other water supplies are insufficient or temporarily unsuitable. Policy Objective To regulate water carting businesses that operate in the Narromine Local Government Area to ensure they comply with all relevant environmental, public health and financial requirements associated with drawing drinking water and selling this water to consumers. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Narromine | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | It is Council’s intention to maintain and protect the beauty of the natural environment, the quality of the existing ecosystem, and support the continued viability of agriculture, while protecting rural vistas and visual amenity. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | Rural residential development poses a major threat to the environment due to the erosion of prime agricultural land and reduction in natural habitat for native species. There are also environmental pressures arising from increased demand for infrastructure such as roads and sewerage systems. The following areas should be protected from future rural residential development: • Steep slopes and any land prominently visible in the landscape • Larger farms in less fragmented areas and areas with high agricultural productivity potential | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | The Tillegra District integrates and respects the environmental and recreational belt that includes Chichester Dam, Lostock Dam, the Barrington State Forests and National Parks. Around the dam the environment is pristine and picturesque. Environmental corridors protect both flora and fauna and these are surrounded by primary agricultural lands, which maintain the area’s rural ambience and historic links to agriculture. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | Extensive Agriculture – Section 3.2 • Having regard to the above it is recommended a comprehensive Rural Lands Study be prepared that determines: Whether planning controls should be adopted to prevent lands suitable for beef cattle farming from being subdivided | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | Having regard to the above it is recommended that a Comprehensive Rural Lands Study be prepared that determines: • Whether planning controls should be adopted to prevent lands suitable for beef cattle farming from being subdivided. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | Land Use Goals (derived from Table 48) Goal 1: To provide for a high quality supplementary water supply to ‘drought resist’ the Hunter Region | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | 4.9 Tourism and Economic Development Opportunities Tourism and Economic Development Land Use Goals (derived from Table 41) Goal 5: To encourage tourism and related economic development opportunities through cellar door, gate sale and other opportunities The Gresford District is slowly becoming a popular tourist destination for regional day trips and farm stays, Bed & Breakfast (B&B) stays or weekend retreats. The historic nature of the villages is attractive to tourists however there are currently few attractors to retain tourism interest for longer stays. Nevertheless, there is a growing local trade in gourmet style foods and boutique accommodation both within the villages and in cellar door/ road-side activity. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | As part of LEP 2011, review the standard template definition for ‘cellar door premises’ to ‘cellar door sales’ including ‘road side stalls’ and ‘farm gate sales’ and that these should be permissible with consent, where appropriate, in most zones | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | Dungog Dungog is the closest town to Tillegra and is often referred to as the southern gateway to the Barrington Tops, offering recreational activities such as horse riding, golf, a museum, historic cinema, information centre and local swimming pool. A number of local events take place including Pedal Fest, a rodeo, the Dungog Film Festival, fishing competitions and agricultural shows | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | Dungog has the basis of a strong tourism market and currently provides diverse tourism and economic development opportunities including: • National Parks and State Recreation Areas • Rural scenery and scenic drives • Historic villages and architecture • River fronts and water activities • Picnic and camping grounds • Chichester and Lostock Dams • Wineries, specialist farms and farm-gate outlets | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | Farm Gate Sales – Section 3.5 • Having regard to the mandatory provisions applying to the RU1 and RU4 zones, “roadside stalls” be permitted within these zones when applied throughout Dungog Shire but appropriate development control provisions be adopted to ensure the appropriate location and operation of such stalls | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | Farm Stays are permissible with consent within the Rural and Transition zones. Considering the above, the existing zonings provide suitable opportunity and flexibility for a variety of tourism and economic opportunities. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | In addition, the LGA hosts a number of local festivals and events including Pedal Fest, Dungog Film Festival, Tocal field days, Thunderbolt Rally, Dungog and Gresford Agricultural Shows, | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | The predominant emerging commercial market within the Gresford District is farm gate and cellar door sales, adding increased character and tourist opportunity to the community. ‘Cellar Door’ and ‘Farm Gate Sales’ are currently permissible with consent in the Rural, Rural Enterprise, Rural Lifestyle, Village, Employment, and Transition Zones | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | The Strategy makes the following recommendation with regard to roadside stalls: • Having regard to the mandatory provisions applying to the RU1 and RU4 zones, “roadside stalls” should be permitted within these zones when applied throughout Dungog Shire but appropriate development control provisions should be adopted to ensure the appropriate location and operation of such stalls. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | The Strategy makes the following recommendations with regard to tourism and economic development opportunities in Gresford: • External grant funding should be sourced to upgrade the Showground Crown Reserve in East Gresford, and the Church Park in Gresford, to enable river access • As part of LEP 2011, review the standard template definition for ‘cellar door premises’ to ‘cellar door sales’ including ‘road side stalls’ and ‘farm gate sales’ and that these should be permissible with consent and where appropriate in most zones, (Note: Under the Standard LEP Template ‘roadside stall’ means a place or temporary structure used for the retail selling of agricultural produce or hand crafted goods (or both) produced from the property on which the stall is situated or from an adjacent property.) | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | Tourism – Section 7 • A Comprehensive Rural Lands Study determine an appropriate maximum number of bedrooms for farm stay accommodation use | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | Tourism has also been noted as a local opportunity. There is an increasing number of accommodation options, cellar door and farm gate activities. Of particular interest is the anecdotal evidence of increased interest by tourists in local produce and speciality foods | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | In addition, the LGA hosts a number of local festivals and events including Pedal Fest, Dungog Film Festival, Tocal field days, Thunderbolt Rally, Dungog and Gresford Agricultural Shows, Dungog and Gresford Rodeos, open gardens and monthly markets. | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | In addition, the LGA hosts a number of local festivals and events including Pedal Fest, Dungog Film Festival, Tocal field days | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | 1.3 Future Vision, Character and Land Use Goals Based on the community’s views, the above SWOT analysis, and information provided in the Situation Analysis, the following land use vision and goals have been developed for the village of Clarence Town and its surrounds. 1.3.1 Future Vision In the year 2031 Clarence Town will be a family friendly, vibrant rural village providing: • opportunities for local employment • diverse and affordable housing | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | Goal 5: To provide opportunities for affordable urban residential development | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | Community Services, specifically for the aged and people with disabilities, are predominantly located in Dungog and encompass a variety of programmes including Meals on Wheels, Community Transport, Neighbour Aide, Respite for Carers, Community Aged Care, social and peer support, domestic assistance, day care and linen services. Many of these programmes provide outreach services to the smaller villages and rural areas. | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | Outreach services from Dungog provide Meals on Wheels and transport assistance to many of these residents. While these residents maintain mobility their isolation is not so problematic, however when health needs intensify the Gresford villages will not be able to provide all the services necessary for their everyday needs. | Health and Wellbeing | Nutrition in vulnerable populations | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | The main objective for Tillegra Dam is to provide a high quality drinking water supply to the Hunter and its surrounding areas. The water storage will be classified as a Class 4 Regulated Storage under the NSW Department of Health ‘Guidelines for the Recreational Use of Water Storage Areas’. All future land use recommendations considered by Council should consider and implement the following objectives: • All recreational activities within the dam catchment should be consistent with maintaining water quality • All future sewerage and grey-water systems proposed for facilities and accommodation around and on the dam should be stringently assessed, with the highest priority on protection of the waterbody • A 50 m wide environmental buffer (proposed zoning W2 Recreational Waterway) should be established around the perimeter of the waterbody | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | The population of the Dungog LGA is scattered across four major communities and the cost of providing all necessary infrastructure to each of these is prohibitive. Accordingly, Dungog township, with its existing level of infrastructure (including a hospital, doctors, pharmacy, ancillary medical practitioners, community services, supermarket, train station and community transport) is considered the most appropriate location for the expansion of seniors’ accommodation into the future. As previously discussed, sites suitable for the development of housing for seniors are best located within easy access of appropriate services and facilities. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Dungog Land Use Strategy | 2.5.4 Rural Residential Development Rural Residential Land Use Goals (derived from Table 25) Goal 8: Provide opportunities for rural residential development in two or more ownerships to create a competitive market Goal 15: To protect the natural environment and support the principles of sustainability It is the aim of Dungog Council to protect the environmental and agricultural lands of the Dungog District and to maintain rural vistas across the LGA as a whole. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Dungog | Regional |