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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | The industry is evolving, and this provides opportunities for the region to develop a mix of complimentary sectors such as those that revolve around value-adding/ processing, more intensive agricultural uses (e.g. plant and non-plant), agritourism and food and wine expansion. To be successful in attracting these types of sectors to the region, it needs to be identified what they need by way of land, infrastructure and support services, and then identify suitable locations across the region to accommodate these types of businesses, and then ensure the appropriate planning is completed to ensure these types of operations fit into the planning framework. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | There are opportunities to promote the destination into other niche sectors including agricultural educational opportunities with schools | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | 3.1 Strategic Intent “Hilltops is a connected region, with both the local society and economy driven by a culture of innovation and collaboration capitalising on our agricultural strength.” | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | Based on the Hilltops strategic location, and the existing strengths the region has the following sectors have been identified as targets for business attraction and expansion activities: • Transport and logistics • Health and aged care • Agriculture | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | Develop a policy position paper on succession planning in agriculture, and in conjunction with key industry stakeholders lobby relevant government agencies to implement supportive policy to encourage succession planning for agriculture | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | It is important to ensure the sectors right to farm is maintained | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | OUR ECONOMIC STRATEGIC INTENT In response to the challenges and opportunities identified and discussed with a range of regional stakeholders the following regional economic development vision and strategic priorities were developed. “Hilltops is a connected region, with both the local society and economy driven by a culture of innovation and collaboration, capitalising on our agricultural strength.” There are six strategic priorities under which a detailed action plan has been developed, these include: • Create a welcoming environment for investment • Communication and collaboration • Industry attraction and expansion Economic Action Plan • Business capacity building • Tourism • Infrastructure. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | The industry is evolving, and this provides opportunities for the region to develop a mix of complimentary sectors such as those that revolve around value-adding/ processing, more intensive agricultural uses (e.g. plant and non-plant), agritourism and food and wine expansion. To be successful in attracting these types of sectors to the region, it needs to be identified what they need by way of land, infrastructure and support services, and then identify suitable locations across the region to accommodate these types of businesses, and then ensure the appropriate planning is completed to ensure these types of operations fit into the planning framework. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | The opportunity exists to build a strong education and research base around the agricultural industry, given the region’s strengths in areas identified. This type of educational centre of excellence would link into developing the local workforce for the future, contribute to the succession planning on local farms, and also put the Hilltops region on the map nationally and internationally as a place for domestic and international students to come and study, learn and transfer knowledge back into the local community. The keys to the success of a centre of excellence such as this at a basic level include, identifying key industry and educational partners, identifying a potential facility/ location, and advocating for funding to support the development of the program. One of the major challenges facing the agriculture industry Australia wide, is succession planning and the sustainability of the industry relating to future workforce. Education of the community and within the industry is critical to the long-term sustainability of this sector. In relation to this there is the opportunity to develop an education program relating to the industry targeted at multiple audiences, including: • Education on succession planning Рthere are industry experts and programs designed specifically to deal with this situation and they need to be engaged to facilitate these sessions. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | Work with industry and training providers to deliver an education and training program for the agricultural industry, focusing on succession planning and community awareness | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | Work with key industry stakeholders (local, regional, national) to: o Promote the region as a destination for agricultural uses o Explore the appetite to develop a series of high-performing grower groups to swap experiences and grow progressive thinking networks throughout the region | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| Economic Action Plan | Investigate and promote potential new products, farming innovations and practices. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Cobar | Regional |
| Economic Action Plan | Investigate and promote potential new products, farming innovations and practices. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Cobar | Regional |
| Economic Action Plan | Use the opportunity and cash flow provided by carbon farming to re-invest in farm productivity and improvements. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Cobar | Regional |
| Economic Action Plan | Investigate and promote the market potential for expanded goat production. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Cobar | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | Identify suitable sites for targeted agricultural uses and review/ amend the planning framework to ensure it supports these uses | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | The industry is evolving, and this provides opportunities for the region to develop a mix of complimentary sectors such as those that revolve around value-adding/ processing, more intensive agricultural uses (e.g. plant and non-plant), agritourism and food and wine expansion. To be successful in attracting these types of sectors to the region, it needs to be identified what they need by way of land, infrastructure and support services, and then identify suitable locations across the region to accommodate these types of businesses, and then ensure the appropriate planning is completed to ensure these types of operations fit into the planning framework. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | Work with key industry stakeholders (local, regional, national) to: o Promote the region as a destination for agricultural uses o Explore the appetite to develop a series of high-performing grower groups to swap experiences and grow progressive thinking networks throughout the region | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | • Establish an industry advisory group for transport and logistics involving key industry stakeholders and community contributors | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | It is important to understand the regions capabilities and strengths as highlighted above, to then promote these as part of the regions profile to attract other sections of the broader supply chain to the region. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | Our agricultural strength, mix of thriving towns and strategic location on the busiest interstate, road freight corridor in Australia (the Hume Highway), presents a number of major economic and jobs growth opportunities for the Hilltops region. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN | There are a range of transport infrastructure related priorities to increase productivity of the regional freight network by time and capacity, including: • Rail: o Explore the opportunity to improve access to Harden from Canberra via a high-speed rail project. o Re-opening is planned for the Demondrille to Young to Cowra to Blayney branch line, which moves freight to Port Kembla and will help to reduce truck movements on the Hume Highway. o Funding has also been allocated through various stakeholders to upgrade the Cunningar siding near Harden. When this goes ahead it will remove approximately 4,000 truck movements per year from local roads and will also allow farmers to save significant costs on freight. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Hilltops | Regional |
| Economic and Industry Development Strategy 2017 – 2021 | The Finley Sale Yard is operated by Scanclear, holding weekly markets that alternate between sheep and cattle. The sale yards service local and regional producers and industry trends are monitored for stock movements and farm to farm transfers. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Berrigan | Regional |
| Economic and Industry Development Strategy 2017 – 2021 | Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) Communication Project The QFF project was commissioned to support and protect the local multimillion-dollar horticultural industries from the threat of QFF once it was declared endemic in the region in 2012. It is an award-winning communications project being highly commended in the LGNSW Communication Awards. At the local level in the first year the project was limited to Berrigan Shire Council however in years 2 and three it has been a combined program with Moira Shire Council. The QFF Project was a series of actions designed to engage the community in understanding the implications of the endemic declaration. Those actions have included: • • • Community forums YouTube Videos – trapping, netting and solarizing. Social Media • Media Releases • • • TV Commercials Street signage • QFF control measures brochure by direct mail • Flyers for rates notices Sale of subsidized traps through Council outlets The program has successfully raised awareness of the severity of the QFF problem and has been recognized at a Regional, State and Federal level. The Victorian State Government has implemented regional QFF funding, and the Action Plan for the Goulburn and Murray Valley Group contains all of the actions that have been implemented by Berrigan and Moira Shires | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Berrigan | Regional |
| Economic and Industry Development Strategy 2017 – 2021 | Assist Industry and the Community to combat Queensland Fruit Fly | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Berrigan | Regional |
| Economic and Industry Development Strategy 2017 – 2021 | Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) Communication Project The QFF project was commissioned to support and protect the local multimillion-dollar horticultural industries from the threat of QFF once it was declared endemic in the region in 2012. It is an award-winning communications project being highly commended in the LGNSW Communication Awards. At the local level in the first year the project was limited to Berrigan Shire Council however in years 2 and three it has been a combined program with Moira Shire Council. The QFF Project was a series of actions designed to engage the community in understanding the implications of the endemic declaration. Those actions have included: • • • Community forums YouTube Videos – trapping, netting and solarizing. Social Media • Media Releases • • • TV Commercials Street signage • QFF control measures brochure by direct mail • Flyers for rates notices Sale of subsidized traps through Council outlets The program has successfully raised awareness of the severity of the QFF problem and has been recognized at a Regional, State and Federal level. The Victorian State Government has implemented regional QFF funding, and the Action Plan for the Goulburn and Murray Valley Group contains all of the actions that have been implemented by Berrigan and Moira Shires | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Berrigan | Regional |
| Economic and Industry Development Strategy 2017 – 2021 | The Finley Sale Yard is operated by Scanclear, holding weekly markets that alternate between sheep and cattle. The sale yards service local and regional producers and industry trends are monitored for stock movements and farm to farm transfers. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Berrigan | Regional |
| ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2018-2022 | 1. Sustain the region’s agriculture and agricultural processing advantage especially in livestock | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Upper Lachlan | Regional |
| ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2018-2022 | Ensure appropriate land use planning policies are in place to sustain seed potato production. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Upper Lachlan | Regional |
| ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2018-2022 | Explore opportunities to attract agricultural education and scientific research facilities to the region. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Upper Lachlan | Regional |