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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY | The Benalla Rural City Council has recently commenced an organics collection in the Benalla urban area to reduce food and green waste in landfill. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Benalla | Regional |
| Environment Strategy | Other community-based adaptation measures, such as community food gardens, will be supported. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Mount Alexander | Regional |
| Environment Strategy | Other community-based adaptation measures, such as community food gardens, will be supported. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Mount Alexander | Regional |
| Environment Strategy | Other community-based adaptation measures, such as community food gardens, will be supported. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Mount Alexander | Regional |
| Environment Strategy 2015—2025 | Preserve agricultural land. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| Environment Strategy 2015—2025 | Rural productivity and agricultural values | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| Environment Strategy 2015—2025 | Support community food production systems and local food supply chains and distribution networks. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| Environment Strategy 2015—2025 | Work with the agricultural sector to transition to environmentally sustainable practices. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| Environment Strategy 2015—2025 | Goal 2: Our water resource is improved and preserved. This goal aims to protect the quality and quantity of water moving through our municipality. Water is needed for our aquatic ecosystems, human consumption, recreational uses and agricultural activity | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| Environment Strategy 2015—2025 | Goal 2: Our water resource is improved and preserved. This goal aims to protect the quality and quantity of water moving through our municipality. Water is needed for our aquatic ecosystems, human consumption, recreational uses and agricultural activity. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| Environment Strategy 2015—2025 | How do we preserve and improve our water resource? Protect water quality for human consumption, agricultural use and healthy aquatic ecosystems. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| Environment Strategy 2015—2025 | Support community food production systems and local food supply chains and distribution networks. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| Environment Strategy 2015—2025 | Support community food production systems and local food supply chains and distribution networks. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| Environment Strategy 2015—2025 | Support nature-based and farm-based tourism opportunities in the region. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019 | Council has a vision for a future which includes thriving communities, resilient agriculture, | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019 | The spread of invasive plants and animals threatens agricultural production and biodiversity in the Shire. These threats can only be successfully managed by cooperative work between the state government, Council and landowners. Council is responsible for the management of weeds and pest animals on Council land and Council managed roadsides under the State Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Landowners are legally responsible for pest plant and animal management on their properties. A joint and coordinated response from all land managers offers the best opportunity for controlling the regional threat of invasive plants and animals | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019 | Threats to our waterways include pollution from litter and stormwater runoff, poorly managed or sited wastewater treatment systems, point source pollution from industry or agriculture, declining riparian vegetation and climate change impacts resulting in reduced groundwater recharge and increased sedimentation after fires. Council has a role to play in protecting our water quality through compliance and monitoring of wastewater treatment systems, drainage management, partnerships with regional and State authorities and implementation of State planning controls. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019 | WATER GOAL: Our water resource is valued and conserved. Wetland and waterway habitat quality is improved. This goal recognises the often competing demands on this scarce resource (both surface and groundwater). It aims to ensure the resource is conserved while safeguarding water quality. Council’s role in this is via advocacy. Water is an important resource for agriculture as well as having an intrinsic value for future generations and contributing to the health of the broader landscape. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019 | Continue to implement the Plasticwise Policy adopted by Council in 2018 . | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019 | Council has adopted a Plasticwise Policy, which aims to reduce, and eventually eliminate consumption of single use plastic within Council’s operational control. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019 | Significant efforts to reduce waste have been undertaken in Indigo Shire particularly with the introduction of a food and green organics collection service. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019 | The introduction of a food and green organics program in 2015 resulted in a reduction in total tonnes of waste to landfill despite increasing household numbers. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Indigo | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019-2027 | 1. Support and encourage new and existing businesses in the implement practices. 2. Encourage and agriculture sector to environmentally sustainable promote environmentally sustainable agriculture models into the Golden Plains Shire. 3. Establish and support partnerships with other agencies, community groups and education facilities to promote, support and implement environmentally sustainable projects in the agriculture sector. 4. Educate and empower local farming industries and community groups to promote, support and implement environmentally sustainable practices in the agriculture sector. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Golden Plains | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019-2027 | Establish and support partnerships with other agencies, community groups and education facilities to promote, support and implement environmentally sustainable projects in the agriculture sector. 4. Educate and empower local farming industries and community groups to promote, support and implement environmentally sustainable practices in the agriculture sector. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Golden Plains | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019-2027 | Holistically manage landscape functions to produce Golden Plains Shire’s food, fuel and fibre. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Golden Plains | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019-2027 | Key Implementation Mechanisms 1. Support and encourage new and existing businesses in the implement practices. 2. Encourage and agriculture sector to environmentally sustainable promote environmentally sustainable agriculture models into the Golden Plains Shire. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Golden Plains | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019-2027 | Key Performance Indicators Each industry is mapped with the specific criteria for sustainable agriculture. All industries are benchmarked against environmentally sustainable best management practices with actions plans noting how they can improve. The number of primary producers participating in sustainable farming education programs per year. The number of new organically certified farms in the municipality per year. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Golden Plains | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019-2027 | Reduce the impact of invasive species on agriculture, natural systems and the community. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Golden Plains | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019-2027 | Targets T 2.3.1: By 2027 25% primary producers in the municipality holistically manage landscape function to produce food, fuel and fibre. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Golden Plains | Regional |
| ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2019-2027 | Theme 2.3: Sustainable agriculture Holistically manage landscape functions to produce Golden Plains Shire’s food, fuel and fibre. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Golden Plains | Regional |