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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Ensure future renewal of existing public housing estates in Mitchell Crescent (7-33 Bay Street) and Nott Street maintains the existing social housing component, with potential for an increased dwelling yield and mix of tenures. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Facilitation of Community Housing / private sector affordable housing. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Objective 3.4 Ensure lower income members of the Port Melbourne community continue to have access to affordable goods, services and housing Strategies & Initiatives: 3.4.1 Seek to increase the supply of affordable (social) housing within and in close proximity to the activity centre, to maximise opportunities for lower income locals to remain in Port Melbourne as housing costs (private rental and purchase) increase. 3.4.2 Ensure equitable and affordable access to goods and services, community support services, and accessible / low cost specialist services. Objective 3.5 including food, shops, established concentrations of | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Require new development to provide at least 10% of new dwellings as affordable units. (Strategy: 2.4.1. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Work in collaboration with local community housing organisations and private developers to identify suitable site opportunities for affordable housing. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Encourage ‘shop-top’ housing across the retail centre using existing upper level floor space or sensitive additions to existing buildings. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Ensure Bay Street continues to function as a true ‘mixed use’ centre providing the opportunity to live, work, shop and recreate locally Strategies 7.6.1 Aim for local self-sufficiency in the provision of goods and services within the activity centre to facilitate multi-purpose trips and the ability to shop and access services locally. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Facilitate remaining opportunities for housing growth within the activity centre whilst protecting the heritage, low-rise character and amenity of the surrounding established residential areas. New housing within and close to major activity centres contribute to the sustainability of urban areas through maximising access to shops, community facilities and transport | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Strategies & Initiatives: 3.4.1 Seek to increase the supply of affordable (social) housing within and in close proximity to the activity centre, to maximise opportunities for lower income locals to remain in Port Melbourne as housing costs (private rental and purchase) increase. 3.4.2 Ensure equitable and affordable access to goods and services, community support services, and accessible / low cost specialist services. Objective 3.5 including food, shops, established concentrations of | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Strategies: 1.1.1 1.1.2 Ensure supermarket / grocery facilities continue to ‘anchor’ the centre’s convenience retail offer. Facilitate the establishment of more ‘food for the home’ businesses to further reinforce this established retail niche. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Undertake a precinct scale assessment of opportunities to improve food access and security issues, reduce food miles, and encourage local food production. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Undertake a precinct scale assessment of opportunities to improve food access and security issues, reduce food miles, and encourage local food production. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Identify precinct scale opportunities to respond to food access and security issues, reduce food miles, and encourage local food production including a community garden | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Identify precinct scale opportunities to respond to food access and security issues, reduce food miles, and encourage local food production including a community garden, edible planting in public spaces | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Investigate the development of low cost or free food options such as: o A community garden; o P | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Investigate the development of low cost or free food options such as: o A community garden; o Planting of edible plants and trees in Council reserves and nature strips; | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Identify precinct scale opportunities to respond to food access and security issues, reduce food miles, and encourage local food production including a community garden | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Investigate opportunities to improve community waste streams, including communal composting and green / organic waste management. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Investigate the development of low cost or free food options such as: o A community garden; | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Undertake an assessment of opportunities to improve community waste streams, including communal composting and green / organic waste management. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Identify precinct scale opportunities to respond to food access and security issues, reduce food miles, and encourage local food production including a community garden, edible planting in public spaces, a food co-operative, and a low-cost farmers market (as recommended in Strategic Direction 3: Connecting the Community). | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Undertake a precinct scale assessment of opportunities to improve food access and security issues, reduce food miles, and encourage local food production. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Investigate opportunities to improve community waste streams, including communal composting and green / organic waste management. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Undertake an assessment of opportunities to improve community waste streams, including communal composting and green / organic waste management. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Strategies: 1.1.1 1.1.2 Ensure supermarket / grocery facilities continue to ‘anchor’ the centre’s convenience retail offer. Facilitate the establishment of more ‘food for the home’ businesses to further reinforce this established retail niche. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Identify precinct scale opportunities to respond to food access and security issues, reduce food miles, and encourage local food production including a community garden, edible planting in public spaces, a food co-operative, and a low-cost farmers market (as recommended in Strategic Direction 3: Connecting the Community). | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Investigate the development of low cost or free food options such as: o A community garden; o Planting of edible plants and trees in Council reserves and nature strips; o Establishment of a food co-operative; | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| ACTIVITY CENTRE STRUCTURE PLAN | Investigate the development of low cost or free food options such as: o A community garden; o Planting of edible plants and trees in Council reserves and nature strips; o Establishment of a food co-operative; o Establishment of a low cost farmers market. | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Activity Centres Strategy 2016 | Neighbourhood A neighbourhood activity centre primarily serves its surrounding residential neighbourhood with grocery and other day-to-day or regular convenience retail needs. Most neighbourhood centres are located in residential areas. They may be defined as Large or Small centres, as noted below: • Large Neighbourhood – Large neighbourhood centres are anchored by one or more fullline supermarkets and contain a comprehensive food and grocery offer, as well as a range of basic non-food products (e.g., chemist, newsagency, hairdresser etc.). A fullline supermarket is generally larger than 3,000m2 and includes the full range of products available in a traditional supermarket, including fresh food, delicatessen and seafood. Increasingly, consumers prefer to shop at centres containing full-line supermarkets, mainly due to the additional product range available in these stores. A large neighbourhood centre also includes a range of retail shops and services, and often has a non-retail commercial and community-based component. • Small Neighbourhood – Small neighbourhood centres are typically anchored by a limited range supermarket of up to 3,000m2 and serve a smaller catchment than a large neighbourhood centre. Small neighbourhood centres tend to serve a day-to-day convenience or top-up shopping role for the surrounding area. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Wyndham | Metropolitan |
| Activity Centres Strategy 2016 | Neighbourhood: A neighbourhood activity centre primarily serves its surrounding residential neighbourhood with grocery and other day-to-day or regular convenience retail needs. Most neighbourhood centres are located in residential areas. They may be defined as Large or Small Neighbourhood centres. – Large neighbourhood centres are anchored by one or more full-line supermarkets and contain a comprehensive food and grocery offer, as well as some basic nonfood products (e.g., chemist, hairdresser etc.). A full-line supermarket is generally larger than 3,000m2 in floorspace and includes the full range of products available in a traditional supermarket, including fresh food, delicatessen and seafood. Increasingly, consumers prefer to shop at centres containing full-line supermarkets, mainly due to the additional product range available in these stores. – Small neighbourhood centres are typically anchored by a limited range supermarket of up to 3,000m2 and serve a smaller catchment than a large neighbourhood centre. Small neighbourhood centres tend to serve a day-to-day convenience or top-up shopping role for the surrounding area. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Wyndham | Metropolitan |