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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growth Management Strategy | 4.7 Driver of Change – Agricultural Lands Th e Growth Management Strategy recognises, and is committed to, protecting existing primary producers and to protecting the agricultural potential of land holdings. Th e importance of retaining and attracting viable agriculture within the Sydney Basin is receiving increasing recognition with government authorities, the media and the general community. Retaining local producers and the employment opportunities generated from agricultural enterprises and benefi ts from consumption of local produce are essential to achieving a sustainable future. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Growth Management Strategy | 6.9.3 Agri-business parks Agri-business parks are similar in concept to an industrial area in that they are usually located away from or outside residential areas and are normally provided with good transportation access, including road and rail. Agri-business parks would allow for intensive agricultural enterprises to operate in closed environments, and can be mixed with other agricultural enterprises or light industrial uses. By providing economies of agglomeration individual businesses benefi t through shared infrastructure, support services such as waste management, processing and marketing. Agri-business parks do not require good agricultural land given the use of intensive large scale green house systems and so could occur in industrial zones. Australia does not currently have any agri-business parks, however there is a proposal for one in Devonport, Tasmania known as “Produce from Heaven”. Th is proposal – the fi rst of its kind in Australia – will combine producers and the private sector and provide shared offi ce facilities, commercial test kitchens and packing facilities. Th ere are many international examples of agri-business parks including in the Netherlands, Singapore and China. Th e F5 freeway corridor may have future potential for these kinds of uses, particularly as Sydney grows and looks more seriously towards sustainable and effi cient food production and general food security issues. Ongoing climate change, new policy approaches to food production and transportation, and rising energy costs may make these kinds of uses viable in the future | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Growth Management Strategy | 6.9.5 Initiatives and Strategies to promote agriculture Wollondilly Council is committed to maintaining and further developing agricultural industry and through its Rural Industry Liaison Committee will be pursuing the following initiatives: • Developing a specifi c Agricultural Industry Development Strategy, the aim of which will be to attract and develop rural industry. • Working with key stakeholder groups to attract and develop rural industry. • • Investigating the potential for agri-business parks (as discussed above). Investigating the potential for agricultural industry “clusters”. • Promotion of best-practice modern sustainable farming techniques and agricultural uses of rural land. • • Continuing to promote local food production as a positive step towards planning for climate change and food security to support a growing population in the Sydney Basin. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Growth Management Strategy | Continuing to ensure that Wollondilly’s planning instruments and development control plans support and encourage the retention and development of rural industries and agri-tourism. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Growth Management Strategy | Rural and Resource lands P21 Council acknowledges and will seek to protect the special economic, environmental and cultural values of Shire’s lands which comprise waterways, drinking water catchments, biodiversity, mineral resources, agricultural lands, aboriginal heritage and European rural landscapes. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Growth Management Strategy | Rural and Resource Lands Where relevant proposals should include an assessment of the potential viability of agricultural use of the land in accordance with recognised guidelines (such as Department of Agriculture Site Suitability Assessments). Th is assessment needs to demonstrate that the site can not reasonably be considered suitable as a viable agricultural holding (neither presently nor in the future) Proposals need to demonstrate that the future use of the land as proposed will not eliminate or restrict opportunities for continued or new agricultural uses on adjoining and nearby land | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Growth Management Strategy | 6.9.3 Agri-business parks Agri-business parks are similar in concept to an industrial area in that they are usually located away from or outside residential areas and are normally provided with good transportation access, including road and rail. Agri-business parks would allow for intensive agricultural enterprises to operate in closed environments, and can be mixed with other agricultural enterprises or light industrial uses. By providing economies of agglomeration individual businesses benefi t through shared infrastructure, support services such as waste management, processing and marketing. Agri-business parks do not require good agricultural land given the use of intensive large scale green house systems and so could occur in industrial zones. Australia does not currently have any agri-business parks, however there is a proposal for one in Devonport, Tasmania known as “Produce from Heaven”. Th is proposal – the fi rst of its kind in Australia – will combine producers and the private sector and provide shared offi ce facilities, commercial test kitchens and packing facilities. Th ere are many international examples of agri-business parks including in the Netherlands, Singapore and China. Th e F5 freeway corridor may have future potential for these kinds of uses, particularly as Sydney grows and looks more seriously towards sustainable and effi cient food production and general food security issues. Ongoing climate change, new policy approaches to food production and transportation, and rising energy costs may make these kinds of uses viable in the future | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Growth Management Strategy | Continuing to promote local food production as a positive step towards planning for climate change and food security to support a growing population in the Sydney Basin. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Wollondilly | Metropolitan |
| Growth Management Strategy | Rural Subdivision Principles In accordance with the provisions of the Rural SEPP and the recent Section 117 Direction, when changing the existing rural minimum lot size on land within a rural zone, the Council must adhere to the Rural Subdivision Principles outlined in the Rural Lands SEPP. The rural subdivision principles outlined in the Rural Lands SEPP have been complied with by this recommended minimum. The principles and reasons for compliance are as follows: Minimisation of rural land fragmentation. The 200 ha minimum for a dwelling house in the Primary Production designation will provide for a more realistic minimum than at present. It is not anticipated that there will be many of these 40 or 100 ha subdivisions so it will not add much to the already fragmented nature of the Shire. It being noted that 58.0% of all farms within the Shire are currently less than 200 ha which suggests that the Shire is already quite fragmented. The holding size map shows that the Shire is already fragmented along the river where these lots are expected to occur so it will not add to the fragmentation significantly. Minimisation of rural land use conflicts. The recommended 200 ha minimum for a dwelling house will create larger lots for agriculture and the creation of a small number of irrigated agriculture lots are not anticipated to add to rural land use conflict because both framers will be practicing agriculture. In addition, a number EDGE Land Planning November 2008 45 Forbes Shire Growth Management Strategy Draft Rural Lands Supplement of the existing farms along the river have irrigation licences and practice irrigation farming so any conflict would be reduced. The requirements for establishing these farms will also deter rural residential uses. Nature of existing agricultural holdings and future rural residential land. The holding analysis map shows that the holdings around the Lachlan River are of a similar size and carrying out irrigated agriculture. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Forbes | Regional |
| GUIDELINES FOR ONE DAY FOOD STALLS POLICY | OBJECTIVE To ensure the operation of food stalls are carried out according to adequate Health & Safety requirements. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Coolamon | Regional |
| GUIDELINES FOR ONE DAY FOOD STALLS POLICY | OBJECTIVE To ensure the operation of food stalls are carried out according to adequate Health & Safety requirements. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Coolamon | Regional |
| Guidelines for preparing a Waste Management Plan 2017 | Food waste City of Melbourne does not provide separate collections of food waste. Separation of food waste into a separate waste stream is at the discretion of the developer. This can be via a food waste collection by a private waste contractor or an on-site food waste processing system. These systems must be purchased or leased by the development. All ongoing maintenance and cleaning is the responsibility of the development. Further information on these systems can be provided by City of Melbourne on request. | Planning Frameworks | Modify housing/property designs to ensure adequate food storage/preparation areas | Victoria | Melbourne | Metropolitan |
| Guidelines for preparing a Waste Management Plan 2017 | Food waste City of Melbourne does not provide separate collections of food waste. Separation of food waste into a separate waste stream is at the discretion of the developer. This can be via a food waste collection by a private waste contractor or an on-site food waste processing system. These systems must be purchased or leased by the development. All ongoing maintenance and cleaning is the responsibility of the development. Further information on these systems can be provided by City of Melbourne on request. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Melbourne | Metropolitan |
| Guidelines for preparing a Waste Management Plan 2017 | On-site food waste processing Developments with food businesses such as cafes and restaurants can benefit from an on-site food waste processing system. These systems use a range of technologies, such as anaerobic or aerobic digestion or dehydration to process food waste. Information on the system requirements, potential benefits and costs is available from technology providers. City of Melbourne can provide a list of potential technology providers on request. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Melbourne | Metropolitan |
| GUIDELINES FOR THE KEEPING OF ROOSTERS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS | GUIDELINES FOR THE KEEPING OF ROOSTERS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Whittlesea | Metropolitan |
| guiding griffith 2040 | Promote and support diverse agricultural industries and encourage ‘best practice’ | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Griffith | Regional |
| guiding griffith 2040 | Promote and support diverse agricultural industries and encourage ‘best practice’. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Griffith | Regional |
| Gunnedah Community Strategic Plan 2017 Р2027 | • Support to local events, for e.g. AgQuip and | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Gunnedah | Regional |
| Gunnedah Community Strategic Plan 2017 – 2027 | Support local events and community celebrations, for example, AgQuip, NA | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Gunnedah | Regional |
| Gunnedah Community Strategic Plan 2017 – 2027 | 3.2 Improved housing affordability 3.2.1 Encourage a mix of housing types that is affordable, adaptable, accessible and suited to community needs | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Gunnedah | Regional |
| Gunnedah Community Strategic Plan 2017 – 2027 | 3.2.2 Lobby State and Federal government for measures to improve housing affordability and access to public housing stock | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Gunnedah | Regional |
| Gunnedah Community Strategic Plan 2017 – 2027 | 4.1.4 Lobby for planning controls that balance the need for mining, agriculture and protection of the environment which reflects in the long term future for the environment | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Gunnedah | Regional |
| Gunnedah Community Strategic Plan 2017 – 2027 | 4.2.3 Encourage cooperation between industry (such as mining, agriculture) and environmental groups to rehabilitate negatively impacted areas | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Gunnedah | Regional |
| Gunnedah Economic Development Strategy | Access to research and development, innovation and best practice | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Gunnedah | Regional |
| Gunnedah Economic Development Strategy | Protect agricultural land and water resources within the Shire and surrounding Gunnedah Basin | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Gunnedah | Regional |
| Gunnedah Economic Development Strategy | Through local, regional and State planning controls, continue to protect agricultural lands, agricultural activities and water resources within the Shire and surrounding areas from encroachment by residential/rural residential, industrial and extractive activities | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Gunnedah | Regional |
| Gunnedah Economic Development Strategy | Working with the farming community, identify R&D, training and information needs and explore options for providing training, access to information etc | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Gunnedah | Regional |
| Gunnedah Economic Development Strategy | 11.1.1 Through local, regional and State planning controls, continue to protect agricultural lands, agricultural activities and water resources within the Shire and surrounding areas from encroachment by residential/rural residential, industrial and extractive activities. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Gunnedah | Regional |
| Gunnedah Economic Development Strategy | Ensure access to water for agricultural production | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Gunnedah | Regional |
| Gunnedah Economic Development Strategy | Support the agricultural sector in ensuring ongoing access to quality surface and ground water resources for irrigation and other agricultural activities | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Gunnedah | Regional |