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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawkesbury Residential Land Strategy | Hawkesbury LGA has a high level of job self-containment with local employment sectors in education, industry, agriculture, commerce and retail and this should be maintained or improved. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Hawkesbury | Metropolitan |
| Hawkesbury Residential Land Strategy | Heritage and Character Rural lands within the subregion also attract visitors and tourists to the areas. A farm gate trail through Hornsby, Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury LGA is promoted by Hawkesbury Harvest, a community based organisation established to promote rural industries in the Hawkesbury LGA. 4 | 41 The rural character of Hawkesbury is seen as attractive to visitors and the local community. Best practice guidelines and performance standards have been implemented to protect the rural character of the area. Implications for the Hawkesbury Residential Strategy _ Design proximate to heritage items should be treated sensitively in new development. _ Urban development in close proximity to heritage items should be assessed for its impact on the heritage environment | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Hawkesbury | Metropolitan |
| Hcach and Coastal Reserves Generic Plan of Management | I. Install amenities such as bubblers, showers | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Randwick | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH & WELLBEING PLAN 2017-2021 | Support initiatives that address housing security and affordability. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Hume | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH & WELLBEING PLAN 2017-2021 | Goals: 10% increase in Hume adults consuming the recommended dietary intake of fruit and vegetables by 2025. 5% decrease in the number of adults consuming sugar-sweetened drinks on a daily basis by 2025. 10% increase in the proportion of babies fully breastfed at 3 months of age by 2025. Strategic Objectives: Promote the consumption of healthy foods. Deliver initiatives that make healthy choices easier choices for Hume residents. Create a secure, healthy and sustainable food system. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Hume | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH & WELLBEING PLAN 2017-2021 | HEALTHY EATING Most Hume residents have enough to eat and recognise the importance of healthy eating. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Hume | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH & WELLBEING PLAN 2017-2021 | are fully breastfed at 3 months of age, compared to a Victorian average of 51.4% | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | Victoria | Hume | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH & WELLBEING PLAN 2017-2021 | Goals: 10% increase in Hume adults consuming the recommended dietary intake of fruit and vegetables by 2025. 5% decrease in the number of adults consuming sugar-sweetened drinks on a daily basis by 2025. 10% increase in the proportion of babies fully breastfed at 3 months of age by 2025. Strategic Objectives: Promote the consumption of healthy foods. Deliver initiatives that make healthy choices easier choices for Hume residents. Create a secure, healthy and sustainable food system. | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | Victoria | Hume | Metropolitan |
| Health & Wellbeing Policy | (ii) To provide healthy eating choices in the workplace through addressing healthy physical settings, such as food storage and preparation; food access and supply; and education. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy eating by LG staff | NSW | Upper Lachlan | Regional |
| Health & Wellbeing Policy | Raise awareness within the workplace of the issues that impact on health and wellbeing, by: a) Displaying information for example on healthy eating, including posters and brochures, throughout the workplace | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy eating by LG staff | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |
| Health & Wellbeing Policy | Create a workplace culture that supports and encourages people to be healthy, by: a) Providing education and training sessions on Mental Health First Aid b) Arranging work-related social functions; activities may include movie screenings, team games or a family fun day at a local park c) Organising a soup and salad group, where workers are rostered to bring salads in summer and soups in winter to share with their colleagues | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy eating by LG staff | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |
| Health & Wellbeing Policy | Educate management and workers about the importance of leading a healthy and active lifestyle in order to prevent chronic disease, by: a) Organising for a health and other professionals to provide education sessions on the health effects of drinking alcohol; preventing heart disease, managing stress, diet, and balancing work and family life. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy eating by LG staff | NSW | Muswellbrook | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | 1.10 Housing and Affordable Housing 1.10a) Housing in the Cessnock local government area is affordable for residents. Council to be a strong advocate for an increase in the availability of appropriate, affordable housing solutions which are of benefit to the local community. Outcome: The need for local affordable housing solutions is advocated at a local, state and federal level. Measures: – Representations made by Council advocating for affordable housing. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | 1.10b) A range of appropriate housing options are available in the Cessnock local government area. Council to develop a housing strategy that considers future supply and demand for affordable housing and includes supported accommodation, boarding homes and group homes. Outcome: The community is provided with increased affordable housing options. Measures: – Development of a Housing Strategy. – Implementation of the housing strategy. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | Housing and Affordable Housing | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | 1.2 Eating for Better Health 1.2a) Healthy catering is provided at community events. Develop a healthy catering policy for implementation at community events where catering is funded by Council and/or provided at a Council hosted community event. Outcome: Attendees at council hosted community events have access to healthy and nutritious foods. Measures: – Adoption of a healthy catering policy. – Council community events provide healthy catering. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | Council that could assist with this process, including a resource from the Heart Foundation titled ‘A Healthier Serve, The Heart Foundation’s Guide to Healthier Catering’ | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | In modelling good nutrition, it has been suggested that Council adopt a position of healthy catering at its community events. There are a number of resources available to | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | 1.2c) Infrastructure that encourages healthy cooking is available within the Cessnock local government area. Ongoing Be Active Keep Learning In the design of any new community centre, consider the inclusion of a commercial kitchen that can be used to facilitate healthy cooking programs. Infrastructure that allows pop-up cooking demonstrations should also be considered and provision of BBQ facilities in accordance with Council’s open space and recreation design guidelines. Outcome: The community has access to cooking facilities and a commercial kitchen for healthy cooking programs. Measures: – Installation of a commercial kitchen. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | Although Council does not currently deliver individualised health programs that provide nutrition and physical exercise education, it could have a role in modelling improved nutrition and encouragement of physical exercise. For example, Council delivers a number of community events such as Senior’s, Youth and NAIDOC Week. In their calendar of events these celebratory weeks could encourage the inclusion of free or affordable physical activities. If Council, in the future, was to deliver community health and physical exercise programs, it would need to engage staff or providers with expertise in these areas which would represent an additional financial resource. Alternatively, Council could offer its support to the not for profit and government sector by providing funding letters of support that aim to deliver localised community nutrition and fitness programs. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | 1.2b) The community has access to fat and salt reduced foods. Advocate for the delivery of community based programs that provide healthy food options. Outcome: Through collaboration and the sharing of skills, expertise, knowledge and resources, healthier foods are provided. Measures: – Collaborative partnerships formed to deliver a range of programs. – Food outlets cook with healthier oils. – Healthier oils are used as part of food supply and food preparation benefiting the consumer. | Health and Wellbeing | Encourage existing retailers/caterers to sell healthy, sustainable and affordable food | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | In seeking to reduce the levels of unhealthy saturated and trans fats in the local food supply, Cessnock City Council, in partnership with the Heart Foundation NSW has implemented the Healthy Oils Project. The Healthy Oils Project encourages business owners to switch to healthier cooking oil for shallow and deep frying. | Health and Wellbeing | Encourage existing retailers/caterers to sell healthy, sustainable and affordable food | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | 2.1b) Food security is supported with a variety of foods grown and produced locally. Continue to ensure that the Cessnock local government area has an adequate supply of land zoning to enable the provision of primary food production and farming. Outcome: The community has access to locally grown and produced foods. Measures: – Availability of land zoned in the local government area that permits primary food production and farming. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | 2.1c) The community has access to lands that enable fresh food growth. Council to investigate and consider its position on road reserves being used for community gardens. Outcome: A determination is made for the placement of community gardens on Council road reserves. Measures: – Report to Council and determination made. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | 2.1c) The community has access to lands that enable fresh food growth. Council to investigate and consider its position on road reserves being used for community gardens. Outcome: A determination is made for the placement of community gardens on Council road reserves. Measures: – Report to Council and determination made. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | 2.1b) Food security is supported with a variety of foods grown and produced locally. Continue to ensure that the Cessnock local government area has an adequate supply of land zoning to enable the provision of primary food production and farming. Outcome: The community has access to locally grown and produced foods. Measures: – Availability of land zoned in the local government area that permits primary food production and farming. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | 2.1 Food Safety and Food Security 2.1a) Food safety education programs are delivered with a strong focus on community capacity building. Continue to work in partnership with food proprietors to increase skills, knowledge and understanding of best practice food safety management. Outcome: Food premises within the local government area have best practice food safety standards. Measures: – Education initiatives are delivered within the community. – Training is provided to the community. – Resources are distributed to the community. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | Council regularly inspects all types of food establishments, to ensure that they are compliant with the Food Act 2003. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | Focus Area 2: Healthy Environments Themes Food Safety and Food Security | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PLAN 2017-21 | Focus Area: Healthy Environments • Food Safety and Security | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Cessnock | Regional |