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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Support initiatives relating to commercial agriculture, a key sector for local employment. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Food for Life Food for Life is a resource developed by Council in consultation with the community that aims to support services, businesses, farmers, communities and Council to increase and sustain nutritious eating. The plan also considers the environments for health and the social determinants affecting food. Area of influence Food System Food Literacy Food for Life notes the influence of food systems such as the marketing of fast food and sugary drinks and how this can affect people’s choices in ways that contribute to poor mental and physical health. The Plan highlights preferred futures across three areas of influence that Council, partners and community can aspire to and work together on. Goals for our food future Yarra Ranges has a thriving, varied and sustainable food production industry, which provides a wide range of food choices to local residents. People who live, work and study in Yarra Ranges have the knowledge, motivation and capacity to access and prepare nutritious food and make healthy choices. Food Security All Yarra Ranges residents have financial and geographic access to sufficient nutritious and culturally appropriate food to meet their needs. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Support initiatives relating to commercial agriculture, a key sector for local employment. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | People have suitable, affordable and stable housing | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Major Initiative – Water Everyone’s drink of choice Reducing the consumption of sugary drinks will reduce obesity, cut diabetes rates and improve overall health. The Victorian Population Health Survey notes “the consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks has significantly contributed to the obestiy epidemic, with a number of studies showing a link between consuming sugar sweeteened drinks and increasing energy intake, leading to weight gain. It is also associated with increased risk of other health problems, including dental caries, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease”. Through this major initiative Council will seek to shift behaviours through strategic action. • Advocate for systemic change such as tax incentives to support replacing sugary drinks with water. • Leverage opportunities to lead change through Council contracted services. • Increase access to potable water in townships, recreation areas and facilities and on major walking and cycling trails. • Lead by example, promoting and serving water instead of sugary drinks throughout Council. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | The high level strategic actions identified to promote and support people to eat nutritious foods are: • Council will lead the way by offering healthy food through its events, services and programs. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | • promote water over sugary drinks | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Community efforts to support health include the work of the Upper Yarra Body Image Working Group which is a collaboration promoting body esteem and health. It aims to raise awareness, build capacity and engage community and empower individuals to make healthenhancing choices, supported by a community that celebrates body diversity and wellbeing. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Council’s grant programs will include criteria to encourage projects that develop food skills, increase access to fresh, nutritious foods and builds confidence in preparing nutritious food. • | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Criteria for Council’s partnership grants to support community capacity building and skills development when responding to food insecurity. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Food for Life Food for Life is a resource developed by Council in consultation with the community that aims to support services, businesses, farmers, communities and Council to increase and sustain nutritious eating. The plan also considers the environments for health and the social determinants affecting food. Area of influence Food System Food Literacy Food for Life notes the influence of food systems such as the marketing of fast food and sugary drinks and how this can affect people’s choices in ways that contribute to poor mental and physical health. The Plan highlights preferred futures across three areas of influence that Council, partners and community can aspire to and work together on. Goals for our food future Yarra Ranges has a thriving, varied and sustainable food production industry, which provides a wide range of food choices to local residents. People who live, work and study in Yarra Ranges have the knowledge, motivation and capacity to access and prepare nutritious food and make healthy choices. Food Security All Yarra Ranges residents have financial and geographic access to sufficient nutritious and culturally appropriate food to meet their needs. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Goal 1 PEOPLE IN YARRA RANGES ARE ABLE TO ACCESS, PREPARE AND EAT NUTRITIOUS FOODS | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Hills Food Frontier, | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Hills Food Frontier, Koha Café and Menzies Creek Primary School are all examples where communities have taken collective approaches to improving access, knowledge and consumption of nutritious foods. These projects also connect people into their communities. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Local Community Health Services also strongly supported this aspect of promoting healthy eating during the development of the strategy and noted the multiple, serious health impacts resulting from eating disorders. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Major initiative Water, everyone’s drink of choice Expected change (indicators that show improvement) Significant drop in the rates of childhood obesity Halt the rate of rise in Type 2 diabetes Reduced hospital admissions from heart disease and kidney disease Reduced general anesthesia for children needing dental treatment | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Major initiative for Priority One Water – everyone’s’ drink of choice | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | More effectively allocate Council’s resources and responsibilities across the environments for health e.g. harnessing existing Council roles to promote walking and water as the drink of choice. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | • partner with businesses in change | Health and Wellbeing | Encourage existing retailers/caterers to sell healthy, sustainable and affordable food | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | partnerships to replace sugary drinks with water | Health and Wellbeing | Encourage existing retailers/caterers to sell healthy, sustainable and affordable food | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | supporting local business to produce safe and healthy food | Health and Wellbeing | Encourage existing retailers/caterers to sell healthy, sustainable and affordable food | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Advocate for systemic change such as tax incentives to support replacing sugary drinks with water. | Health and Wellbeing | Use economic measures to encourage affordability/consumption of healthier foods; discourage less healthy foods | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Council actions to replace sugary drinks with water are represented below. • install water bubblers and refill stations in activity centres, recreation facilities | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Major Initiative – Water Everyone’s drink of choice Reducing the consumption of sugary drinks will reduce obesity, cut diabetes rates and improve overall health. The Victorian Population Health Survey notes “the consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks has significantly contributed to the obestiy epidemic, with a number of studies showing a link between consuming sugar sweeteened drinks and increasing energy intake, leading to weight gain. It is also associated with increased risk of other health problems, including dental caries, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease”. Through this major initiative Council will seek to shift behaviours through strategic action. • Advocate for systemic change such as tax incentives to support replacing sugary drinks with water. • Leverage opportunities to lead change through Council contracted services. • Increase access to potable water in townships, recreation areas and facilities and on major walking and cycling trails. • Lead by example, promoting and serving water instead of sugary drinks throughout Council. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Council’s grant programs will include criteria to encourage projects that develop food skills, increase access to fresh, nutritious foods and builds confidence in preparing nutritious food. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Food for Life Food for Life is a resource developed by Council in consultation with the community that aims to support services, businesses, farmers, communities and Council to increase and sustain nutritious eating. The plan also considers the environments for health and the social determinants affecting food. Area of influence Food System Food Literacy Food for Life notes the influence of food systems such as the marketing of fast food and sugary drinks and how this can affect people’s choices in ways that contribute to poor mental and physical health. The Plan highlights preferred futures across three areas of influence that Council, partners and community can aspire to and work together on. Goals for our food future Yarra Ranges has a thriving, varied and sustainable food production industry, which provides a wide range of food choices to local residents. People who live, work and study in Yarra Ranges have the knowledge, motivation and capacity to access and prepare nutritious food and make healthy choices. Food Security All Yarra Ranges residents have financial and geographic access to sufficient nutritious and culturally appropriate food to meet their needs. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | increasing access to nutritious food | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Food for Life Food for Life is a resource developed by Council in consultation with the community that aims to support services, businesses, farmers, communities and Council to increase and sustain nutritious eating. The plan also considers the environments for health and the social determinants affecting food. Area of influence Food System Food Literacy Food for Life notes the influence of food systems such as the marketing of fast food and sugary drinks and how this can affect people’s choices in ways that contribute to poor mental and physical health. The Plan highlights preferred futures across three areas of influence that Council, partners and community can aspire to and work together on. Goals for our food future Yarra Ranges has a thriving, varied and sustainable food production industry, which provides a wide range of food choices to local residents. People who live, work and study in Yarra Ranges have the knowledge, motivation and capacity to access and prepare nutritious food and make healthy choices. Food Security All Yarra Ranges residents have financial and geographic access to sufficient nutritious and culturally appropriate food to meet their needs. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Protect agricultural land for food growing through Council’s planning controls. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Protecting agricultural land, developing Structure Plans to guide future land use and development, protecting public health through food regulation and education. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |