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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN | Council has made significant achievements in IWM including: ~ Installation of rainwater tanks at over 70 Councilowned facilities that can store over 1 million litres of water (as of 2019). These facilities include Council’s Global Learning Centres, preschools, neighbourhood houses, sports pavilions, local clubrooms, community gardens, and community centres to provide an alternative to using drinking water for things like toiletflushing and watering garden beds. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Hume | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | The region has experienced pressures such as urbanisation and variable rainfall. In response to these pressures, the proposed Bunyip Food Belt project examined the potential of transferring 26 gigalitre per year of Class A water approximately 80 kilometres from the Eastern Treatment Plant to irrigate approximately 8,000 hectares across the shire and the adjacent City of Casey. With the Bunyip Food Belt project, doubts were raised over the timing of the availability of Class A water and, if it was available, the high capital cost of transferring it. This plan proposes investigating an alternative that looks at more local or easier-to-harness sources that can supply Cardinia Shire’s growers. It is hoped that in looking locally, and at a slightly smaller scale, other opportunities may present. As discussed, it is estimated that new employment and residential areas will generate an additional 25 gigalitre per year of stormwater. Traditionally this would have a negative impact on downstream infrastructure and environments, but may also present as a valuable resource. Add to this additional wastewater being treated at Pakenham STP due to population growth and there may be additional sources that can be harnessed locally. Figure 33 illustrates the proximity of agricultural precincts in relation to employment precincts in the shire, and therefore potential sources of stormwater. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | 6.3.3 Opportunity The opportunity for Council is to identify one or more larger scale, alternative water sources that may present as a lower cost solution to support agricultural activity and productivity in the shire. This scheme would focus only on supplying local producers and aim to identify local water supplies. In this way, it differs from the initial Bunyip Food Belt project that was looking to supply water over two municipalities from one source. In doing so, Council can utilise background work completed for the Bunyip Food Belt to compare the relative cost and feasibility of other approaches to potentially identify a favourable alternative to transferring future Class A recycled water from ETP. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | 6.3.4 Potential alternative water sources Initial discussions with South East Water and Melbourne Water have identified a number of potential water sources. Some of these may be able to be drawn on, while others may require negotiation with relevant agencies. Possible supply options are summarised in Table 3. It must be noted however, that while surface water flows may be suitable, the environmental flow of each waterway system must be maintained before being considered for irrigation purposes. Cardinia Shire Council Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 47 Table 3. Source Potential alternative water sources Description Surface water (waterways) Surface water (existing and future retarding basins and wetlands) Tarago River Bunyip River Manks Road retarding basin Browns Road (off Toomuc Creek) McGregor and Watsons Road (Pakenham) Deep Creek retarding basin IYU recreation reserve New retarding basins related to PSPs Recycled water Pakenham STP Koo Wee Rup STP Lang Lang STP Rainwater Stormwater Managed Aquifer Recovery (MAR) 6.3.5 Council: Community: Target Develop a strategy that identifies potential alternative water sources for Cardinia Shire’s agricultural regions To support Victorian Government programs to use alternative water sources including recycled water and rainwater Large roofs e.g. future employment districts Stormwater from progressive urban development within the shire, and particularly employment areas south of Princes Freeway Stormwater injection and recovery using existing infrastructure | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | 6.4.5 Action 1 Identify and invite key Southern Rural Water staff to a meeting or series of meetings to discuss groundwater topics that are relevant to the shire including: The role of groundwater in the water cycle The Port Phillip and Westernport groundwater atlas and its implications for groundwater use in Cardinia (including what is sustainable groundwater use in Cardinia Shire?) The interaction of surface and groundwater and the implications for urbanisation Groundwater dependent ecosystems in Cardinia Managed Groundwater Recovery (MGR) opportunities. 2 Engage Southern Rural Water within the MPA’s “whole of water cycle assessment” process to inform groundwater considerations including: the impact of development on the surface water / groundwater balance the role of WSUD and whether this could assist infiltration into the aquifer, impacts on groundwater dependent ecosystems. 3 Based on the outcomes of the engagement with Southern Rural Water, prepare Council guidelines that provide a hierarchical use of alternative water sources to groundwater for all Council facilities and reserves (i.e. identifying sensitive areas where groundwater resources are stretched or shouldn’t be used). 2016-17 to 2020-21 Strategic Planning (Growth Areas) ongoing officer time SRW MPA Groundwater action plan Timing 2016 -17 to 2017-18 Responsibility Environment Estimated cost or resource 10 days of officer time Funding or partnership SRW 2018-19 Environment 20 days of officer time SRW | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | 7.5 Alternative water supply A range of scales at which to provide alternative water supplies exist, from lot, to PSP to suburb or region. While, again, opportunities can be identified through the PSP and WOWCA process, a broader vision to use the shire’s water resources to support its productive agricultural activities is recommended for investigation. This has the potential to take advantage of additional stormwater and roof water generated from new urban development, upgrades to local treatment plants, flood mitigation works and storage and the delivery of desalinated water that may see the Tarago resource available for use and managed aquifer recharge capabilities. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | Advocate for alternative water resources for Farmers in the Bunyip Food Belt Area. 2 Seek in-principle and financial support to progress investigations into a full-feasibility and/or business case of alternative water resource for Bunyip Food Belt | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | Cardinia Shire Council’s Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP) encompasses the anticipated growth in population and the impact of urbanisation on Cardinia Shire’s water cycle, and seeks to ensure that the water cycle can support productive land uses, particularly in the context of climate change. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | Council: Develop a strategy to identify potential alternative water sources for Cardinia Shire’s agricultural regions including the Bunyip Food Belt, with alternative water Community: to support Victorian Government programs to use alternative water sources including recycled water, stormwater and rainwater tanks | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | Council: Develop a strategy to identify potential alternative water sources for Cardinia Shire’s agricultural regions with alternative water Community: to support Victorian Government and water authority programs to use alternative water sources including recycled water and rainwater tanks | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | Council: to work with Southern Rural Water to investigate groundwater use and quality Community: to provide information to the Community on groundwater availability, use, quality and conservation | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | Current groundwater allocations seem to exceed sustainable levels and no further licences are being allocated. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | Groundwater Influence the overall water cycle to preserve groundwater resources Council: to work with Southern Rural Water to investigate groundwater use and quality in sufficient detail to identify opportunities and impacts of its use Community: to provide information to the community on groundwater availability, use, quality and conservation. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | he potential to develop non-potable water sources to satisfy agricultural demands. The pressures of population growth and climate change may see the agricultural output from Cardinia Shire become increasingly important, particularly as Australia positions itself as the food bowl of Asia. One critical risk to this may be the reliability of water supplies. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | n recent times the region has experienced pressure from urbanisation and reduced rainfall reliability. In response, Cardinia Shire and Casey councils proposed transferring recycled water 80 kilometres from the Eastern Treatment Plant (ETP) to the Bunyip Food Belt region to provide a climate-independent water source. This proposal relies on Melbourne Water upgrading the ETP to produce water suitable for agricultural irrigation. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | the degree to which groundwater use is sustainable depends on whether measured usage or licenced allocations are being considered. It is evident that licenced allocations exceed likely recharge volumes; however, recent consumption seems to be below recharge volumes and therefore potentially sustainable. This may be a simplistic reading of the available data and therefore Council and the community may need a clearer understanding of groundwater’s role in the broader water cycle and particularly the conditions under which its use is and isn’t sustainable. With this information, Council can plan the best way to contribute to sustainable groundwater management. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | The overarching opportunity in relation to groundwater is for Council to better understand its role within the water cycle and therefore how to best use it as a Council, and promote its use and conservation within the Community. The overarching aim will be to contribute to the sustainable use of groundwater over the long term. Groundwater issues that may be relevant to this understanding include the interaction between surface variations in groundwater quality across the shire (and therefore suitability of end uses), the limits to sustainable use and the potential for allocated volumes to be exercised. In setting this target, it is recognised that Council does not manage groundwater resources and is limited to having an indirect influencing role. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is an opportunity that should be explored because existing infrastructure can be used to supply injected stormwater into the aquifer to the agricultural areas for recovery. 6.4.4 Council: Community: Cardinia Shire Council Target To work with Southern Rural Water to identify groundwater opportunities (use) and impacts (quality) of its use In conjunction with Southern Rural Water, provide information on ground water availability, use, quality and conservation | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | undwater: to contribute to sustainable groundwater management, including exploring the option of alternative water sources for agriculture. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | Cardinia Shire Council’s Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP) encompasses the anticipated growth in population and the impact of urbanisation on Cardinia Shire’s water cycle, and seeks to ensure that the water cycle can support productive land uses, particularly in the context of climate change. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | he potential to develop non-potable water sources to satisfy agricultural demands. The pressures of population growth and climate change may see the agricultural output from Cardinia Shire become increasingly important, particularly as Australia positions itself as the food bowl of Asia. One critical risk to this may be the reliability of water supplies. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2015–25 | n recent times the region has experienced pressure from urbanisation and reduced rainfall reliability. In response, Cardinia Shire and Casey councils proposed transferring recycled water 80 kilometres from the Eastern Treatment Plant (ETP) to the Bunyip Food Belt region to provide a climate-independent water source. This proposal relies on Melbourne Water upgrading the ETP to produce water suitable for agricultural irrigation. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2017 | 8.6. Work with relevant authorities (Melbourne Water, CMA, DPI and Yarra Valley Water) to promote sustainable water use in agriculture | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2017 | 9.1. Investigate and implement effective stormwater education programs for schools, residents, commercial and agricultural sectors | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Plan 2017 | 9.1. Investigate and implement effective stormwater education programs for schools, residents, commercial and agricultural sectors | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Strategy 2014–2024 | ‘Choose Tap’ campaign (with YVW | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Boroondara | Metropolitan |
| Integrated Water Management Strategy 2014–2024 | Identify, map and analyse Council facilities and open spaces with significant (current or future) water demand suitable for transition to use of non-drinking water. Considering ‘future demand’ would aim to foresee potential for sustainably integrating harvested water within the public realm to provide urban cooling and improved landscape amenity (eg ephemeral water features, for food production etc). This exercise will consider the sites most suitable for transition to non-drinking water, and ensuring available water – either treated stormwater or rainwater – is fit for purpose. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Boroondara | Metropolitan |
| INTERCULTURAL PLAN 2017–2021 | The City of Melton has celebrated Harmony Day on March 21st of every year since 2004. During this time, it has grown into an outdoor festival, incorporating world cuisines, local and regional performances, market stalls, and activities for the whole family. The message of Harmony Day is ‘everyone belongs’, and aims to engage people to participate in the community, respect cultural and religious diversity and foster sense of belonging for everyone. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Melton | Metropolitan |
| Invasive Species Action Plan 2015 | The Plan identifies five goals to realise this vision: 1. Improving agricultural assets on private land through control of invasive species. 2. Improving biodiversity assets on private land through control of invasive species. 3. Minimising the impacts of invasive species on roadsides. 4. Managing invasive species in Council’s bushland and wetland reserves. 5. Managing invasive species information. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Nillumbik | Metropolitan |
| Inverell Shire Cultural and Arts Strategy 2019-2029 | 4.3 Encourage locals and visitors to choose local arts and cultural products, experiences and activities. Arts and cultural activities can be a direct source of income for local businesses and services, as well as indirectly for industries such as hospitality, manufacturing, agriculture, and government. It is critical to the sustainability of the sector that residents and organisations “choose local” and support local artists, makers, creators and cultural producers. Existing arts and cultural products, experiences, events and activities within Inverell Shire include the Art Gallery, museums, heritage architecture and cultural heritage, locally grown and produced food, Aboriginal culture and important sites, natural environment, art and craft products and a variety of festivals and events. There is an opportunity to extend the existing Choose Inverell campaign to include surrounding villages and be specific to supporting locally made arts, craft and cultural products. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Inverell | Regional |
| Inverell Shire Cultural and Arts Strategy 2019-2029 | 4.1 Support the growth of creative industries in Inverell Shire. Creative industries are important for regional areas and are already thriving. We know that one in six Australian artists live in regional towns, predominately visual artists, craft practitioners, writers and musicians. This also includes local makers of food and crafts products, tour guides, historians and storytellers that are critical to a sustainable creative industries sector. Regional employment in creative industries has seen a large increase in the last ten years, however employment in creative industries in the Inverell Shire is quite low, and lower than neighbouring council areas. There is a strong opportunity to grow the creative industries sector in Inverell Shire and attract new cultural and arts practitioners to call our Shire home. This in turn will help to diversify the local economy and provide more genuine opportunities for young people to stay. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Inverell | Regional |