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.
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| Document title | Relevant text in the policy | Domain | Topic | State | Local Government name | Council type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MidCoast Water’s Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy | Catchment management is about more than improving the quality of the water in the rivers. MidCoast Water supports several programs to assist farmers improve their management practices. Our funding has been able to provide a mixture of on ground projects – such as restricting stock access to waterways, providing off-stream shade and water laneways and creek crossings – and farm planning and nutrient management. We have undertaken these types of works in the Karuah, Crawford, Manning Barrington River catchments. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| MidCoast Water’s Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy | Continue to operate our recycled water schemes on farmland and public open space in a sustainable manner and increase the volume of effluent that is reused | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| MidCoast Water’s Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy | If Indirect Potable Reuse is not selected, then expand agricultural reuse in Taree to increase total percentage of effluent recycled to 30% | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| MidCoast Water’s Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy | Liaise with agricultural property owners at Coopernook for reinstatement of irrigation with recycled water | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| MidCoast Water’s Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy | MidCoast Water operates 14 sewer schemes and nine recycled water schemes through which we recycle 25% of our effluent. We beneficially reuse 100% of the biosolids produced at the sewage treatment plants on agricultural properties. The community wants to see a higher proportion of treated effluent beneficially reused and we will investigate the expansion of the Taree agricultural reuse scheme as well Indirect Potable Reuse. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| MidCoast Water’s Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy | Recycled Water Schemes We currently operate recycled water schemes in Taree, Wingham, Coopernook, Lansdowne, Stroud, Harrington, Tuncurry, Hawks Nest and Bulahdelah, with onsite reuse at Manning Point, where we use the recycled water to irrigate turf at the Manning Point sewerage treatment plant. The recycled water schemes provide water for irrigation for farms, and public open spaces including sports fields, golf courses and a cemetery | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| MidCoast Water’s Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy | Recycled Water We have several recycling schemes operating where the recycled water from treated effluent is used for farm irrigation. These schemes are in Taree, Wingham, Coopernook, Lansdowne and Stroud. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| MidCoast Water’s Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy | Since 2008 we have realized many of the goals we set ourselves. Our customers have taken up the challenge and dramatically reduced water use. MidCoast Water has built and commissioned major water treatment plants at Bootawa and Tea Gardens. We have also completed a number of recycled water projects that treat wastewater to be used for irrigating farmland and public spaces. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| MidCoast Water’s Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy | Some of the actions MidCoast Water is taking to improve catchment health include: Undertaking on-ground projects in priority sub-catchments improving dairy such as effluent management, reducing the impact of cattle on river banks with off stream watering, fencing and revegetating river banks | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| MidCoast Water’s Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy | Target We will aim to increase the percentage of recycling over the next 30 years – either by implementing an Indirect Potable Reuse scheme or expanding recycled water agricultural irrigation or both | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| MidCoast Water’s Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy | We plan to undertake the following effluent management works over the coming years. Eventual transfer of Old Bar’s treated effluent to Taree, with some to be reused for farm irrigation. This is necessary as the exfiltration basins at Old Bar erosion and the alternative effluent management solutions, a new ocean or river release, were deemed unacceptable | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Mid-Coast | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | Staff time. Medium Visitor Information Centre Local Tourism Operators Facilitation / Communication; Innovation | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | Clear map of the trail, incorporating a legend which identifies toilets; rest stops; trail heads; accommodation; food / beverages; bridges; road crossings; car parking; and local attractions. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | Information about appropriate usage; length of trail (in time and kilometres); distances between towns; terrain; loops; and accommodation and food options (including availability of drinking water). | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | RECOMMENDATIONS Issue Local Tourism Operators No. Action dissemination. Work in partnership with local accommodation and food and beverage outlets to ascertain opportunities to attract cyclists and walkers to the region. Meetings have been held with tourism operators. Initiatives have been implemented to attract additional cyclists and walkers to the region and to increase their level of expenditure locally. An increase in visitor numbers and visitor yield has been reported from cyclists and walkers visiting the region. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | There may also be other signs to consider such as those installed during construction, listing funding partners and potentially advertising signs promoting food, beverage and accommodation options for example. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | work in partnership with local accommodation and food and beverage outlets to ascertain opportunities to attract cyclists and walkers to the region. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | Sunraysia Farmer’s Market | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | Community Action Grants funds activities such as: • encouraging community participation in protecting, restoring endangered ecological communities • educating farmers in sustainable agricultural techniques • holding field days • improving land management practices • recording and using traditional ecological knowledge • developing natural resource management plans • developing land and sea country plans • training in the latest practices for sustainable agriculture • increasing and improving biodiversity • reducing critical threats to native habitats • reducing the spread and impact of Weeds of National Significance • tree planting and other revegetation activities • dune rehabilitation • restoring endangered ecological communities • reducing the impact of vertebrate pest animals • increasing wildlife habitat | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | Access to Drinking Water | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | drinking fountains and taps to fill water bottles, | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | Information about appropriate usage; length of trail (in time and kilometres); distances between towns; terrain; loops; and accommodation and food options (including availability of drinking water). | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | It is therefore recommended that discussions take place with local businesses along priority one off road trails to ensure that water is available for cyclists / walkers, either from taps or from bottled water sales. Further, opportunities to fill drink bottles should be made at key destinations such as shopping centres, schools, recreation centres and at all key end of trip facilities. All marketing material should state where water is able to be obtained, but also recommend that people take sufficient water with them in case it is not available. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | Provide a list of other infrastructure requirements such as drinking fountains, bike racks etc with estimates | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | Provide drinking fountains, seating and shade at bicycle parking locations. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | Provide drinking fountains, seating and shade at popular bicycle parking locations (e.g. Centro). | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | Provide shade trees, additional greenery, seating and drinking fountains in a new neighbourhood centre and on key pedestrian routes. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | The creation of a high quality, attractive and safe public realm that encourages an increase in pedestrian and cyclist movement throughout Irymple. This includes recommendations to improve a shared path network along the north side of Fifteenth Street and enhance facilities such as drinking fountains, seating and bike parking rails. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | Water will therefore need to be made available along well utilised trails. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |
| Mildura Tracks and Trails Strategy | Name of Funding Body and Grant Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Caring for Our Country – Community Action Grants http://www.nrm.gov.au/funding/cag/ind ex.html Opening and Closing Date March 2012. Funding Amount and Conditions and $20 000 Eligibility help local community groups take action to conserve and protect their natural environment. The grants are targeted towards established local community-based organisations that are successfully delivering projects to support sustainable farming and/or protect and enhance the natural environment. Community Action Grants funds activities such as: • encouraging community participation in protecting, restoring endangered ecological communities • educating farmers in sustainable agricultural techniques • holding field days • improving land management practices • recording and using traditional ecological knowledge • developing natural resource management plans • developing land and sea country plans • training in the latest practices for sustainable agriculture • increasing and improving biodiversity • reducing critical threats to native habitats • reducing the spread and impact of Weeds of National Significance • tree planting and other revegetation activities • dune rehabilitation • restoring endangered ecological communities • reducing the impact of vertebrate pest animals • increasing wildlife habitat | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Mildura | Regional |