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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Report 2018/19 | DP97 Ensure development does not impact on viable primary production and food security A key consideration of Council in its assessment of Planning Proposals is the need to protect the agricultural value of rural land, consistent with relevant State Environmental Planning Policies. Council staff are currently engaged in a project with the NSW Department of Primary Industries to map and protect Important Agricultural Lands. D | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | The year will also be remembered for the ongoing drought which tightened its grip across the State. It was only appropriate that Council offered a hand to our Shire’s farmers by way of financial support and rate relief as conditions worsened. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Moss Vale Community Gardens | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | A series of events were arranged for NAIDOC Week, including the annual flag raising ceremony and morning tea, ‘Because of Her, We Can!’ art exhibition, Wingecarribee Aboriginal Network mini-Expo, National Parks and Wildlife Service ‘Finding the Food in the Forest’ excursions, | Sustainability and Environment | Agrobiodiversity and wild foods | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Council supports the Compost Revolution program, which helps provide community members with the equipment and skills they need to set up a successful home compost bin or worm farm and as a result reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfill | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Council undertook a waste audit at the Civic Centre to determine the type and amount of waste being generated. New recycling and landfill bins together with an education campaign were subsequently introduced at this facility, along with a new worm farm bin which provides greater capacity to divert certain organic food waste from the general waste stream. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | DP80 Promote and encourage waste minimisation and recycling Council has implemented a number of waste education programs such as offering tours of the Resource Recovery Centre and delivering workshops on composting and minimising the use of plastics. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Moss Vale Community Gardens | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | The Wingecarribee Community Assistance Scheme includes Environmental and Sustainability Grants funded by the Environment Levy. During 2018/19 a total of $10,000 was awarded to six projects including the installation of solar panels for Wingecarribee Adult Day Care Centre and a vegetable garden at Exeter Public School. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Council has in place a service delivery program as required under its Fit for the Future Improvement Plan. A review into the Southern Regional Livestock Exchange was completed in 2018/19. After considering the review findings, Council resolved that in the first quarter of 2020 it will advertise for expressions of interest to lease the Southern Regional Livestock Exchange with a preference for a long-term capital lease. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | DP96 Manage the operation of the Southern Region Livestock Exchange Council has commenced work on a suite of upgrades to the Southern Regional Livestock Exchange (SRLX) so that the facility meets current industry standards. The upgrades will address user safety, animal welfare, efficiency of use, biosecurity and productivity and include, for example, the installation of new seating. The upgrades are financed by a $5.2 million grant from the NSW Government’s Growing Local Economies fund. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | The NSW Government awarded Council a $5.2 million grant to upgrade the Southern Region Livestock Exchange so that the facility meets current industry standards | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | The year began with Council finalising its Service Delivery Review into our commerciallyoperated Southern Regional Livestock Exchange. The key outcomes of this review saw Council secure $5.2 million in grant funding towards upgrading the saleyards before agreeing to lease the facility. This review is the first of 30 that will eventually be undertaken across the organisation, ensuring we deliver services to our customers in the most efficient and effective manner. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Council continues to recognise the impact the current drought conditions are having on local farming communities. Council has formally supported local farming families by granting a deferral of rates and charges for farmland rated properties until the end of the 2019/20 financial year. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | DP86 Implement strategies to address the impacts of climate change In June 2019 Council was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Increasing Resilience to Climate Change program delivered through a partnership between Local Government NSW and the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE). The grant was made for a Portable Water Treatment Feasibility Study to increase water supply resilience by looking at the logistics of using a portable water treatment unit to meet peak demands for water supply during climate change related events. The feasibility study will commence in 2019/20. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | The year will also be remembered for the ongoing drought which tightened its grip across the State. It was only appropriate that Council offered a hand to our Shire’s farmers by way of financial support and rate relief as conditions worsened. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Council is currently investigating the most appropriate solutions to facilitate the diversion of waste from landfill. Council is working with the disposal contractor and the EPA to find alternatives to kerbside waste disposal after the EPA revoked the exemption on the Alternative Waste Technology mixed waste organic output being added as a soil amendment on agricultural, mining rehabilitation or forestry land. This output was the end product of a practice which aimed to separate the organic | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Council participated in ‘Plastic Free July’, a global movement to reduce plastic pollution. Activities organised by staff to promote this event included a community plastic-free lunch held in partnership with Moss Vale Community Gardens and plastic-themed workshops at the Resource Recovery Centre. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Council supports the Compost Revolution program, which helps provide community members with the equipment and skills they need to set up a successful home compost bin or worm farm and as a result reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfill | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Council undertook a waste audit at the Civic Centre to determine the type and amount of waste being generated. New recycling and landfill bins together with an education campaign were subsequently introduced at this facility, along with a new worm farm bin which provides greater capacity to divert certain organic food waste from the general waste stream. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | DP80 Promote and encourage waste minimisation and recycling Council has implemented a number of waste education programs such as offering tours of the Resource Recovery Centre and delivering workshops on composting and minimising the use of plastics. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Council conducted 318 routine inspections of food premises to check compliance with the Food Standards Code. An assessment report was provided to each premises rating their hygiene and food safety. The outcomes of the inspections conducted by Council, excluding reinspections, are summarised below. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Food shop inspections# | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | DP79 Support the establishment and expansion of businesses that produce goods locally Council is a supporter of the Southern Highlands Food and Wine Clusters, an initiative of the Moss Vale and Rural Chamber of Commerce. In June 2019 the Mittagong Cluster was launched with over 20 businesses participating. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | DP89 Support regional activities and partnerships to broaden and promote a range of business and industry investment Council is currently working on the development of a Destination Plan which will provide a ten-year strategy for six key tourism and economic development pillars. These pillars are tertiary education and skills, tourism and hospitality, health and residential care, freight and logistics, advanced manufacturing and agribusiness. It is anticipated that the Plan will be finalised in 2019/20. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | DP99 Support initiatives that provide opportunities for business mentoring and connection Council continues to work closely with local bodies such as the Southern Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Moss Vale and Rural Chamber of Industry, Southern Highlands Food and Wine Association and the newly formed Southern Highlands Key Stakeholders Group on initiatives to facilitate business mentoring and connection. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | A new corporate website for industry and media was launched in partnership with the Southern Highlands Food and Wine Association | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | A promotional campaign for the 2019 Pie Time festival that included a launch at NSW Parliament House and the projection of Pie Time advertising onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House during the opening night of Vivid Sydney | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Another significant achievement was Council’s Pie Time event winning Gold in the Destination Marketing category at the Australian Tourism Awards, which followed on from winning Gold for Pie Time in the same category at the Canberra Region Tourism Awards. The Gold honour at the Australian Tourism Awards was the first for the Shire since the inception of the Awards in 1985. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Council led a number of tourism initiatives including our much lauded Pie Time marketing campaign which took home the Gold award at the 2018 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |