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 | Council’s Pie Time event won Gold at the Australian Tourism Awards and the Canberra Region Tourism Awards | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | DP22 Actively build capacity for community participation in leadership including mentoring and support Council continues to seek opportunities to enhance community leadership capacity. One highlight during 2018/19 was the Southern Highlands Growers and Producers Lunch held as part of NSW Small Business Month in October 2018. With funding support from the NSW Government and Regional Development Australia Southern Inland Committee, Council worked with industry partners to organise this event, which facilitated information sharing by local operators in the food and wine and agritourism sectors | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | 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 | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | DP92 Promote the Southern Highlands as a world class tourist destination During 2018/19 Council undertook an integrated marketing program with industry partners which resulted in increased visitation and expenditure within the Shire. Major events such as the Tulip Time floral festival, Pie Time festival, Southern Highlands Art Festival and Studio Art Trail and the Bowral Classic were key reasons for the enhanced exposure of the region. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | In February 2019 Council launched a new corporate website for industry and media in partnership with the Southern Highlands Food and Wine Association. The website, www.shcorporate.com. au, is a central location for current and prospective industry operators to find information about services, activities and marketing. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | The 2018 Pie Time festival being awarded Gold for the best ‘Destination Marketing’ initiative at the Australian Tourism Awards and the Canberra Region Tourism Awards | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | The development and launch of the Southern Highlands Coffee Trail with more than 100 local barista coffee destinations highlighted | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/19 | The Mittagong Cluster is the eighth Cluster developed in a program that seeks to promote local food and wine produce and experiences in the Southern Highlands. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Wingecarribee | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Details of capital commitments Stronger Country Community Fund Grants for Affordable Seniors Living | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Bogan | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Strategy 2.2.1 Encouraged increased use of rail for transporting agricultural and mining products. Activities 2019/20 i ii Work with and lobby State Government and John Holland Rail to maintain and improve reliable freight transport network Work with John Holland Rail, the RMS and NSW Police to ensure current standards of rail and crossing safety are maintained and promoted within the community | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Bogan | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Strategy 3.4.2 Ensure compliance with Safe Foods Standards. Activities 2019/20 i ii Monitor and review food premises register Undertake annual food premises Inspections to ensure food handlers compliance with standards | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Bogan | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Foodiam – Lets eat event | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Wagga Wagga | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Foodiam – Lets eat event | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | NSW | Wagga Wagga | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | The purchase of a barbeque and associated equipment that will only be used for Halal products. This will support diverse communities celebrating times of cultural significance while also assisting the wider public understand and engage in these celebrations. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | NSW | Wagga Wagga | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | ReAcqua’s Renewables in Agriculture Conference | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Wagga Wagga | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Provision of a set of display boards and two banners for ErinEarth to produce a good quality static display that can feature at on-site Open Days and at external local events. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Wagga Wagga | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Livestock Marketing Centre The Wagga Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre (LMC) is the premier livestock selling centre in Australia for the marketing of cattle, sheep and lambs. The LMC was established in 1979 and continues to lead the way in livestock sales throughout the nation. The facility is located approximately 10km north of the city in the rapidly expanding Bomen Business Park and is neighboured by several key agricultural businesses supporting the region. The LMC remains a major driver of agribusiness, employment and economic growth in the Wagga Wagga regional economy and community. The LMC is wholly owned by Council and operates on a completely self-funded financial model that delivers a significant dividend to Council annually and is distributed to a number of rural and regional projects. Through a broad cross-sectional series of internal service recharges the LMC itself is continually increasing its support as a major customer to Council. The LMC continues to rank as the largest sheep and lamb selling centre in Australia selling 1,947,638 head in the 2018/19 financial year. The LMC also sold 178,992 head of cattle for the same period maintaining our ranking in the top group of cattle yards throughout Australia. Approximately $430 million worth of livestock was sold through the LMC in the 2018/19 financial year. Significant works took place throughout the year to deliver projects identified within the Livestock Marketing Centre Strategic Master Plan to provide Council and stakeholders the opportunity to solidify the operations success in the future by enabling greater work space and volume integrated with increased efficiencies within the current site. Income p 3.96% to $5.80M Income for the LMC has increased when compared to 2017/18 with the centre continually receiving high volumes of sheep and cattle sold through the facility. Expenses p 8.82% to $4.417M The increased expenses for the year were attributable to annual award employee increases as well as the requirement for additional labour costs associated with continued high volume of livestock being sold through the facility. Net operating result (after taxation equivalent) – $1.003M surplus The net operating surplus result for the 2018/19 year has decreased by $100K when compared to the 2017/18 financial year. Assets p 3.82% to $33.36M LMC total assets have increased this year because of increased receivables. These increased receivables are a result of Council adopted internal loans to Council's general fund, which are to be paid back within the next ten years. Liabilities 35.12% to $375K Liabilities for the LMC have decreased for 2018/19 due to a reduction in contractor payments that were outstanding at the end of the previous financial year. Reserve balance 42.17% to $3.3M The reduction in the reserve balance is reflective of the $3.66M in internal loans to Council's general fund, to be repaid to the LMC reserve within the next ten years. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Wagga Wagga | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Maintain zero non-compliance at the Livestock Marketing Centre | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Wagga Wagga | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | FOGO processing | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Wagga Wagga | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | To create at least 300 reusable fabric shopping bags, sewn from donated material and marked with the Boomerang Bags, Wagga Wagga logo. These will be distributed in the community to replace single use plastic shopping bags. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Wagga Wagga | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Complete annual report for NSW Food Authority on inspections of local food businesses | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Wagga Wagga | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Council has successfully achieved its target of over 80 premises on its Scores on Doors program. The list of participants on Council website allows the community to make informed decisions where they would like to dine. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Wagga Wagga | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Number of eligible businesses participating in the Scores on Doors Program | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Wagga Wagga | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | ‘Agricultural Industries Education Day & Junior Judging Master Class’. An event hosted at Wagga Wagga Showground offering students from schools around the Riverina the opportunity to learn, develop and practice skills relevant to a number of our agricultural industries. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Wagga Wagga | Regional |
| Annual Report 2018/2019 | Livestock Marketing Centre The Wagga Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre (LMC) is the premier livestock selling centre in Australia for the marketing of cattle, sheep and lambs. The LMC was established in 1979 and continues to lead the way in livestock sales throughout the nation. The facility is located approximately 10km north of the city in the rapidly expanding Bomen Business Park and is neighboured by several key agricultural businesses supporting the region. The LMC remains a major driver of agribusiness, employment and economic growth in the Wagga Wagga regional economy and community. The LMC is wholly owned by Council and operates on a completely self-funded financial model that delivers a significant dividend to Council annually and is distributed to a number of rural and regional projects. Through a broad cross-sectional series of internal service recharges the LMC itself is continually increasing its support as a major customer to Council. The LMC continues to rank as the largest sheep and lamb selling centre in Australia selling 1,947,638 head in the 2018/19 financial year. The LMC also sold 178,992 head of cattle for the same period maintaining our ranking in the top group of cattle yards throughout Australia. Approximately $430 million worth of livestock was sold through the LMC in the 2018/19 financial year. Significant works took place throughout the year to deliver projects identified within the Livestock Marketing Centre Strategic Master Plan to provide Council and stakeholders the opportunity to solidify the operations success in the future by enabling greater work space and volume integrated with increased efficiencies within the current site. Income p 3.96% to $5.80M Income for the LMC has increased when compared to 2017/18 with the centre continually receiving high volumes of sheep and cattle sold through the facility. Expenses p 8.82% to $4.417M The increased expenses for the year were attributable to annual award employee increases as well as the requirement for additional labour costs associated with continued high volume of livestock being sold through the facility. Net operating result (after taxation equivalent) Р$1.003M surplus The net operating surplus result for the 2018/19 year has decreased by $100K when compared to the 2017/18 financial year. Assets p 3.82% to $33.36M LMC total assets have increased this year because of increased receivables. These increased receivables are a result of Council adopted internal loans to Council's general fund, which are to be paid back within the next ten years. Liabilities  35.12% to $375K Liabilities for the LMC have decreased for 2018/19 due to a reduction in contractor payments that were outstanding at the end of the previous financial year. Reserve balance  42.17% to $3.3M The reduction in the reserve balance is reflective of the $3.66M in internal loans to Council's general fund, to be repaid to the LMC reserve within the next ten years. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Wagga Wagga | Regional |