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 | STATUS AS AT 30 JUNE 2019 – Single use plastic Free Dungog movement commenced with support from Council – Continued support and promotion of Responsible Cafes project. – Soft plastics drop off points continued to be serviced in 5 locations. Partnership with plastics police continued with 2.64 tonnes of soft plastic collected and diverted for upcycling during the period. – Agreement reached for the establishment of a Cup Rescue program in Dungog. Participation of 15 cafes and commercial/business premises and partnership with Closed loop and &-eleven for upcycling of disposable coffee cups. – Negotiations conducted with Tomra Cleanaway and private business in relation to the establishment of a Return and Earn outlet in Dungog. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Annual Report | In the period from 2010/11 to 2015/16 the Shire has seen: 1. Annual turnover in the agricultural industry reduced from 2. in agriculture lost Council is working with farmers to ensure the long-term viability of farming in the Shire and to turn these statistics around. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Byron | Regional |
| Annual Report | Locals awarded saleyards work More than $1.64 million of work was awarded to Swan Hill-based contractors for the Swan Hill Regional Livestock Exchange upgrade. Local businesses built new cattle yards and 10way draft, altered the selling ring and building, installed cattle troughs, the scale house building, sheep laneways and the three-bay truck wash. Work started in December and was mostly complete when sales returned in March. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Swan Hill | Regional |
| Annual Report | – # of inspections – Percentage of premises inspected – # of complaints – # of penalties and improvement notices issued | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Annual Report | Major achievements Swan Hill Regional Livestock Exchange redevelopment Work started in December and was mostly complete when sales returned in March. More than $1.64 million of work was awarded to Swan Hill-based contractors. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Swan Hill | Regional |
| Annual Report | 11.4.1 Carry out inspection of all food outlets | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Annual Report | Major capital works During 2018/19 the major capital works included: Swan Hill Regional Livestock Exchange redevelopment Budget: $1.94 million The redevelopment included:       new cattle yards and 10-way draft altered selling ring and building cattle troughs the scale house building sheep laneways and ramps three-bay truckwash | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Swan Hill | Regional |
| Annual Report | 11.5.1 Educate staff in food outlets on food hygiene | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Annual Report | Swan Hill Livestock Exchange redevelopment | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Swan Hill | Regional |
| Annual Report | 11.6.1 Participation in Hunter Central Coast Regional Food Group and regional programs | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Annual Report | Swan Hill Regional Livestock Exchange | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Swan Hill | Regional |
| Annual Report | 51 100% (at end of financial year) 4 Complaints 0 penalties or notices issued | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Annual Report | The first cattle sale using the redeveloped Swan Hill Regional Livestock Exchange was held. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Swan Hill | Regional |
| Annual Report | No Regional programs implemented. 1 Food Group meeting attended during period | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Dungog | Regional |
| Annual Report | Upgrade Swan Hill Livestock Selling Complex Action Implement upgrade project Identify funding opportunities for future stages | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Swan Hill | Regional |
| Annual Report | We completed the $1.94 million upgrade at Swan Hill Regional Livestock Exchange, with local contractors completing much of the work. It was a win-win. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Swan Hill | Regional |
| Annual Report | With four Latrobe Leisure facilities spread across our municipality the three All Access Weekends aimed to increase social connection in our community, promote participation in physical activity and healthy nutritious food choices. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Latrobe | Regional |
| Annual Report | With four Latrobe Leisure facilities spread across our municipality the three All Access Weekends aimed to increase social connection in our community, promote participation in physical activity and healthy nutritious food choices. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Latrobe | Regional |
| Annual Report | The Moe Botanical Gardens were transformed into a multicultural space as the Latrobe City Sister Cities Festival came alive to celebrate the Chinese and Japanese cultures. Featuring a range of stage performances, market and food stalls and many activities for all ages, the Latrobe City Sister Cities Festival saw thousands of people flowing into the Moe Botanical Gardens. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Latrobe | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Environmental Health is a statutory function of City of Ballarat, delivering permits and compliance for food safety, public health and wellbeing (noise and odour), environmental protection (asbestos, contaminated land), tobacco regulation, emergency management and domestic wastewater. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Ballarat | Regional |
| Annual Report | Australian Livestock Saleyards | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Yarriambiack | Regional |
| Annual Report | 3.1 RATES AND CHARGES Council uses Capital Improved Value (CIV) as the basis of valuation of all properties within the municipal district. The CIV of a property is the value of its land and all its improvements. This valuation base was used to calculate general rates, excluding valuations for power generation companies and Australian Paper. The valuation base used to calculate general rates for 2018/19 was $11,355.50 million (2017/18 was $10,796.84 million). The applicable rates in the CIV dollar were: 2019 $’000 General Farm | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Latrobe | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | FOOD SAFETY – Service performance indicators Indicator/measure Timeliness FS1 – Time taken to action food complaints [Number of days between receipt and first response action for all food complaints / Number of food complaints] Results 2016 5.62 Results 2017 4.11 Results 2018 2.97 Results 2019 2.35 Comments From 1 July 2016, ‘Time taken to action food complaints’ will be reported by calendar year. Previously this indicator was reported by financial year. This has been implemented to better align reporting with the Department of Health and Human Services. This may result in some variances year on year. From the 2017FY, there has been training on how data is entered to ensure that we get greater accuracy on reporting for this indicator, as delays in data entry were skewing the original data. Service standard FS2 – Food safety assessments [Number of registered class 1 food premises and class 2 food premises that receive an annual food safety assessment in accordance with the Food Act 1984 / Number of registered class 1 food premises and class 2 food premises that require an annual food safety assessment in accordance with the Food Act 1984] x100 Service cost FS3 – Cost of food safety service [Direct cost of the food safety service / Number of food premises registered or notified in accordance with the Food Act 1984] Health and safety FS4 – Critical and major non-compliance outcome notifications [Number of critical non-compliance outcome notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical non-compliance outcome notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises] x100 95.88% 100.00% 95.45% 100.77% 101.79% 104.33% 103.06% The reason for the percentage being over 100% is due to the fact that some businesses have closed since the assessment was completed, but prior to the end of the year. Also impacting this value is that some premises may transfer during the reporting period and are therefore subjected to additional assessments of the business under new ownership. $481.53 $530.35 $527.61 $463.84 In the 2019FY, the cost of food safety service dropped due to the Environmental Health Unit being under resourced for a period of time resulting in reduced expenditure on wages. 96.55% From 1 July 2016, ‘Critical and major non-compliance outcome notifications’ have been reported by calendar year instead of financial year. This has been implemented to better align reporting with the Department of Health and Human Services. This may result in some variances year on year. Separate follow-up inspections are not always practical with non-compliances identified at events or markets which account for the majority of major non-compliances without a separate follow-up inspection. These are commonly followed up with education and/or immediate corrective action. The food business operator is also recorded as non-compliant with their registering authority to aid further monitoring through the StreaTrader system. Some variances may be due to some businesses closing before outstanding non-compliances are corrected. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Ballarat | Regional |
| Annual Report | Cr Heintze provides representation on the following committees: Óáµ Grampians Central West Waste & Resource Recovery Group Óáµ Livestock Saleyards Association of Victoria Óáµ Warracknabeal Saleyards Committee | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Yarriambiack | Regional |
| Annual Report | FOOD SAFETY Health and safety Critical and major non-compliance notifications [Number of critical non-compliance notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical non-compliance notifications and major non-compliance notifications about food premises] x100 | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Latrobe | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Food Safety Health and safety FS4 Critical and major non-compliance outcome notifications 95.88% 100.00% 95.45% 96.55% From 1 July 2016, 'Critical and major non-compliance outcome notifications' have been reported by calendar year instead of financial year. This has been implemented to better align reporting with the Department of Health and Human Services. This may result in some variances year on year. Separate follow-up inspections are not always practical with non-compliances identified at events or markets which account for the majority of major non-compliances without a separate follow-up inspection. These are commonly followed up with education and/or immediate corrective action. The food business operator is also recorded as non-compliant with their registering authority to aid further monitoring through the StreaTrader system. Some variances may be due to some businesses closing before outstanding non-compliances are corrected. [Number of critical non-compliance outcome notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical non-compliance outcome notifications and major non-compliance | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Ballarat | Regional |
| Annual Report | Grants currently available include the On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Support, | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Yarriambiack | Regional |
| Annual Report | Time taken to action food complaints Food safety assessments Cost of food safety service Critical and major non-compliance outcome notifications | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Latrobe | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Local wineries and farmer’s markets provide an added gourmet touch to celebrate and promote the region’s repertoire. | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Greater Shepparton | Regional |
| Annual Report | Livestock Exchange | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Yarriambiack | Regional |