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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To maximise opportunities to respond to this challenge, Council has prepared the Climate 2020 – A Climate and Energy Action Plan to direct Council and the community in moving forward. | Food: locally or home grown and cooked, more farmers market, less food miles, reduced meat in diets | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| To maximise opportunities to respond to this challenge, Council has prepared the Climate 2020 – A Climate and Energy Action Plan to direct Council and the community in moving forward. | Food: locally or home grown and cooked, more farmers market, less food miles, reduced meat in diets | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| To maximise opportunities to respond to this challenge, Council has prepared the Climate 2020 – A Climate and Energy Action Plan to direct Council and the community in moving forward. | In 1998, Council endorsed GreenPrint for a Sustainable City with five stretch goals: 1. Zero climate damage 2. Zero extinctions 3. Zero pollution 4. Zero soil degradation 5. Zero waste | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| To maximise opportunities to respond to this challenge, Council has prepared the Climate 2020 – A Climate and Energy Action Plan to direct Council and the community in moving forward. | Conduct a preliminary feasibility study into the site wide collection of organic waste or sewage for conversion into biogas Investigate potential funding partnerships for the trial of such an application (e.g. Sustainability Victoria) | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| To maximise opportunities to respond to this challenge, Council has prepared the Climate 2020 – A Climate and Energy Action Plan to direct Council and the community in moving forward. | In 1998, Council endorsed GreenPrint for a Sustainable City with five stretch goals: 1. Zero climate damage 2. Zero extinctions 3. Zero pollution 4. Zero soil degradation 5. Zero waste | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| To maximise opportunities to respond to this challenge, Council has prepared the Climate 2020 – A Climate and Energy Action Plan to direct Council and the community in moving forward. | Food: locally or home grown and cooked, more farmers market, less food miles, reduced meat in diets | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Manningham | Metropolitan |
| Top 7 Advocacy Projects | The Parwan Employment Precinct is a proposed agribusiness hub located in Parwan, south of Bacchus Marsh. The anticipated economic value to the Central Highlands region from the precinct is estimated at $186M. In order to deliver the investment vision for Parwan Employment Precinct, the following utilities must be delivered: • Gas • Water • Sewer Funding TOTAL PROJECT COST Central Highlands Water Gas Council Sewer $12.53M $5.81M $4.2M $2M $2.52M Key message • The Parwan Employment Precinct will capitalise on Bacchus Marsh’s existing agribusinesses to provide the potential for Victoria’s foremost agribusiness hub. • The Precinct will create job opportunities for Moorabool residents that previously did not exist. • Planning for the Parwan Employment Precinct is already underway. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Top 7 Advocacy Projects | The Parwan Employment Precinct is a proposed agribusiness hub located in Parwan, south of Bacchus Marsh. The anticipated economic value to the Central Highlands region from the precinct is estimated at $186M. In order to deliver the investment vision for Parwan Employment Precinct, the following utilities must be delivered: • Gas • Water • Sewer Funding TOTAL PROJECT COST Central Highlands Water Gas Council Sewer $12.53M $5.81M $4.2M $2M $2.52M Key message • The Parwan Employment Precinct will capitalise on Bacchus Marsh’s existing agribusinesses to provide the potential for Victoria’s foremost agribusiness hub. • The Precinct will create job opportunities for Moorabool residents that previously did not exist. • Planning for the Parwan Employment Precinct is already underway. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| total Watermark– City as a CatChment update 2014 | ensure access to clean, affordable water • Ensure that Melbourne has a responsive water market with dynamic and equitable water pricing. • Ensure that incentives and regulation are driving the efficient use of potable water. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Melbourne | Metropolitan |
| total Watermark– City as a CatChment update 2014 | Climate change adaptation | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Melbourne | Metropolitan |
| total Watermark– City as a CatChment update 2014 | Climate change adaptation and flood | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Melbourne | Metropolitan |
| total Watermark– City as a CatChment update 2014 | The recent prolonged drought highlighted the need to conserve water and use it in the right way throughout our city. This includes increasing efficiency and fit-for-purpose water use where appropriate in infrastructure, buildings, parks and gardens. It also means incorporating integrated water cycle management design and water efficiency into new developments. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Melbourne | Metropolitan |
| TOURISM OPPORTUNITY PLAN | An abridged case study, specifically the ‘Food and Beverage Exploration Trail’ can be found in the Appendix of this document, it has been included in order to provide an example of how a case study can be developed for each of the potential investment opportunities. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| TOURISM OPPORTUNITY PLAN | Appendix Development of a Food and Beverage Exploration Trail Рan approach Activating food and wine activities and experiences in the region through the creation of a Food and Beverage Exploration Trail. This would also involve capacity building with local producers and farm door operators to further enhance the appeal of behind the scenes tours and cellar door tasting experiences. 1. Identification of a food and beverage exploration trail and drive route with supporting marketing plan, including the development of a smartphone based wayfinding app; On initial investigation, it was found that Central Coast has several local craft food and beverage providers dotted throughout the coast that provide visitors with the opportunity to sample local produce, “meet the maker” and learn about the production techniques. 2. A review of local government policy and regulations around tastings, farm door sales and development approval for commercial infrastructure (e.g. bar and restaurant development, live music and RSA) to assist in fostering the organics growth of this market; Through undertaking a full cellar door / agritourism product audit including targeted community and industry stakeholder engagement, Central Coast can define key areas to be improved to enable additional growth in this market. This may relate to assistance in permit applications, live music licences and DA approval for Farm/Cellar Door infrastructure. While it was outside the scope of this project to conduct a full stakeholder engagement of this sector, a desktop gap analysis has revealed a significant lack of agritourism business when compare to LGA areas such as Port Macquarie, Hunter Valley and Mid-North Coast. 3. Development and execution of a Council sponsored capability building/mentoring program for local agritourism operators and craft food and beverage producers. The program should have a focus on experience development and education in accessing grant/ funding, small business support services and updates on regulations and policies relevant to the industry. Masterclasses in being international ready and social media are also valuable opportunities for small to medium business owners looking to leverage additional tourism industry revenue streams for their business. Enablers and Implementation Considerations • Confirm in-principal support for the concept from Council • Identify resources for a full business plan covering business case, budget allocation, project design and costings. The plan should also cover; o An audit of existing operators o Stakeholder engagement and partnership development. • Investigate grant support from sources such as the Building Better Regions Fund to contribute to the cost of local tourism operator capability building mentoring program. The above is an abridged case study to provide an example of how an investment opportunity is further refined and established as a potential project to be undertaken within the region. Full case studies for each investment opportunity outlined can be found in a separate document Tourism Opportunities – Preliminary Analysis. These completed case studies included investigation the opportunity’s problems and challenges, supporting opportunities, potential locations, any design detail, implications for the destination, governance and business modelling, partnerships, likely target markets, potential economic impact, estimated development costs, risk appraisals, and a recommendation. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| TOURISM OPPORTUNITY PLAN | Food and Beverage Exploration Trail The depth of food and drink product for the Central Coast continues to expand at the same time as the niche Agritourism Experience Seekers – who want to value the experience of the whole lifecycle of produce from paddock to plate. Events such as the annual Harvest Festival encourage this activity in the region’s hinterland. A combination of marketing support and business development can aid capacity building with local producers and farm door operators to simply enhance the appeal of behind the scenes tours and tasting experiences, showcasing our outstanding range of food and beverage Makers and Creators, for this market. Investment to develop can be in the range of $100,000 Р$120,000 | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Central Coast | Regional |
| Tourism & Economic Development Plan | • Facilitate new tourism and event experiences (including eco-tourism and agritourism). | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Leeton | Regional |
| Tourism & Economic Development Plan | A shire with a strong local food influence, and dining experiences. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Leeton | Regional |
| Tourism & Economic Development Plan | Visitor Economy BY 2024 LEETON WILL BE RECOGNISED AS BEING; 6.1 A community offering an authentic agri-tourism experience. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Leeton | Regional |
| Tourism & Economic Development Plan | Leeton Farmers Market | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | NSW | Leeton | Regional |
| Tourism & Economic Development Plan | Yance Agricultural Institute | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Leeton | Regional |
| Tourism & Economic Development Plan | Yance Agricultural Institute | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Leeton | Regional |
| TOURISM & EVENTS STRATEGY | Actions include: I. Consider the merits of establishing a local food co-op in partnership with local food and drink producers to support building the profile of local produce and building supply chain links with local retail, restaurant and tourism businesses – encouraging paddock to plate development; | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Benalla | Regional |
| TOURISM & EVENTS STRATEGY | Benalla offers a range of food and drink experiences for visitors, including country pubs, farmgates and local markets. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Benalla | Regional |
| TOURISM & EVENTS STRATEGY | Establish food and drink as one of Benalla’s event seasons. Initially, building in a regional component will assist with depth of experiences, and also provide an important showcase for local providers; | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Benalla | Regional |
| TOURISM & EVENTS STRATEGY | food and wine trails and cellar door sales | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Benalla | Regional |
| TOURISM & EVENTS STRATEGY | Growing the potential of agribusiness/ food and wine as part of Benalla’s tourism experience offering | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Benalla | Regional |
| TOURISM & EVENTS STRATEGY | Introduce an events program to assist in activating weekend footfall i.e. Foodtruck Sundays, BBQ events etc | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Benalla | Regional |
| TOURISM & EVENTS STRATEGY | Introducing an events program to assist in activating weekend footfall i.e. Foodtruck Sundays etc | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Benalla | Regional |
| TOURISM & EVENTS STRATEGY | Investigate the opportunities to develop new added value experiences such as cookery courses, tasting experiences, bringing new agritourism experiences to market. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Benalla | Regional |
| TOURISM & EVENTS STRATEGY | Investigate the potential to establish a food and drink trail in the Benalla region, linking with similar initiatives in surrounding areas; | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Benalla | Regional |