Australian Local Food System Policy Database

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.

Search Criteria:

Document titleRelevant text in the policyDomainTopicStateLocal Government nameCouncil type
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23  Gather available evidence to better understand urban agriculture and how it fits into the broader food system.  Develop methods to embed urban agriculture into projects and developments within council and the City of Yarra.  Create and protect opportunities for food growing and recycling in Yarra.  Build and promote an understanding of food systems and their application in local government. Sustainability and Environment Sustainable local food production Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.1.1 Continue to deliver and manage the Community Growing Spaces program Responsibility Lead Urban Agriculture Facilitator Responsibility Support City Works Business Support Team Priority High Timeline Measureabl e Outcomes Year 1,2,3,4 Program available to residents Evaluation Number of residents participating in the program Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.1.2 Provide support to existing Community Gardens and Community Growing Spaces (in line with agreements) Urban Agriculture Facilitator Streetscapes and Natural Values Team High Year 1,2,3,4 Support as outlined in agreement Satisfaction with support Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.1.3 Develop Urban Agriculture Agreements for historic community growing spaces lacking agreements Urban Agriculture Facilitator Streetscapes and Natural Values Team Low Year 1,2 Urban Agricultural Agreements completed 18 Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 Completion of Urban Agriculture Agreements Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.6.1 Explore potential sites in open space, owned or managed by Yarra for food growing Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.6.1 Explore potential sites in open space, owned or managed by Yarra for food growing Urban Agriculture Facilitator Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.6.2 Undertake analysis of all laneways and categorise potential for growing space Urban Agriculture Facilitator Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.7 Undertake a feasibility study of potential to host a land availability inventory for City of Yarra Urban Agriculture Facilitator GIS officer Medium Year 3,4 Feasibility study Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 A dedicated urban agriculture facilitator who provides advice to residents on how to start and maintain community growing space/gardens. Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 Establishing the Community Growing Spaces program to help residents set up public planter boxes, laneway and nature strip gardens. As part of the program, Council provides step-by-step advice, planter boxes, land and public liability insurance. Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 Facilitate access to space for people to grow and recycle food We will:  Provide access to growing space for residents through the Community Growing Spaces Program.  Facilitate landshare within our community for the purpose of food growing and recycling.  Work with developers to facilitate the provision of land for growing food and recycling in new developments.  Support community groups in negotiations with landowners to facilitate long and short-term urban agriculture opportunities. Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 Objectives The following objectives have been developed to support the vision and direction. 1. Facilitate access to space for people to grow food We will:  Provide access to growing space for residents through the Community Growing Spaces Program.  Facilitate landshare within our community for the purpose of food growing.  Work with developers to facilitate the provision of land for growing food in new developments.  Support community groups in negotiations with landowners to facilitate long and short-term urban agriculture opportunities. Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 Supporting schools, neighbourhood houses and non-profit community organisations to start or manage communal food gardens with grants, resources and community connections. Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 The previous Urban Agriculture Strategy 2014 – 2018 developed a range of initiatives such as planter boxes, vertical gardens and the use of other public and private land to help ameliorate these challenges and to demonstrate that it is possible to grow food in the urban environment. These activities have helped build the profile and legitimacy of urban agriculture. Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 There are many institutions who have and continue to be instrumental to bringing urban agriculture to the community in Yarra, particularly Cultivating Community, our many wonderful Neighbourhood Houses, schools and colleges, and the Collingwood Children’s Farm. Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 Urban agriculture in Yarra today is largely made up of a mixture of home growers, community gardens, composting hubs, farmers markets, laneway gardens, nature strip plantings and over 170 planter boxes along Yarra streets. Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 What does urban agriculture in Yarra look like now? Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 Yarra’s key roles in supporting a local food system are: 1. To assist our community in growing food through facilitating access to public and private spaces. Sustainability and Environment Food production on LG land Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.1.2 Provide support to existing Community Gardens and Community Growing Spaces (in line with agreements) Urban Agriculture Facilitator Streetscapes and Natural Values Team High Year 1,2,3,4 Support as outlined in agreement Satisfaction with support Sustainability and Environment Home and community gardening Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.1.3 Develop Urban Agriculture Agreements for historic community growing spaces lacking agreements Urban Agriculture Facilitator Streetscapes and Natural Values Team Low Year 1,2 Urban Agricultural Agreements completed 18 Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 Completion of Urban Agriculture Agreements Sustainability and Environment Home and community gardening Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.2.1 Review and update Council's Urban Agriculture guidelines including community composting Urban Agriculture Facilitator Open Space Design Team Streetscapes and Natural Values Team Sustainability and Environment Home and community gardening Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.2.2 Provide support to new projects proposed under the community gardens guidelines Urban Agriculture Facilitator Sustainability and Environment Home and community gardening Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.2.3 Streamline the application process for the Community Growing Spaces program including community composting Urban Agriculture Facilitator Sustainability and Environment Home and community gardening Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.3 Facilitate relationship between community groups and landowners, supporting long and short-term urban agriculture opportunities Sustainability and Environment Home and community gardening Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.4 Work with planners to include urban agriculture in planning referral process and investigate mechanisms to support provision of urban agriculture opportunities through the Yarra Planning Scheme. Sustainability and Environment Home and community gardening Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.6.1 Explore potential sites in open space, owned or managed by Yarra for food growing Sustainability and Environment Home and community gardening Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.6.2 Undertake analysis of all laneways and categorise potential for growing space Sustainability and Environment Home and community gardening Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 1.7 Undertake a feasibility study of potential to host a land availability inventory for City of Yarra Sustainability and Environment Home and community gardening Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 2.1 Develop an annual communications plan to increase the visibility of urban agriculture work in Yarra e.g. food swaps, farmers markets, community composting Sustainability and Environment Home and community gardening Victoria Yarra Metropolitan
Urban Agriculture Strategy 2019-23 2.3.2 Promote available school gardening education material to local schools. Urban Agriculture Facilitator Sustainability and Environment Home and community gardening Victoria Yarra Metropolitan