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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| URBAN GR O WTH MANA GEMENT STRA TEGY | This is primarily a role for zoning in our local environmental plan. Council can also influence housing affordability by: > ensuring that there is reasonable competition in the market for residential land > locating residential development in areas that are close to infrastructure and urban services, and away from significant constraints, to lower the up-front and ongoing costs to the homeowner (for example, through the strategic planning for future growth described in Part 2) > increasing the income of residents (for example, through Council’s economic development strategies and the associated actions in Part 4 of this document) > reducing the input costs of the dwelling, (for example smaller lot sizes and reduced land cost) > deferring the payment of development contributions or reducing development levies for some forms of housing such as granny flats Another important role for Council is to encourage innovation in the design and construction of local housing product, ensuring it does not lag behind the changes in our household characteristics and responds to trends towards smaller homes and less traditional housing emerging in markets like Sydney, an important source population for the Port Macquarie-Hastings. We can do this by: > investigating our local planning provisions and removing any barriers to the housing industry building smaller dwelling types > promoting the State Government’s design guidance on medium density housing types > Investigating any financial incentives to encourage developers to achieve higher dwelling yields from development sites in appropriate locations. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| URBAN GR O WTH MANA GEMENT STRA TEGY | To deliver the right housing choice in the right location, it is proposed to review key planning tools like zoning to ensure a good fit with the dwelling types identified in the housing choice model. The aim of the review is to encourage appropriate densities and a diversity of housing options in the right locations, to improve housing supply and affordability. Council will support the development of smaller building types that fill the emerging need in the housing market between traditional detached dwellings on larger lots and medium and high rise apartments. This review will include: > Ensuring our zone objectives and the types of residential development allowed in the zone encourage the right development type and scale for each zone > Ensure the locations and proportions of each zone are sufficient to deliver the right type of housing in the right location > Review the development control plan with regard to the State Government’s design guides for apartments and low to medium density dwellings This is an important project that will help to create reasonable expectations of residential amenity for each area. Even a small 5% shift from typical low density dwellings to smaller building types by 2036 will mean that we need about 2,800 fewer dwellings in new areas. It will influence housing affordability and reduce demand for new residential areas by around 300 hectares, retaining growth options in the longer term and reducing environmental impacts and infrastructure costs. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| URBAN GR O WTH MANA GEMENT STRA TEGY | ouncil is responsible for over $1billion in water, sewerage and stormwater infrastructure. This system produces around 6,000 million litres of drinking water | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| URBAN GR O WTH MANA GEMENT STRA TEGY | The aim is to promote uses that will result in a stronger agricultural sector and that complement the character and long term viability of our rural areas. The aim will be to avoid adverse impacts on agricultural production, now and in the future. It will also be necessary to avoid land use conflict in rural areas, unreasonable demands for infrastructure upgrades and uses that will potentially result in permanent accommodation. Eco-tourism and nature based tourism will be located where a long term, beneficial and sustainable relationship with the environment can be established. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| URBAN GR O WTH MANA GEMENT STRA TEGY | This Strategy considers the location of our urban areas so as not to limit the future benefits of our natural resources and farmland. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| URBAN GR O WTH MANA GEMENT STRA TEGY | The Port Macquarie regional library includes innovative programs to promote life-long learning (e.g. access to new technology, seed library, community garden, | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| URBAN GR O WTH MANA GEMENT STRA TEGY | The Port Macquarie regional library includes innovative programs to promote life-long learning (e.g. access to new technology, seed library, community garden, | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| URBAN GR O WTH MANA GEMENT STRA TEGY | . provide opportunities for different types of tourism development, from multistorey high class hotels in the Port Macquarie CBD to small farm gate and cellar door sales in our rural areas | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| URBAN GR O WTH MANA GEMENT STRA TEGY | A range of tourist uses are currently permitted in rural areas in the Port Macquarie-Hastings, including eco-tourism, bed and breakfast accommodation, Farm stay accommodation, vineyards and cellar door premises. Nevertheless, it is proposed to review Local Environmental Plan provisions for tourism, agribusiness and recreation uses in rural and environmental zones, with the aim of facilitating appropriate small to mediumscale niche commercial uses, tourist and recreation activities outside the prime tourism development areas, that meet the principles and objectives of the Regional Plan and this Strategy. The aim is to promote uses that will result in a stronger agricultural sector and that complement the character and long term viability of our rural areas. The aim will be to avoid adverse impacts on agricultural production, now and in the future. It will also be necessary to avoid land use conflict in rural areas, unreasonable demands for infrastructure upgrades and uses that will potentially result in permanent accommodation. Eco-tourism and nature based tourism will be located where a long term, beneficial and sustainable relationship with the environment can be established. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| URBAN GR O WTH MANA GEMENT STRA TEGY | ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYMENT STRATEGIES – RURAL VILLA GES Tourism The Port Macquarie-Hastings has a rich and diverse environment and a wealth of opportunity for nature-based tourism. There are also rich agricultural areas, such as the Comboyne Plateau, which present opportunities for small-scale agri-tourism in rural areas. It is also proposed to review planning controls for rural and environmental areas to identify appropriate naturebased, recreation and agricultural tourism opportunities, including a focus on the role that rural villages can play in delivering accommodation and other tourism services | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| URBAN GR O WTH MANA GEMENT STRA TEGY | It is also proposed to review planning controls for surrounding rural and environmental areas to identify appropriate nature-based, recreation and agricultural tourism opportunities (Action 19). | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| URBAN GR O WTH MANA GEMENT STRA TEGY | Review planning controls for rural and environmental areas in relation to recreation, agri-business and nature-based tourism | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| URBAN GR O WTH MANA GEMENT STRA TEGY | To look at opportunities for small to medium scale tourist development in rural and environmental zones consistent with local character and compatible with the values and potential use of surrounding land | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| URBAN GR O WTH MANA GEMENT STRA TEGY | Council will be working very closely with local village communities to define and protect the character, facilitating minimal growth while boosting opportunities for agri-business | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| Urban Greening Strategy | 4.2 Provide opportunities to actively participate in urban greening 4.2.1 Support, enhance and resource existing hands-on community programs (Bushcare, Dunecare, Fiready, Landcare, community gardens) and enable community greening initiatives on public land | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Wollongong | Regional |
| Urban Greening Strategy | 4.2.2 Adopt proactive Verge Garden Guidelines consistent with tree technical guidelines (2.1.1) and precinct or tree masterplans | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Wollongong | Regional |
| Urban Greening Strategy | 4.2 Provide opportunities to actively participate in urban greening 4.2.1 Support, enhance and resource existing hands-on community programs (Bushcare, Dunecare, Fiready, Landcare, community gardens) and enable community greening initiatives on public land | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Wollongong | Regional |
| Urban Greening Strategy | 4.2.2 Adopt proactive Verge Garden Guidelines consistent with tree technical guidelines (2.1.1) and precinct or tree masterplans | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Wollongong | Regional |
| Urban Paths Plan | Water fountains – Where possible, consider the inclusion of water fountains along shared pathways. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Wellington | Regional |
| URBAN WATER QUALITY | OBJECTIVE Provide effective Water Quality Management Systems to ensure waters produced (Drinking Water and Recycled Water) or impacted upon by Council’s Wastewater Operations meets legislative and Nation Water Quality Management Strategy requirements | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Ballina | Regional |
| Vending of Food on Public Reserves | This Policy is being developed for the community to outline Council's Policy on vending of food on public reserves. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Vending Vehicles | 2 Policy Objective To regulate mobile and standing vehicles that display and sell commodities on public or private land. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Griffith | Regional |
| Vending Vehicles Policy | OBJECTIVE To regulate mobile and standing vehicles that display and sell commodities on public or private land. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Hay | Regional |
| Villages Strategy | Action 3.24: Support development of small farm enterprises in identified areas surrounding Nangus. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Cootamundra-Gundagai | Regional |
| Villages Strategy | Action 3.24: Support development of small farm enterprises in identified areas surrounding Nangus. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Cootamundra-Gundagai | Regional |
| Villages Strategy | Action 3.25: Rezone to expand the RUS – Village zone and RU4 – Primary Production Small Lots as proposed, with all lots in the RUS Zone to be connected to potable water. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Cootamundra-Gundagai | Regional |
| Villages Strategy | Action 3.5: Masterplan potable water infrastructure to maximise lot yield for future development potential. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Cootamundra-Gundagai | Regional |
| Villages Strategy | Action 3.10: Rezone Coolac Village to be a mixture of RUS – Village to support residential and commercial growth. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Cootamundra-Gundagai | Regional |
| Villages Strategy | Action 3.25: Rezone to expand the RUS – Village zone and RU4 – Primary Production Small Lots as proposed, with all lots in the RUS Zone to be connected to potable water. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Cootamundra-Gundagai | Regional |
| Villages Strategy | The proposed Inland Rail is a freight route which will connect regional areas to the ports of Brisbane and Melbourne. For the CootamundraGundagai Regional Council area this means that primary producers and value add industries will have rail access to the ports of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Stockinbingal has the capacity to establish an intermodal facility which could service the proposed Inland Rail, Lake Cargelligo Branch line (connecting to Griffith via Temora – Roto Line) and Burley Griffin Way. The existing grain depots at Stockinbingal could be further enhanced with opportunities for access to two more ports to be available through the proposed Inland Rail. Potential industrial zoning to support Inland Rail Action 3.38: Rezone to support freight and logistical land uses with access to the Inland Rail, Lake Cargelligo Branch Line and Burley Griffin Way. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Cootamundra-Gundagai | Regional |