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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WATER CONSERVATION STRATEGY | alternative irrigated agriculture (e.g. grapes, olives) | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Albury | Regional |
| WATER CONSERVATION STRATEGY | sale to adjoining landowners for irrigation purposes | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Albury | Regional |
| WATER CONSERVATION STRATEGY | 13.4.1 Agricultural Irrigation Reclaimed effluent can provide a reliable supply of water for irrigators, especially during drought periods, and can be used to substitute for river extractions, thus improving base streamflows. The nutrients in effluent can provide a source of fertiliser. Irrigation demands variability. for reclaimed water have high seasonal Demand is a function of crop type, growing period, evapotranspiration and rainfall. Re-use schemes need to be designed around these parameters to avoid possible soil degradation and contamination of nearby surface water or groundwater and damage to crops and soil structure from excess nutrients and salts. In general, secondary treated effluent, with appropriate disinfection, provides a suitable quality for irrigation purposes. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Albury | Regional |
| WATER PLAN TOWARD A WATER SENSITIVE CITY | on of rainwater tanks at South Melbourne Market. | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| WATER PLAN TOWARD A WATER SENSITIVE CITY | outh Melbourne Market installation of waterless urinals across all public amenities. 2009/10 | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| WATER PLAN TOWARD A WATER SENSITIVE CITY | Trees and open spaces are in good health and actively used by the community, providing social and health benefits, including food production and respite from the urban heat island effect. Council development is in line with environmental capacity and actively addresses climate risks and enhanced sustainability. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| WATER PLAN TOWARD A WATER SENSITIVE CITY | By 2020, the city will have measurably enhanced community and environmental wellbeing through integrated water management. It will have met its water targets for 2020, with measurable improvements to the liveability of Port Phillip, including flow-on effects in the areas of biodiversity and an enhanced natural environment. Trees and open spaces are in good health and actively used by the community, providing social and health benefits, including food production and respite from the urban heat island effect. Council development is in line with environmental capacity and actively addresses climate risks and enhanced sustainability. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| WATER PLAN TOWARD A WATER SENSITIVE CITY | Trees and open spaces are in good health and actively used by the community, providing social and health benefits, including food production and respite from the urban heat island effect. Council development is in line with environmental capacity and actively addresses climate risks and enhanced sustainability. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Port Phillip | Metropolitan |
| Water quality management | 1. Purpose To provide an organisation commitment to responsible management of drinking water quality. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Clarence Valley | Regional |
| WATER SUPPLY | 2.2 Quality Council will develop and implement a Drinking Water Quality Management Plan to ensure the quality of supply continues to meet the requirements of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Yass Valley | Regional |
| WATER SUPPLY | GENERAL Orange City Council will supply reticulated water to its residents via infrastructure that is serviced and maintained in accordance with Council’s adopted Water Asset Management Plan. Council will manage its water supply systems effectively to provide safe and reliable water, including high quality drinking water that consistently meets ‘Australian Drinking Water Guidelines’. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Orange | Regional |
| Water Supply Policy | • management strategies are employed • risk associated with the hazard are assessed • processes become better understood • management objectives are reviewed, and • indicators are measured. Some drinking water quality variations will exist within the Port Macquarie and Camden Haven water supply schemes, which are unfiltered water supplies. Ultra-filtration membrane water treatment is provided at the Telegraph Point, Comboyne, Long Flat and Wauchope water supply schemes. 2.1.6 Drinking Water Pressure PMHC will endeavour to ensure that drinking water supplied to your property is at a minimum pressure of 200 kilopascals (20 metres head of water) at the point of connection to PMHC’s water supply main, under normal operating conditions. A number of designated low water pressure areas have been identified in various locations due to the ground elevation of the affected properties. In these locations property owners are required to install and maintain approved private booster pump arrangements. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| Water Supply Policy | 2.1.1 Supply of Drinking Water PMHC will supply a customer with drinking water to meet a customer’s reasonable needs except: • in the case of planned or unplanned interruptions • in the case of severe drought or major operational difficulty • where PMHC is entitled to restrict or discontinue supply, or • in the case of events beyond PMHC’s reasonable control. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| Water Supply Policy | 2.1.5 Drinking Water Quality PMHC is committed to supplying high quality drinking water which consistently meets or exceeds the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011 (ADWG), our customer’s expectations and regulatory requirements. To achieve this, in partnership with our customers, NSW Health Department, NSW Office of Water and other relevant Government agencies, PMHC will: • manage water quality at all points along the delivery path from extraction to the customers tap • use a risk-based approach in which all potential risks to water quality are identified and effective measures are taken to minimise any threat to drinking water quality • deliver water in accordance with PMHC’s Drinking Water Management System • deliver water which complies with the ‘health’ related criteria (microbiological and chemical) contained in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011 and works toward achieving full compliance with the ‘aesthetic’ criteria • maintain regular monitoring of the quality of drinking water and effective reporting to supply timely and relevant information to our customers and regulators • provide quarterly performance reports to PMHC to be then published on PMHC’s website • develop and implement appropriate contingency planning and incident response mechanisms • incorporate our stakeholder needs into our water quality planning and management activities • participate in water industry forums and research programmes which aim to improve our understanding of water quality issues • continually review and improve our work practices by assessing the performance of our water supply against criteria including the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011 • maintain effective disinfection of the water supply distribution system, including a target level of free chlorine residual +0.5mg/L (ADWG value) and a minimum level of +0.2mg/L (NSW Office of Water) throughout the distribution system • as directed by NSW Health, PMHC will ultimately achieve and maintain a target level of 1mg/L of Fluoride in the water supply network, and • ensure all PMHC’s water supply staff and contractors are aware of the importance of maintaining drinking water quality at all times, including the provision of regular water industry training and qualification in these areas. In summary, the principles in the ADWG are: • multiple barriers are required to protect drinking water quality • the most effective barrier is the protection of source waters • source water should be protected to the maximum practical degree • water quality should be maintained at the highest practicable quality, and • water quality should not be degraded even if it complies with guideline values by a safe margin. PMHC has adopted a risk management approach to the management of water quality in its water catchment areas and source waters. We conduct drinking water quality assessment studies to determine the water quality risks and hazards present by using the following approach: • a hazard is identified • objectives are created for hazard management | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| Water Supply Policy | 4-star quality water is the effluent after the wastewater has undergone more advanced treatment such as artificial wetlands or conventional, multimedia or membrane filtration and other advanced processes. It can be used for industrial processes, irrigation of public areas or crops that might be eaten raw. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| Water Supply Policy | Irrigation of food crops | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Regional |
| WATERSHED: TOWARDS A WATER SENSITIVE DAREBIN Implementation Plan 2015-2025 | Engage in integrated community projects, such as Transforming Darebin and Better Blocks, to re-imagine streetscapes with the aim of increasing delivery of water sensitive outcomes including WSUD, climate change adaptation measures, habitat creation, community engagement, planting and potential urban food growing. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| WATERSHED: TOWARDS A WATER SENSITIVE DAREBIN Implementation Plan 2015-2025 | Engage in integrated community projects, such as Transforming Darebin and Better Blocks, to re-imagine streetscapes with the aim of increasing delivery of water sensitive outcomes including WSUD, climate change adaptation measures, habitat creation, community engagement, planting and potential urban food growing. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Darebin | Metropolitan |
| Waverley Affordable Housing Program Tenancy Policy | 2. Aims Waverley Council’s Affordable Housing Program aims to maintain diversity in the Waverley community through the provision of affordable housing within a range of residential building types. The program targets households on low to moderate incomes who can demonstrate a connection to the Waverley area. Tenants have a maximum of three years on the Program. Rents are set at 25-35% off median market rental for a comparable property in Waverley at the time of commencement, depending on each tenant's income and the target set by Council for the inclusion of low income households. 3. Purpose This policy sets out Waverley Council’s requirements for the allocation and management of tenancies in the Waverley Affordable Housing Program. It is intended to ensure that the Program makes an effective contribution to the pool of accommodation support available through various programs for low to moderate income earners, and that its operation is consistent with expectations for the delivery of affordable housing through Community Housing Providers. It sets out criteria for eligibility, requirements for allocation and rent charges, and tenants’ rights and obligations. These are consistent with NSW Affordable Housing Guidelines. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Waverley | Metropolitan |
| WAVERLEY COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN 2018–2029 | 2.1.2. Provide and manage social and affordable rental housing, community venues and facilities | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Waverley | Metropolitan |
| WAVERLEY COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN 2018–2029 | Community housing providers, Department of Housing, SSROC, Department of Planning and Environment, Greater Sydney Commission | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Waverley | Metropolitan |
| WAVERLEY COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN 2018–2029 | Social and affordable housing | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Waverley | Metropolitan |
| WAVERLEY COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT | Maintain Waverley’s social housing program for older people and people with a mild intellectual disability an ntin t aat t Government for increased diversity of sng st tat s ara an accessible | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Waverley | Metropolitan |
| WAVERLEY COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT | SOCIAL AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING TENANTS In 2018, demographic analysis and research were undertaken to | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Waverley | Metropolitan |
| WAVERLEY COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT | ns sng r r rgra ntins t r sr ara rnta sng r 55 r ar residents on very low incomes, with more than half of the tnants ng r a nnngs sang agrn n as rs aatin r nn t an ntta sat n nnnt sr tnant satisatin as arr t ratin nt Housing Providers and Council’s tenants were included for the rst ti ts ar 5 r nt tnants artiat an tr ra satisatin rating r tnants n ns rgras as r nt t r nt rsnnts rrting tat their housing provides security and stability in their lives and supports their health and wellbeing | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Waverley | Metropolitan |
| WAVERLEY COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT | nti sng ns n t s a n ntiati ns sng tnants r n n t ratin nt sng rrs satisatin sr ra satisatin rating r tenants in Council’s programs was r nt t r nt rsnnts rrting tat tr housing provides security and stability in their lives and supports tr at an ng arg rrtin rsnnts r cent reported feeling safe in their home, 86 per cent happy in their neighbourhood, and 81 per cent connected to their family, friends an nt | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Waverley | Metropolitan |
| WAVERLEY COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT | | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Waverley | Metropolitan |
| WAVERLEY COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT | A Food and Mood Workshop | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Waverley | Metropolitan |
| WAVERLEY COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT | COMPOST REVOLUTION n r 35 st bins and worm farms to residents ating t rsn r an 4 tnns n t st tin rgra as nt 4 tnns ast r rt r an gt sting an rng workshops were organised at ars atins t a tta anng r nt ns r n waste is converted into a compost product through mechanical ratr tratnt | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Waverley | Metropolitan |
| WAVERLEY COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT | PLASTIC FREE BONDI n tr ntrnatina aa artist arna rs an arn sntist an ara s an asti r n a campaign that aims to reduce singles asti n n asti r n rgra as t t t 5 r nt businesses targeted reached, and an nn ar rat r tanng rsrs an atina atra r snsss tr asts t r rntin rgra s as new infrastructure, enforcement patrols, and engagement events r nt Council's internal events guidelines now include a ban on singles astis r ntrna nts tings rss an tranng Waste Management guidelines for outdoor events (including a ban on sngs astis at tr nts ar rrnt ng nt | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Waverley | Metropolitan |