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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | 11.5.3 Strategies » Ensure that Green Wedge soils and their versatility are recognised as a finite resource and are protected accordingly. » Develop a sustainable planning and management framework for food production, agriculture and other uses of Green Wedge soils. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | 11.5.4 Actions » Action 6: Recognise the versatility of soils in the Casey Western Port Green Wedge and their capability to support productive farming and biodiversity through appropriate controls in the Casey Planning Scheme. Support a regional approach to this work. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | 11.8.2 Objective Ensure that farm and domestic wastewater systems (both septic and sewer) are designed and maintained to protect the sensitive Western Port environment, including that of the Ramsar wetlands. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | 11.9.3 Strategies » Secure a robust long-term planning framework that recognises the value of the Casey Western Port Green Wedge for agriculture. » Strengthen the long-term viability of farming in the Casey Western Port Green Wedge and enhance its productivity and competitive position. » | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | 3.1 VISION FOR THE CASEY WESTERN PORT GREEN WEDGE The Casey Western Port Green Wedge will be a permanent green and rural area and will remain an internationally significant biodiversity habitat. Its agricultural industry will be strengthened, and it will become a truly innovative and productive farming district for the long-term food security of Victoria. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Action 10 Prepare a design framework that will provide for a sustainable and permanent edge to the urban-rural interface. 11 Review the Non-Agricultural Uses in Green Wedge Areas Local Planning Policy for consistency with this Management Plan and the Activity Centres Strategy and amend the Policy as appropriate. Implement such changes as part of broader periodic Planning Scheme updates such as the Planning Policy Framework translation. Lead Agency Casey CC Supporting Agencies SECCCA, DELWP Timeline Outcome Short Council Policy on climate risk Lead Agency Casey CC Supporting Agencies DELWP; Victorian Planning Authority Casey CC DELWP Timeline Outcome Immediate Interface Plan and Implementation Short Updated 74 I City of Casey W | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Action 10: Prepare a design framework that will provide for a sustainable and permanent edge to the urban-rural interface. » Action 11: Review the Non-Agricultural Uses in Green Wedge Areas Local Planning Policy for consistency with this Management Plan and the Activity Centres Strategy and amend the Policy as appropriate. Implement such changes as part of broader periodic Planning Scheme updates such as the Planning Policy Framework translation. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Advocate that the proposed Crib Point to Pakenham Gas Pipeline project minimises any adverse impacts on agricultural uses in the Western Port Green Wedge. 1 | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Although the tourism offer is modest at present, several opportunities have been identified that may be developed and promoted to support local agriculture, generate employment opportunities, enhance the area’s biodiversity, and create recreation opportunities for local residents. The public consultation generally supported these opportunities but with reservations about impacts on biodiversity in terms of recreation along the Western Port Coast and in areas with high biodiversity value. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Any intensification of the development pattern of the Township, must be strategically justified through the preparation of a Pearcedale Township Plan, and must be proven not to detrimentally impact the surrounding Casey Rural Living and Agricultural Production Precinct, the capacity of existing infrastructure systems or on the environmentally sensitive environment of the Western Port Green Wedge. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | continue to be a location for animal breeding and training for the horse racing industry. » offer a location for environmentally sustainable agriculture and horticulture. » discourage the location of urban infrastructure therein without strategic and environmental justification proving that it could support the Precinct’s vision. The | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Expansion of Pearcedale Township Proposal: Pearcedale Township should be enlarged to include green wedge zoned land that abuts its current boundary by rezoning it to the General Residential Zone to enable its subdivision into urban densities. Pro 6 submissions Justification provided: » A logical township boundary would be established. » There is a lack of vacant residential lots within the existing township boundaries. Anti 7 submissions Justification provided: » Flora and fauna should be protected. » The Green Wedge should be protected from further urban expansion. » Pearcedale’s infrastructure could not cope with further development. » The Green Wedge offers a certain lifestyle that would be lost through further subdivision. Victorian Government, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning advised that it is unlikely to support proposals to allow the further subdivision of green wedge land or to expand township boundaries. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Given its long-term strategic value to Melbourne and to agriculture, the Green Wedge should be recognised as an area of strategic farming importance for Melbourne and every effort should be made to protect it for that purpose. Accordingly, Council will advocate to the State Government that the significance of the area is formally recognised through a Statement of Planning Policy for the Western Port Green Wedge, to be included in the State Planning Policy Framework, the Metropolitan Planning Strategy and any other relevant documents. This Statement should reflect the vision for the Green Wedge and the primacy of agriculture and horticulture in the area and Precinct One in particular. In addition, the relevant local planning provisions in the Casey Planning Scheme will be reviewed and, if necessary, revised to ensure the protection of agriculture and ruralbased activities. The State Government is in the process of identifying Strategic Agricultural Lands in all green wedge and peri-urban areas surrounding Melbourne. That project generally aligns with the objectives of this Management Plan to protect and maintain agricultural lands in the Western Port Green Wedge. Council supports and welcomes this regional approach to the designation and protection of Strategic Agricultural Lands. 11.9.2 Objective Maintain a thriving agricultural and horticultural industry in the Casey Western Port Green Wedge with a focus on horticulture and farming to service local and export markets. Ag | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Guiding Principles for the Casey Western Port Green Wedge 1 2 3 4 6 5 Agriculture and horticulture will be encouraged and protected. Decisions on proposals for other types of land use and development will have regard to the primacy of agriculture and horticulture. Local and State Infrastructure should respond to the key values of the Western Port Green Wedge, and any potential impacts on the values of the Green Wedge should be minimised and mitigated, while taking into account the needs of the local community. Land uses should be located as directed by the Precinct-based Strategic Directions set out in Section 12. Sites of environmental significance, including Ramsar wetlands and the habitat of noted fauna such as the Southern Brown Bandicoot and the Growling Grass Frog, will be protected and enhanced and their contribution to the biodiversity of the Western Port Green Wedge will be recognised in decision-making. Sites of cultural heritage will be identified and protected and their contribution to the identity and history of the Western Port Green Wedge will be recognised in decision-making. The economic and social benefits of existing and planned tourism and recreation assets will be protected and promoted through integrated planning mechanisms. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | How to maintain a thriving agriculture and horticulture industry » | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Key water management agencies (Melbourne Water, South East Water, Southern Rural Water, Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Management Authority) are working together with the City of Casey and Cardinia Shire Council to improve water quality and food management to mitigate the impact of sedimentation and pollution on Western Port. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Promote sustainable land and farm management across the Casey Western Port Green Wedge. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Protect the Green Wedge from urban development, except for those developments that complement its primary values of agriculture, biodiversity, maintenance of viable settlements, and tourism. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | provide a transitional area leading to the Casey Rural Living and Agriculture Precinct and to the Casey Horticulture and Food Production Precinct » provide a preferred location for non-rural uses such as primary and secondary schools and Places of Worship, specifically within the area bounded by Cranbourne-Frankston Road, Pearcedale Road and Browns Road, subject to strategic justification. » protect and enhance native vegetation cover to provide habitat and movement corridors for native fauna, having regard to bushfire management issues. PRE | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Providing a sustainable and permanent edge to the urban-rural interface | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Regional Approach to Climate Change The South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA) is a network of Councils that are situated around the Western Port region and has been operating since 2004. SECCCA’s regional projects investigate coastal and human settlement planning in a time of climate change. The City of Casey and the Cardinia Shire Council are members of this regional alliance and continue to support it in relation to monitoring climate change and advising on any mitigation and adaptation strategies relevant to the Green Wedge. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | SOIL AND LAND CAPABILITY Action Lead Agency 6 Recognise the versatility of soils in the Casey Western Port Green Wedge and their capability to support productive farming and biodiversity through appropriate controls in the Casey Planning Scheme. Support a regional approach to this work. Supporting Agencies Timeline Outcome DELWP Casey CC; VFF; Local producers Immediate Protection of Casey’s agriculture INTEGRA | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | Subdivision Proposal: subdivide land into lots varying in area between 0.2 hectares and 2 hectares Pro-subdivision 98 submissions and four petitions Submissions received primarily from the Cranbourne South, Devon Meadows and Pearcedale South areas. Reasons provided: » Farming is not sustainable on the existing lots which have an area of 10 hectares and under. » Ease property maintenance (commonly because of the age of owners). » Subdivision would provide owners with fnancial stability. » The area is close to the UGB and to reticulated services. » Subdivision would create a buffer between urban development and the Green Wedge. » Small lots would ease maintenance of vegetation. Anti-subdivision 27 submissions Submissions received primarily from the Cranbourne South, Devon Meadows and Pearcedale South areas. Reasons provided: » No strategic case to subdivide, only economic. » The current balance of agriculture and rural living should be maintained. » The eco-system should be protected. Victorian Government, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning The Department advised that it has no plans to support any planning scheme amendment proposals that seek to expand the UGB, increase the subdivision potential of green wedge land or lead to the development of small inappropriate lots in the green wedges. The Government is therefore unlikely to support proposals to allow the further subdivision of green wedge land or to expand township boundaries. Subsequently, in February 2019, the State Government again advised the City of Casey that it has no plans to increase the subdivision potential of the Green Wedge for smaller lots. City of Casey Western | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | The Casey Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan aims to balance the competing interests of urban expansion with the need to preserve green areas | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | The findings from the research will be useful to local farmers and rural producers to inform their decision making and succession planning, and should be the subject of an education and information program to assist the rural community. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | The land versatility map should be used to guide the formulation of planning controls that reflect the suitability of different parts of the area for different agricultural uses and practices. This process could include a review of the existing Green Wedge Zones to develop more comprehensive and customised controls to reflect the capability of these soils. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | The majority of soils within the Green Wedge are recognised for their productivity and capability for horticulture and agriculture, and for their role in maintaining and supporting biodiversity. Research was commissioned through the State Government to investigate and map the soil capabilities of land in the Western Port Green Wedge. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | The urban edge could also be planned and used for walking and equestrian trails, with a landscaped buffer between housing and farmland to reduce tensions between farming practices and residential amenity. With this sort of design approach, the interface could be recognised as an attractive and meaningful permanent edge to the city, rather than a temporary boundary before the next extension to the UGB. This approach may also help reduce bushfire impacts on the urban area. The development of such interfaces would require financial and land contributions. Opportunities may exist to secure such contributions through potential subdivision or infrastructure projects. A study would be needed to identify those parts of the UGB that already have an adequate natural definition for this urban edge, such as the Cardinia Creek, and other areas that would need to be treated as a priority. It would be part of the brief for this study to identify priority areas for design treatment. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | The versatility of soils in the Green Wedge and the capability of the land for farming » | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | The Western Port Green Wedge has an internationally-recognised environment, fertile soils, established equestrian, agriculture and horticulture industries, ready access to water and an extensive transportation network connecting farmers with nearby local markets and to ports for interstate or overseas markets. These attributes cumulatively create the area’s enormous, largely latent economic potential. The Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan identifies strategies that aim to realise that potential, which will have positive flow-on effects for the local economy, employment and the vibrancy of its settlements. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |