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 | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Western Port Green Wedge Management Plan | The local economy will be driven by its agriculture, and by an emerging tourism and recreation industry based on cycling and walking trails, food, education, and the Western Port coast. | Economic Development | Local food producers | 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. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Casey | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Open Space Strategy Part One Background and Overall Strategy Recommendations | Facilities are listed in alphabetical order. Please note, this is a guide for an appropriate palette of facilities that are suitable for different reserves, however, not all reserves will have all these facilities located within them. This is consistent with the principles of maintaining diversity of the open space system. Facilities to be provided in each reserve will vary depending on the character, environmental values and recreational needs of the neighbourhood. Facilities BBQs Car parking Club based indoor recreation and leisure facilities Club based outdoor recreation and leisure facilities Dog off-lead areas Drinking taps Feature garden beds Informal sport facilities incl. tennis wall, basketball half court, cricket nets Large open grassed areas Lighting Paths – cycle only (dedicated off-road) Paths – pedestrians only Paths – shared pedestrian and cycle Picnic shelters Playground – large Playground – medium Playground – minor Public transport access Rubbish bins Seating Skate facilities Toilets Regional Municipal N'Hood Local Small Local | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Open Space Strategy Part One Background and Overall Strategy Recommendations | Unstructured recreation infrastructure includes facilities such as paths, playgrounds, skate facilities, seats, picnic shelters, drinking fountains, etc. Not all reserves will have all of these facilities in them, as indicated in the Table 3~3, p. 17 which highlights appropriate levels of facilities in different types of open space. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Open Space Strategy Part One Background and Overall Strategy Recommendations | Council needs, as with all other community use of open space, to balance access and use of open space. There are also broad public land management responsibilities that Council need to regulate including the use of herbicides, pesticides, fertilisers and other soil additives to ensure public safety and that there is no longer-term environmental damage to the land. For these reasons, it is necessary for Council to develop formal agreements and conditions of use for Community Gardens. These guidelines will be applied to existing and future proposals for Community Gardens. demonstrate the use of land as a Community Garden is benefiting local residents; there is adequate public open space available in addition to land being used or sought for Community Gardens; the Community Gardens are run by an incorporated organisation who meet regularly; the land should not be required for an alternative public open space use that benefits the broader community; the assessment criteria for allocation of plots to give priority to applicants who do not have access to freehold land (e.g. do not have their own gardens); should adhere to agreed land management practices and access arrangements as stipulated by Council; | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Open Space Strategy Part One Background and Overall Strategy Recommendations | 7.4.3 Community Gardens Community Gardens have positive attributes for those who have access to them including the social contact and the opportunity to grow flowers and vegetables, however, they are only accessible to part of the community. Council needs, as with all other community use of open space, to balance access and use of open space. There are also broad public land management responsibilities that Council need to regulate including the use of herbicides, pesticides, fertilisers and other soil additives to ensure public safety and that there is no longer-term environmental damage to the land. For these reasons, it is necessary for Council to develop formal agreements and conditions of use for Community Gardens. These guidelines will be applied to existing and future proposals for Community Gardens. demonstrate the use of land as a Community Garden is benefiting local residents; there is adequate public open space available in addition to land being used or sought for Community Gardens; the Community Gardens are run by an incorporated organisation who meet regularly; the land should not be required for an alternative public open space use that benefits the broader community; the assessment criteria for allocation of plots to give priority to applicants who do not have access to freehold land (e.g. do not have their own gardens); should adhere to agreed land management practices and access arrangements as stipulated by Council; WHITEHORSE OPEN SPACE STRATEGY PART ONE NOVEMBER 19 2007 PAGE 98 PRIORITY & AGENCY O C (os) O C (os) PAC H2 & O C (os) PAC PRIORITY & AGENCY O C (os, pw) PART ONE 7. OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT maintain an agreed edge treatment between the Community Garden and the public open space reserve; all infrastructure and plants established as part of the Community Garden be removed prior the land being returned to Council; and if the land is identified to be required for an alternative public open space use, Council have the right to reclaim the land for that purpose. NO. 7.4.3.1 7.4.3.2 RECOMMENDATION Develop formal agreements and conditions of use with any new and existing Community Gardens and regular review of the management and need for them. Investigate the need for existing and any additional Community Garden sites based on demand and supply of appropriate sites within the existing open space network. 7.4.3.3 Future applications for establishing community gardens on public land will need to adhere to the guidelines included in this Strategy and any further refinement of these as part of the agreement and conditions use process undertaken for the existing gardens. PRIORITY & AGENCY H2 C (os) H1 C (os) O C (os) | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Open Space Strategy Part One Background and Overall Strategy Recommendations | There are four community gardens in Whitehorse and representatives from some of the organisations who run the gardens attended the Community Workshop, made submissions during the consultation phase and identified that there are more applicants than they can provide plots for at the gardens. Their distribution illustrates that they are provided in different areas of the Municipality and further work/investigation of these is proposed. • | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Open Space Strategy Part One Background and Overall Strategy Recommendations | There are four Community Gardens in Whitehorse and these are located in Slater Reserve, Combarton Street Reserve, Jolimont Road Nunawading and Sinnott Street adjacent to Gardiners Creek in Bennettswood. Whilst there are no formal agreements in place, liaison occurs between Council and Community Gardens as required. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Open Space Strategy Part One Background and Overall Strategy Recommendations | between ParksWide and the Community Nurseries under existing support arrangements. 7.4.3 Community Gardens Community Gardens have positive attributes for those who have access to them including the social contact and the opportunity to grow flowers and vegetables, however, they are only accessible to part of the community. Council needs, as with all other community use of open space, to balance access and use of open space. There are also broad public land management responsibilities that Council need to regulate including the use of herbicides, pesticides, fertilisers and other soil additives to ensure public safety and that there is no longer-term environmental damage to the land. For these reasons, it is necessary for Council to develop formal agreements and conditions of use for Community Gardens. These guidelines will be applied to existing and future proposals for Community Gardens. demonstrate the use of land as a Community Garden is benefiting local residents; there is adequate public open space available in addition to land being used or sought for Community Gardens; the Community Gardens are run by an incorporated organisation who meet regularly; the land should not be required for an alternative public open space use that benefits the broader community; the assessment criteria for allocation of plots to give priority to applicants who do not have access to freehold land (e.g. do not have their own gardens); should adhere to agreed land management practices and access arrangements as stipulated by Council; WHITEHORSE OPEN SPACE STRATEGY PART ONE NOVEMBER 19 2007 PAGE 98 PRIORITY & AGENCY O C (os) O C (os) PAC H2 & O C (os) PAC PRIORITY & AGENCY O C (os, pw) PART ONE 7. OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT maintain an agreed edge treatment between the Community Garden and the public open space reserve; all infrastructure and plants established as part of the Community Garden be removed prior the land being returned to Council; and if the land is identified to be required for an alternative public open space use, Council have the right to reclaim the land for that purpose. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Open Space Strategy Part One Background and Overall Strategy Recommendations | NO. 7.4.3.1 7.4.3.2 RECOMMENDATION Develop formal agreements and conditions of use with any new and existing Community Gardens and regular review of the management and need for them. Investigate the need for existing and any additional Community Garden sites based on demand and supply of appropriate sites within the existing open space network. 7.4.3.3 Future applications for establishing community gardens on public land will need to adhere to the guidelines included in this Strategy and any further refinement of these as part of the agreement and conditions use process undertaken for the existing gardens. PRIORITY & AGENCY H2 C (os) H1 C (os) O C (os) | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Open Space Strategy Part One Background and Overall Strategy Recommendations | There are four community gardens in Whitehorse and representatives from some of the organisations who run the gardens attended the Community Workshop, made submissions during the consultation phase and identified that there are more applicants than they can provide plots for at the gardens. Their distribution illustrates that they are provided in different areas of the Municipality and further work/investigation of these is proposed. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Open Space Strategy Part One Background and Overall Strategy Recommendations | There are four Community Gardens in Whitehorse and these are located in Slater Reserve, Combarton Street Reserve, Jolimont Road Nunawading and Sinnott Street adjacent to Gardiners Creek in Bennettswood. Whilst there are no formal agreements in place, liaison occurs between Council and Community Gardens as required. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| WHITEHORSE CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY LOCAL LAW 2014 | Permitted animals and birds kept on land 5.1 Except with a permit or in accordance with the following table, a person must not keep or allow to be kept on land occupied by that person any animal or bird. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse City Council Climate Change Adaptation Plan Tackling Climate Change Together | Encourage localised food production to reduce dependence on centralised distribution systems that are more vulnerable to impacts from climate change. For example, new sites could be identified for community gardens or Council could allow cultivation of nature strips for growing fruit and vegetables. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse City Council Climate Change Adaptation Plan Tackling Climate Change Together | Encourage localised food production to reduce dependence on centralised distribution systems that are more vulnerable to impacts from climate change. For example, new sites could be identified for community gardens or Council could allow cultivation of nature strips for growing fruit and vegetables. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse City Council Climate Change Adaptation Plan Tackling Climate Change Together | Continue Council sustainability rebate programs that encourage the retrofitting of residential and private property with sustainable fittings and fixtures. These include greywater treatment system rebate, rainwater tank rebate, solar rebate and home composting incentive program rebate. These programs should be reviewed periodically to ensure they remain relevant and cost effective in bringing about change. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse City Council Climate Change Adaptation Plan Tackling Climate Change Together | Encourage localised food production to reduce dependence on centralised distribution systems that are more vulnerable to impacts from climate change. For example, new sites could be identified for community gardens or Council could allow cultivation of nature strips for growing fruit and vegetables. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse City Council Climate Change Adaptation Plan Tackling Climate Change Together | Encourage localised food production to reduce dependence on centralised distribution systems that are more vulnerable to impacts from climate change. For example, new sites could be identified for community gardens or Council could allow cultivation of nature strips for growing fruit and vegetables. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse City Council Climate Change Adaptation Plan Tackling Climate Change Together | Continue Council sustainability rebate programs that encourage the retrofitting of residential and private property with sustainable fittings and fixtures. These include greywater treatment system rebate, rainwater tank rebate, solar rebate and home composting incentive program rebate. These programs should be reviewed periodically to ensure they remain relevant and cost effective in bringing about change. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Health and Wellbeing Plan | Continue to promote Box Hill as a multi-cultural food destination, increasing value of community diversity | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Health and Wellbeing Plan | Advocate for greater housing diversity, including affordable and social housing | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Health and Wellbeing Plan | Facilitate interest in new farmer’s market/s at additional locations across the municipality to increase people’s access to fresh fruit and vegetables and increase social interactions | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Health and Wellbeing Plan | Affordable housing | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Health and Wellbeing Plan | Continue to partner, identify and advocate for affordable housing in Whitehorse and the Eastern Metropolitan Region, including social housing and mixed-use developments | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Health and Wellbeing Plan | Council supports affordable housing in land use planning, by regulating rooming houses and through strategic partnerships such as the Eastern Affordable Housing Alliance, of which Council is a member, to advocate for affordable housing options in Whitehorse. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Health and Wellbeing Plan | Key Strategies and Actions 2017-2021 1.1.8 Promote active and healthy ageing for people in the diverse community Partners and Lead WCC Year One (2018) Activity Promote the uptake of the Cooking for One or Two program by community organisations Update Council’s website to include information on active and healthy ageing Undertake needs analysis for active and healthy ageing information resources, including people of diverse cultural backgrounds Education programs for seniors, including CALD groups about pedestrian safety Achievement measures Area responsible Interest in uptake of healthy eating programs Website updated Information resource needs identified and recommended actions made Community Development – Healthy Ageing, Diversity | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Health and Wellbeing Plan | Promote the uptake of the Cooking for One or Two program by community organisations | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Health and Wellbeing Plan | Continue to promote Box Hill as a multi-cultural food destination, increasing value of community diversity | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |
| Whitehorse Health and Wellbeing Plan | Facilitate interest in new farmer’s market/s at additional locations across the municipality to increase people’s access to fresh fruit and vegetables and increase social interactions | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Whitehorse | Metropolitan |