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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANNUAL REPORT | Food safety assessments | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Wodonga | Regional |
| Annual Report | Jun 30, 2019 Not Achieved 2020 Action. To be replaced with "(1)Develop Employment Lands Delivery Plan Narrabri Shire. (2) Develop Housing Strategy for Narrabri Shire. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Annual Report | Develop and commence implementation of a community education program to support the introduction of a Food Organics Waste Service | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Campaspe | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Funding grants submitted for several key events including Multicultural Food Truck Festival and Youth Week events. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Mitchell | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Food Safety Projects – Additional resources to fund a number of initiatives to better protect community health. This would include healthy food options which is an action under the Health and Wellbeing Plan; a water sampling program of all registered premises on non-reticulated water; and increased food proprietor surveillance to ensure compliance with legislation. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Food Safety Health and safety Critical and major non-compliance outcome notifications | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Wodonga | Regional |
| Annual Report | COMMUNITY OUTCOME 5.2 COUNCIL STRATEGY 5.2.1 DP Action Well managed public and private land Encourage sustainable and profitable agricultural industries Responsibility Action Provide support to industry bodies for improved grazing management practices and other initiatives to maintain the profitability of agricultural enterprises Maintain an awareness of government land management incentives and programs. M Gunn Progress 100% Comment During weed inspections information is given to landholders of the programs and government agencies which can assist in funding opportunities for different land management practices. Communicating with the different government agencies through meetings and correspondence allows for information to be gathered on the new incentives open to landholders and community groups. | Economic Development | Local food producers | NSW | Cobar | Regional |
| Annual Report | Council worked with Narrabri High School to coordinate a group of dancers and bush tucker for Reconciliation Week held in May. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Annual Report | Food Safety Health and safety Critical and major noncompliance outcome notifications [Number of critical noncompliance outcome notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical non-compliance outcome notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises] x100 | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Campaspe | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | As part of Council’s commitment to our employees’ health and wellbeing, the One Mitchell Health and Wellbeing Committee offered the following programs and fundraising opportunities: Flu vaccinations for employees Employee Assistance Program to assist with managing work/life issues Fruit box program | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy eating by LG staff | Victoria | Mitchell | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | FOOD SAFETY Timeliness Time taken to action food complaints [Number of days between receipt and first response action for all food complaints / Number of food | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Wodonga | Regional |
| Annual Report | Council worked with Narrabri High School to coordinate a group of dancers and bush tucker for Reconciliation Week held in May. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Annual Report | Service / Indicator / measure Result 2016 Food safety Timeliness Time taken to action food complaints [Number of days between receipt and first response action for all food complaints / Number of food complaints] Service standard Food safety assessments [Number of registered class 1 food premises and class 2 food premises that receive an annual food safety assessment in accordance with the Food Act 1984 / Number of registered class 1 food premises and class 2 food premises that require an annual food safety assessment in accordance with the Food Act 1984] x 100 Service cost Cost of food safety service [Direct cost of the food safety service / Number of food premises registered or notified in accordance with the Food Act 1984] Health and safety Critical and major noncompliance outcome notifications [Number of critical noncompliance outcome notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical non-compliance outcome notifications and major non-compliance] x 100 2.30 Result 2017 2.09 Result 2018 2.92 2.19 Result 2019 Material variations and comments The time taken to respond to food complaints decreased slightly on last year's result (noting that 2016/17 was the first year the time taken to assess food complaints was reported by calendar year 2016). This decrease is attributable to a full complement of staff to action investigation of food complaints for the full 2018 year. 85.50% 59.94% 90.31% 97.49% Council's involvement in the Food Safety Risk Assessment Project has led to changes in the approach taken by officers and has allowed for those premises that have higher risk activities to be targeted more effectively. This, along with a full complement of staff, has led to an improved assessment result in both completing assessments and in the number of non compliances found. $531.85 $491.46 $453.93 $434.27 The cost of the Food Safety service has declined slightly on the previous year. An increase in the number of premises registered or notified with Campaspe Shire for the 2018 calendar year has driven this downward trend. 85.42% 77.14% 95.00% 100.00% Council received 26 critical and major non-compliance notifications about food premises within the 2018 calendar year, compared to 40 in 2017. 100% of noncompliance notifications were followed up. Council has implemented an approach that focuses on risk identification when inspecting a food premises. This has resulted in the improved result and better consistency of approach by officers over the past two years. A full complement of staff has contributed to the 2018 year's result bringing it back in line with previous year's results | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Campaspe | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | In June 2019 the People and Culture Department held their annual Employee Benefits Expo. The Expo provides staff the opportunity to speak to the companies that provide benefits to Mitchell employees. The Expo was an overwhelming success with over 15 stallholders ranging from banks, superannuation, health insurance and the Australian Services Union as well as featured stands such as: Vision Screenings Heart Health Assessments Healthy Food and Nutrition Cooking Demonstrations Healthy food tasting | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy eating by LG staff | Victoria | Mitchell | Regional |
| Annual Report | Deliver ‘Southern Gippsland Food Futures Program’ that supports existing and potential food networks through marketing, business support and the Southern Gippsland Food Map. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | South Gippsland | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Health and safe food choices for all | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Wodonga | Regional |
| Annual Report | 2.1.3.5 Provide support facilities such as wayfinding and health signage, seating and drinking fountains along key recreational routes in each township. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Construction commences on the Greater Beveridge Community Centre Multi-year 100 100 The $6.74M Greater Beveridge Community Centre opened in October 2018, including maternal and child health appointments and centre drop-ins, as well as a weekly breastfeeding clinic and immunisations. Multi-purpose rooms are available to book, and | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | Victoria | Mitchell | Regional |
| Annual Report | The Southern Gippsland Food Map Project was also completed. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | South Gippsland | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Percentage of required food safety assessments undertaken | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Wodonga | Regional |
| Annual Report | 2.3.3.5 Investigate expansion of Water supply in Gwabegar; specifically but not limited to Silo Road, Wombo Road and Baradine Creek Road. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Maternal and Child Health commenced in November 2018, and Early Learning Services commenced January 2019. To date, the following services, activities and programs are offered from the site: Kindergarten (both 3yo and 4yo) Maternal and Child Health Key Age and Stage Visits Breast-feeding Clinic | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | Victoria | Mitchell | Regional |
| Annual Report | A well-planned Shire that identifies areas for population growth, protects natural resources and agricultural land, guides development, considers climate change and encourages sustainable economic growth – all supported by appropriate infrastructure. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | South Gippsland | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Service cost Cost of food safety service [Direct cost of the food safety service / Number of food premises registered or notified in accordance with the Food Act 1984 | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Wodonga | Regional |
| Annual Report | Narrabri Water Augmentation Project The Narrabri Water Augmentation project is also nearing completion within the 2018/2019 year, incorporating state-ofthe-art design features that assist in water quality within the Narrabri township, demonstrating Council making further efficiencies whilst delivering high quality service to the Narrabri Shire community. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Council continues to partner with community groups such as Landcare for regional based projects Ongoing On target Collaborative projects undertaken include activities with Landcare, government agencies, CFA volunteers and local schools including field days, Gardens for Wildlife Program, facilitating school excursions, planned burns, support for Landcare grants, gorse taskforce meeting, blackberry control Sunday Creek and Seymour Alternative Farming Expo. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Mitchell | Regional |
| Annual Report | Fish Creek Community Garden | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | South Gippsland | Regional |
| Annual Report | We worked with consultants to develop a draft Economic Development Strategy with a focus on further development of a sustainable economy encouraging creativity, innovation and collaboration, creating local jobs and supporting the shire’s natural assets. Council resolved at the 26 June 2019 Ordinary Council Meeting to obtain a peer review of the work done to date. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| Annual Report | Ongoing activity, water Quality across the shire and throughout the year has met all NSW Health and Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Annual Report | 28% 29.89% 32.40% 70.22% e sinificant incease in ass oast Sie oncils iesion rate can be attributed to the introduction of a three bin system incorporating Kerbside Food and Garden Organics collection in September 2017. The organics collection is eel an te lanfill in is collecte fotnitl to omote iesion of aste fom lanfill n te fte iesion is expected to increase with this service model operating over a full year. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Bass Coast | Regional |