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 | Registration of food, health and accommodation premises; | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | South Gippsland | Regional |
| Annual Report | We supported local industry sectors that aligned with our vision and principles The Agribusiness Forum—supported by Council—ran a networking event ‘The Future of Farming in the Macedon Ranges’. The event was attended by 44 business owners who heard from experts in drone technology and the impacts of climate change on farming. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| Annual Report | Status Achieved Progress Quarterly meetings have been attended. Hunter H20 have been engaged to review existing soil and groundwater data from 2008 to 2018 in line with Council's EPA licence. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Annual Report | In response to community concerns about unreliable access to transport connections, parking demand at rail stations and shops and traffic congestion within the Strathfield Council area, Council launched the Strathfield Connector Bus service in 2019. The service has two routes servicing north and south and runs seven days a week. This service not only connects residents to local shops, restaurants and businesses but encourages social interaction and access to mobility for those without reasonable access to transport. Since its launch, over 20,000 passengers have used the service. Council launched the first northern route in March 2019 and the southern route in July 2019. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | NSW | Strathfield | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report | Performance Indicators Food Safety Health and Safety Critical and major non-compliance outcome notifications [Number of critical non-compliance outcome notifications and major non-compliance notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical non-compliance outcome notifications and major noncompliance notifications about a food premises] x100 Result 2016/17 Result 2017/18 Material Variations and Comments 96.59% 98.11% Council places high importance on ensuring critical and major noncompliances are satisfactorily followed up. Enhanced internal processes an eotin as enale moe accate tacin of tese notifications ic as le to an imoe esonse to ientifie non-comliances over the past four years. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Bass Coast | Regional |
| Annual Report | Loddon Valley Food and Wine Expo | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Loddon | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Thousands visit Seymour Alternative Farming Expo | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Mitchell | Regional |
| Annual Report | Budget Adopted 62,816 | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Annual Report | Strathfield Connector Bus In response to community concerns about unreliable transport connections, parking demand at rail stations and shops and traffic congestion within the Strathfield Council area, Council launched the Strathfield Connector Bus service in 2019. The service has two routes servicing north and south and runs seven days a week. This service not only connects residents to local shops, restaurants and businesses but encourages social interaction and provides access and mobility for those without reasonable access to transport. Since the launch of the first route in March 2019, over 20,000 passengers have used this service. The second route was launched in July 2019. An online tracker of the bus’s location is accessible via Council’s website. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | NSW | Strathfield | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report | Performance Indicators 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] x100 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] Result 2016/17 2.62 days Result 2017/18 Material Variations and Comments 1.73 days In 2017/18 Council received 77 food complaints with a total number of 133 as eteen eceit an fist esonse action fo all foo comlaints Food related requests are prioritised for completion, with the majority actioned on the day they are reported to Council. 98.51% 99.45% In 2017/18 there were 360 out of 362 food premises assessments completed. This is an improvement on the result of 98.51 per cent recorded for the 2016/17 period. $303 $344.93 There has been an increase in the direct cost of food safety services ic is attite to annal inceases associate it staffin eicle and equipment costs. These service improvement cost increases have also attributed to an improved result for actioning food complaints, food safety assessments and critical and non-compliant food premises notifications | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Bass Coast | Regional |
| Annual Report | Major events were another highlight for our Shire, including the Loddon Valley Food and Wine Expo held on 16 March 2019 on the banks of the Loddon River at Newbridge. The Expo, which was a great success, showcased the region’s gourmet food and wine | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Loddon | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Work with partner organisations including Goulburn River Valley Tourism to support and promote events in the Shire and to attract third party funding Duration Ongoing Target % On target % complete Progress comment Collaborated with Goulburn River Valley Tourism (GRVT) on various marketing committee actions; promotional campaigns and attending tourism showcase events such Melbourne Good and Wine Show, as well as collaborating to showcase Mitchell Shire and the Heart of Victoria region at Seymour Alternative Farming Expo. We ha | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Mitchell | Regional |
| Annual Report | HEAD OF STOCK SOLD AT THE NARRABRI SALEYARDS | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Annual Report | household per week by 2019, resulting in a 65.3% reduction on waste weight. Council participates in Responsible Café program that promotes use of reusable cups to reduce plastic and litter from disposable cups. A total of 15 cafes are now participating in Strathfield and Homebush West by offering discounts for customers using re-useable take away coffee cups. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Strathfield | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report | actively promoting exercise, healthy eating | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy eating by LG staff | Victoria | Loddon | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Compost bin and worm farm offer underway | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Mitchell | Regional |
| Annual Report | Saleyards Capital Work Description Saleyards – Upgrade Drainage Systems from Saleyards and Truck Wash Saleyards – Yards painting and repairs (half deferred from 2017/18) Saleyards – Water Recycling Project Saleyards – Lighting Upgrade | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Annual Report | Highlights 2018-2019 Engaging and activated public places A key community priority in the Community Strategic Plan is providing engaging and activate public places. Town Centres are important places for the community to connect and interact providing retailing, entertainment and transport. Council is focused on improving the quality of public places in the Strathfield Council area. Works commenced in early 2019 to upgrade the Homebush West shopping centre, which included improvement to the appearance of Henley Road, new paving, planter beds, street trees, bins and benches. Henley Road was converted to one-way with ample 45 degree parking on the eastern side to improve traffic flow and parking. Plans for upgrading the Homebush Town Centre have commenced. The appearance and cleanliness of Strathfield’s town centres is important to the community. Council maintained town centres to a high level of cleanliness with daily cleaning and waste removal. Council undertakes intensive steam cleaning of footpaths and paved areas twice a year. All streets in the Strathfield LGA are regularly swept by street cleaners to improve cleanliness but to improve the quality of waterways by managing stormwater pollution from street gutters. Council conducts regular inspections of drainage and clearing of pits after heavy rainfalls and storms, and identifies hot spots for reporting and repairing of major blockages. Since the launch of the Return and Earn at Strathfield Town Centre until June 2019, over 7.5 million containers made from glass, plastic, aluminum, steel and liquid cardboard (cartons) have been collected, which reduces containers from general litter. The program has reduced eligible CDS recyclable waste from 0.49 kg per household per week of Strathfield LGA’s household bins in 2017 to 0.17 kg per | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Strathfield | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report | Provide opportunities for the community to develop community gardens | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Loddon | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Every food premises are inspected by Environmental Health during the year to improve compliance with regulations and educate operators | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Mitchell | Regional |
| Annual Report | Implementation of the strategy has included to date establishing a dedicated breastfeeding facility in the Government Centre | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | Victoria | Wangaratta | Regional |
| Annual Report | The Drought Communities Fund was a specific funding programme by the Federal Government – which assisted Council with the supply of four Bulk Water Dispensing Units (Gwabegar, Pilliga, Bellata and Baan Baa) and the development of the Wee Waa Green Space. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Annual Report | 80% of local food businesses received ‘Scores on Doors’ certificates indicating high standards of food safety | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Strathfield | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report | Council provided liaison and support for the South West Loddon Pipeline Project, with construction and commissioning of the project anticipated to be completed in October 2019. The entire project will deliver much-needed water to communities, households and farmers from Wychitella to Laanecoorie and Kinypanial to Carapooee. When complete, the project will service 500 rural properties over an area of 2,900km² with a reticulated water supply. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Loddon | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Food Safety 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 noncompliance notifications about a food premises followed up / Number of critical noncompliance outcome notifications and major noncompliance notifications about a food premise] x100 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 2015/16 Result $795.21 2016/17 Result $463.69 2017/18 Result $392.16 2018/19 Result $436.19 Comments Start-up costs associated with contracting this service, and managing the backlog of work, impacted our initial cost. However, the ongoing cost for service has returned to a level more closely in line with similar Councils. Note: this result is financial year. Our Public Health Team consistently achieves a result of 100% for all reporting periods. Note: this result is for 2018 calendar year. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Mitchell | Regional |
| Annual Report | Water Capex – Bulk Water Supply Unit Install (Water Security) | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Narrabri | Regional |
| Annual Report | Strathfield Council conducted 219 food shop inspections to ensure the highest possible food hygiene and handling standards for local consumers. ‘Scores on Doors’ certificates were provided to all high & medium risk food businesses at the conclusion of routine inspections. There were 119 certificates issued to businesses at 3 or more stars, which exceeded the target of 80% compliance set by Council for 2018-2019. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Strathfield | Metropolitan |
| Annual Report | The South West Loddon Pipeline project is proceeding well and current estimates are that it will be finished in September 2019. A new Loddon Shire Economic Development and Tourism Strategy is being prepared and is expected to identify opportunities for intensive agriculture that arise due to the provision of a reliable water supply provided by the new pipeline. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable water management in food production | Victoria | Loddon | 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 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] x100 100% 3 2F 100.00% 100.00% 2015/16 Result 1 2016/17 Result 1 2017/18 Result 1.00 2018/19 Result 1.00 Comments Our Environmental Health Department action all food complaints within one working day of receipt of a complaint. Note: this result is for 2018 calendar year. 111.25% | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Mitchell | Regional |
| Annual Report | Number of cattle throughput at Wangaratta Livestock Exchange | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Wangaratta | Regional |