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).
Suggested search terms
Hold Ctrl to select multiple terms. Using ‘any words’ functions as an “OR” search. Using ‘all words’ functions as and “AND” search.
Search Criteria:
| Document title | Relevant text in the policy | Domain | Topic | State | Local Government name | Council type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Report | Provide opportunities for the community to develop community gardens | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Loddon | Regional |
| ANNUAL REPORT | Service/indicator/[measure] 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 non-compliance notifications about a food premises] x100 | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Mitchell | Regional |
| Annual Report | Environmental health services Provision of the following to the municipal community as a whole: septic tank and waste water management approvals, food safety inspections and certification, monitoring of tobacco and alcohol sales, compliance with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act and Environment Protection Act and their enforcement. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Loddon | Regional |
| Annual Report | | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | Victoria | Wangaratta | Regional |
| Annual Report | Food Hygiene Course Food Safety Supervisors Course | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Loddon | Regional |
| Annual Report | Food Safety Timeliness FS1 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 FS2 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 FS3 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 FS4 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 non-compliance notifications about a food premises] x100 $163.78 $165.08 $148.59 $112.34 A staff vacancy existed at the start of the year which resulted in unplanned savings, this vacancy was filled in the later part of the year. 100.00% 97.98% 73.53% 90.63% Resources increased in this area during the second part of the year allowing staff to complete more assessments. Results 2016 Results 2017 Results 2018 Results 2019 Material variations and comments 6.50 1.50 1.00 1.00 Council continues to action food complaints within one day. 83.33% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% Council continues to follow up critical and major non-compliance outcomes in a timely manner. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Loddon | Regional |
| Annual Report | FOOD SAFETY 50.50 Time taken to action food complaints 3.00 7.14 to action food complaints from last year (2017/18 – 3.00) average days to action continues to remain at an improved level due to emphasis on timely response. Food safety assessments 58.41% 70.67% 100.00% Additional resourcing enabled 100% of food safety inspections to be completed. Cost of food safety service $347.56 $548.12 $215.32 achieved increase in compliance with reduced cost per food premises. Critical and major non-compliance outcome 100.00% 54.55% 68.18% A number of businesses not followed up were either closed during the reporting period or mobile premises that were followed up within other municipalities and found compliant. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Wangaratta | Regional |
| Annual Report | Food safety Health and safety Critical and major non-compliance notifications [Number of critical non-compliance notifications 7 notifications 8 and major non-compliance about a food premises 9 up / Number of critical non-compliance notifications and major non-compliance notifications about food premises] x100 | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Wangaratta | Regional |
| Annual Report | Percentage of registered Class 1 and 2 food premises that receive an annual food safety assessment | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Wangaratta | Regional |
| Annual Report | Once again involved with GRVT in participating in the Good Food and Wine Show in Melbourne in order to promote the region. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Strathbogie | Regional |
| Annual Report | Promote and support local business and produce Encourage local produce sales in towns throughout the Shire 50% The development of the Food, Fibre and Flowers brochure has initiated this process. With the appointment of an Economic Development and Projects            Economic Development Mast Plan. Research is also being done on the advent of Agri-Tourism and ways of leveraging this new and emerging market. The review of the Economic Masterplan is still underway, no further progress has been made on this action at this time. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Strathbogie | Regional |
| Annual Report | COUNCIL STRATEGY 1.5.4 DP Action Provide appropriate services for residents at the Lilliane Brady Village Provide adequate infrastructure to care for older residents locally Action Maintain health and personal care of all residents according to their needs and maintain resident lifestyle, rights and choices. S Huon 100% Responsibility Progress Comment 8 New Australian Aged Care Quality Standards come into effect from 1 July 2019 and will be monitored by the Aged Carer Quality and Safety Commission. Resident care needs are regularly reviewed as per policy. Residents have a choice of GP and these GPs have visited the facility regularly to review clinical management. Allied health services such as dietician, podiatry, speech, pathology and hearing services were provided to those residents that required them. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Cobar | Regional |
| Annual Report | Council partnered with the Social Foundry in Kyneton to deliver three Feast of Stories events. At each event, a local community member from a culturally-diverse background helped to prepare a community meal and shared a five minute story from their life reflecting a specific theme. The meals featured a main course and dessert for a $5 donation with children under 12 eating for free. The inaugural ‘Feast of Stories’ featured home-style Turkish food and a story from Turkish man Ozgun Turgut on the theme of ‘food’. There were three Feasts in total. The partnership with Social Foundry was developed from the recent forum on the Safe Haven Enterprise Visa scheme (SHEV) program. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| Annual Report | Protects the community’s health and well-being by coordinating food safety support and immunisation programs, septic tanks and Tobacco Act activities. The service also works to rectify any public health concerns relating to disease outbreaks, unreasonable emissions, accommodation standards and food premises inspections. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Wangaratta | Regional |
| Annual Report | Violet Town Market | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Strathbogie | 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. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Cobar | Regional |
| Annual Report | Council partnered with the Social Foundry in Kyneton to deliver three Feast of Stories events. At each event, a local community member from a culturally-diverse background helped to prepare a community meal and shared a five minute story from their life reflecting a specific theme. The meals featured a main course and dessert for a $5 donation with children under 12 eating for free. The inaugural ‘Feast of Stories’ featured home-style Turkish food and a story from Turkish man Ozgun Turgut on the theme of ‘food’. There were three Feasts in total. The partnership with Social Foundry was developed from the recent forum on the Safe Haven Enterprise Visa scheme (SHEV) program. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| Annual Report | Community Event of the Year Award – Cann River Volunteer Appreciation Day An initiative of the Cann River Community Centre, this inaugural event recognised the outstanding contribution community members make to service in the Cann River area. Highlights of the event included a three-course meal catered by five local food businesses | Economic Development | Food related job creation | Victoria | East Gippsland | Regional |
| Annual Report | Develop a program to provide incentives for improved farm management through use of whole farm plans, mitigation of effects of climate change 100% Council has partnered with the Arboretum, Landcare and CMN February – June 2019 offering facilities and the venue, to assist with the new Healthy Hectares course for small lot landowners new to the municipality. Team Leader Climate Change and Environment is attending North Eastern Dry Seasonal Conditions Coordination Group chaired by Agriculture Victoria to stay up to date with all information and incoming incentives, potential partnerships and activities for agricultural landholders in Strathbogie. Information has been communicated to all contacts regarding grants and rebates applicable. | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Strathbogie | 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. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Cobar | Regional |
| Annual Report | Following a review of the draft In the Farming Zone Strategy, and adoption of the Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme Review it was resolved at the 26 June 2019 Ordinary Council Meeting to expand the scope of the In Farming Zone Strategy to incorporate a review of land in the Rural Conservation Zone. The Rural Land Use Strategy will be considered by Council in 2020. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| Annual Report | Omeo High Country Paddock to Plate Roast & Farmers Market | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | East Gippsland | Regional |
| Annual Report | Saleyard operations revenue | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Strathbogie | Regional |
| Annual Report | Council has not been contacted by grazing industry bodies in this reporting year, however continues to be available to assist in discussions about strengthening the local grazing industry through improved grazing management practices. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Cobar | 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. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| Annual Report | Paynesville Food Van Fiesta | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | East Gippsland | Regional |
| Annual Report | Saleyards | Economic Development | Local food producers | Victoria | Strathbogie | Regional |
| Annual Report | The last 12 months have seen a strong support for our rural land owners with the continuation of the drought. The significant support provided through the delivery of hay and food has been well received. It is recognised that we will need to show our support and understanding during this time and we hope that the drought ends sooner rather than later. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | NSW | Cobar | Regional |
| Annual Report | We used compost (generated from the garden waste collection service) in the shire’s parks and gardens, and donated the compost to schools for use in their kitchen gardens. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | Victoria | Macedon Ranges | Regional |
| Annual Report | Twin Rivers Fishing Classic | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | East Gippsland | Regional |