Cardinia Shire’s first community food strategy launched

The strategy aligns to the Council Plan, Cardinia Shire's Liveability Plan, and the Municipal Strategic Statement and is the first of its kind for Cardinia Shire. It aims to support and establish community food systems that enhance the health of people, communities, the environment and our local economy.

The document provides strategic direction and a set of actions to focus and align all of Council's existing and future work across the food system. The strategy sets out a plan for how Council, partners and community can work together to ensure future generations have access to affordable, nutritious food.

Cr Graeme Moore said adoption of the final strategy and action plan followed and incorporated feedback from more than 500 people, who participated in engagement activities run by the Cardinia Food Movement over the past two years.

“We now have an outline of the community's vision for a healthy, sustainable, delicious and fair local food system and how Council and partner organisations can work with the community to achieve this,” Cr Moore said.

CEO of partner organisation Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, Josephene Duffy said: “Here at the Kitchen Garden Foundation we focus on schools and learning centres as the sites of pleasurable food education, and we know what the children learn spreads to staff and families.

“We know supporting food behaviour change requires a whole-community approach, so bringing the entire system together is only going to help our schools and centres further. We're incredibly impressed with Cardinia Shire Council's approach and proud to be a partner with Sustain Australia in this locally grown movement,” she said.

Community and Innovation Manager of partner organisation Kooweerup Regional Health Service, Aileen Thoms said: “Having a progressive food strategy helps to connect everyone from the farmer and producer to consumers in achieving a more sustainable and equitable food system. This is essential if we are to have healthy people and healthy environments. We are optimistic about continuing our partnership and helping to grow the movement further.”

For more information and to read the strategy visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/foodstrategy

To get involved in local projects visit www.cardiniafoodmovement.org