Supporting healthy, locally grown food

RECENTLY I was very fortunate to visit several working farms on the Bellarine Peninsula, thanks to local farmers Fiona Conroy and Robyn Machin.

Much of our region’s agricultural land is located on the Bellarine, and farming has a long and rich history here, with wheat and grain growing beginning in the early 19th century.

Today the Bellarine Peninsula is home to thriving producers of beef, lamb and wool, and crops including wheat, barley and canola.

Horticulture is represented by hydroponic tomatoes and lettuce, while other crops include berries and flowers. Viticulture, the production of grapes and wines, is well established too.

During the visits, several issues were raised with me, such as the vital need to maintain biosecurity in relation to truck movements through the Bellarine and Geelong.

Farm equipment and livestock needs to be moved on roads between parcels of land.

This can be affected by road design, overhanging trees and seasonal variations in tourist traffic.

Summer harvesting of some crops must be done at specific times during the day, due to the moisture content of the crop. There is also a need for permits to burn stubble in big cropping seasons.

Balancing the understandable desire of people to live in such a beautiful part of the world, and visit as tourists, with the rights of farmers to produce food for our region and Victoria, is an important consideration for us as a council.

Indeed, state government published the results of its major inquiry – “Securing the Victorian food supply” in November 2024.

Among many recommendations was an emphasis on securing Victoria’s supply of healthy, locally grown food, in the long term.

A whole-of-government food system strategy will reflect that access to adequate, nutritious food is a human right and a determinant of health.

This certainly is in accord with the City of Greater Geelong’s recently released Community Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2029.

Priority number 2 of the strategy is equitable access to safe, healthy and sustainable food for the Greater Geelong community.

The farmers that I met expressed their appreciation for the support from the City of Greater Geelong, and Barwon Water, in relation to essential infrastructure, such as the new standpipe on Old St Leonards Road that provides vital emergency water.

The strong stance taken by Council on state government’s newly introduced Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy was also appreciated.

It was clear to me that these farmers, and their colleagues, are committed to farming in ways that are clever and creative, respectful of country and with an awareness of climate change.

Farming on the Bellarine, and throughout Greater Geelong, is of vital importance to our community.

Cr Rowan Story

Murradoc Ward, City of Greater Geelong