THE Surf Coast Shire is seeking community views on how to support and grow a local food program.<\/p>\n
The council adopted a discussion paper at its meeting on Tuesday and are inviting comment between February and April.<\/p>\n
Cr Carol McGregor said the shire was seeking to facilitate a broad community conversation about food grown here.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe premise of the discussion paper is that local food production and consumption brings many benefits.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are many positives to supporting a local food system \u2013 including economic, social, environmental, and health and wellbeing benefits.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe discussion paper recognises that Surf Coast Shire has a well-established food system and identifies a series of different elements to the system \u2013 production, processing, distribution, access, consumption and waste management.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shire mayor David Bell said the council recognised there were many great ideas and activities already under way.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur engagement is aiming to create a forum for our community to explore the possibilities inherent in our food system.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I urge people to get involved \u2013 local food is so many things to so many people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cr McGregor said the Local Food Program would complement the Surf Coast Shire\u2019s Hinterland Futures Strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Local Food Program is taking a broad look at our local food system from community and food economy perspectives and the Hinterland Futures work is focused primarily at land use planning.<\/p>\n
\u201cLocal food production is already an important part of the Surf Coast Shire economy, especially in the hinterland.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough the Local Food Program, we have a golden opportunity to gather ideas and evidence on how, as a community, we can build on the inherent potential to grow a sustainable food system in Surf Coast Shire.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Surf Coast Shire is seeking community views on how to support and grow a local food program. The council adopted a discussion paper at its meeting on Tuesday and are inviting comment between February and April. Cr Carol McGregor said the shire was seeking to facilitate a broad community conversation about food grown here. […]<\/p>\n