Healthy Food Connect - Geelong
Access to healthy food for all
REPORT – Food Access Needs Assessment 2013
Authors: Kat Cust & Ruth Cuttler, Bellarine Community Health
Key Contributor: Amanda Stirrat, City of Greater Geelong
Introduction
Food security has been recognised as a national and state priority. Within the
City of Greater Geelong, evidence shows not everyone has regular access to
food1,2,3,4,5. Food that is safe, nutritious and culturally appropriate. In 2012, the
City of Greater Geelong committed to developing a food policy. This policy offers
an unprecedented opportunity to systematically embed strategies to promote
current and future food security for the Geelong community.
Food choices are largely determined by factors beyond the control of the
individual. People and communities don’t have access to food for two
overarching reasons. The first relates to issues of the broad food supply system
(eg. Location of food outlets, availability within outlets, pricing, quality). The
second relates to issues of personal access to food (eg. Income, knowledge and
skills, storage facilities, mobility)6.
Climate change, housing stress and increasing petrol prices exert additional
pressure on these determinants and thus peoples ability to be food secure. This
pressure produces changes in primary food production, food and transport costs
and urban development at the expense of food access and availability.
An environment that makes nutritious food accessible, available and affordable
creates a stronger and more sustainable community. Local government can have
a strong impact on food security by taking action across the Environments for
Health - natural, built, economic and sociocultural. This action will secure food
for the current and future population of Geelong.
Healthy Food Connect is a framework that supports local governments to work
across the Environments for Health to improve food security. Healthy Food
Connect outlines a process to identify and address food system issues. This
process will enable Council to put the Food Policy into action.
The first step in the Healthy Food Connect process is to identify barriers and
enablers of food access within the local food system. Bellarine Community Health
and the City of Greater Geelong have led this process, with training and tools
provided through Healthy Together Geelong. This report outlines the findings of
the food access needs assessment and makes recommendations for future action.
FOOD SECURITY POLICY CONTEXT
Commonwealth Government Perspective
A National Food Plan
The Commonwealth Government is developing Australia’s first National Food Plan to
better integrate all aspects of food policy. This will ensure Australia has a sustainable,
globally competitive, resilient food supply that supports access to nutritious affordable
food.
State Government Perspective
State Food Policy
The election of a new coalition government in Victoria in late 2010 resulted in a new
ministry of Agriculture and Food Security being established, headed by The Hon Peter
Walsh. This led to a commitment to develop a State Food Policy using an
interdepartmental approach. Whilst this policy is yet to be completed, the Victorian
Government provided substantial information on food for Victoria to the
Commonwealth government during the National Food Policy consultation.
Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan
The Victorian state government released the first Victorian Public Health and
Wellbeing Plan in 2011, providing clear direction for action on nine priority health
issues. Improving access to healthy food (an alternative descriptor to addressing food
security) is one of these priority health promotion issues.
Healthy Together Victoria
In line with the actions outlined in the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, the
Victorian government has made the major investment of establishing Healthy Together
Victoria in 14 local governments. Healthy Together Victoria aims to build a platform for
prevention through targeted action in the setting of workplaces, schools/early
childhood venues and in the community. Initial focus is on promoting physical activity
and healthy food intake. Healthy Food Connect is a key strategy to improve healthy
food intake in the broad community setting.
Continued
VicHealth – ‘Food For All’ Projects
Victoria’s peak Health Promotion body, VicHealth, believes local government authorities
are ideally placed to develop relevant, integrated and long-lasting strategies and
solutions. Hence, VicHealth funded the Food For Al l Program (8 projects in 9 councils,
2005-08) improving access to healthy food and establishing an evidence base for action.
Local Government Perspective
History of Addressing Food Security
Addressing food security has long been core business of local, for example; Maternal
Child Health Nurses educate parents about healthy eating for preschool aged children;
Environmental Health Officers ensure that local food retailers and restaurants use good
practices to ensure the food they sell is safe; Community transport helps people get to
and from the shops; Meals on wheels gets food into the homes of people who have a
limited capacity to perhaps cook or get to shops; Planners ensure new neighbourhoods
are walkable so access to the shops along with other service hubs is optimal.
Legislation for Addressing Food Insecurity
Method
The first two steps of the Healthy Food Connect Framework were undertaken.
These steps were to:


Undertake a local food access needs assessment
Identify and prioritise actions
Food Access Needs Assessment
An existing and recommended Municipal Food Security Scanning Tool (VLGA) was
implemented. The tool scans food security across the four ‘Environments for
Health’ (Natural, Socio-Economic, Built and Economic). The tool was conducted
for the City of Greater Geelong as a whole and then focussed on the specific sites
of Norlane/Corio, Portarlington/Indented Head/St Leonards and Highton.
The Health (General Amendment) and Local Government Act enacted in 1998 and
amended in 2003 contains a number of objectives, roles and functions that directly
support local action to address food insecurity.
Where applicable, existing food access information and community consultations
were used1,2,3,4,5. Remaining data gaps were researched.
Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plans (MPHWP)
The entire tool took 10 weeks to complete.
MPHWPs make provision for councils to document their major public health activities in a
public health plan, this takes into account the dynamic nature of local government and
the fact that public health issues and priorities change over time. Food security is
identified as an issue to address in the MPHP of the following G21 local government
areas; Geelong City Council, Golden Plains Shire, Surf Coast Shire and Colac-Otway Shire.
Healthy Together Geelong
The City of Greater Geelong was selected as one of the 14 Prevention Community Model
sites. Increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed in the region is a key
deliverable of this program, with a focus on workplaces, schools, kindergartens and
childcare facilities as intervention settings. Strategies in these settings will only be
successful if everyone has access to affordable and nutritious food. Hence, for Healthy
Together Geelong to address key deliverables equitable access to food is essential across
the region and investment in Healthy Food Connect is a key strategy to achieve this.
Identify and Prioritise Actions
In a workshop led by Bellarine Community Health, the completed VLGA Scanning
Tool was analysed and key action identified and prioritised. This process was
guided by the Healthy Food Connect Scanning Resource Manual.
Findings
Health and Wellbeing
Dimensions – Issues
Ageing population, with
some communities
particularly affected
Summary:
Considerations
Positive Ageing Strategy does
not address food security
Primary Health Care agencies
are funded to support ageing
within the home and the
Active Service Model
Less than half of
population completing
secondary education,
particularly in
disadvantaged suburbs
Neighbourhood houses with
training qualifications across
COGG
Community interest in
gardening
Corio/Norlane have
high representation of
all groups at-risk of
food insecurity
Strong presence of
emergency relief programmes
and community driven
initiatives to increase access
to fresh food in this area
Relatively high, or
increasing proportions
of lone person and
single parent
households in areas of
relative disadvantage
Relatively low
breastfeeding rates
Opportunities
Embed consideration of
access to fresh foods into the
Positive Ageing Strategy
Support existing community
organisations to build
knowledge and education
systems, particularly relating
to household food
production
Resource an independent
Emergency Food Relief
Network
Refer BUILT and ECONOMIC
Dimensions
Primary Health Care
organisations committed to
promoting breastfeeding
Explore community need for
supports to increase
breastfeeding
Populations at risk of food insecurity are dispersed throughout COGG. However,
some suburbs and townships have higher proportions of these at risk
communities.
Population level strategies, such as Council plans, will address some barriers to
food security for all. Evidence demonstrates that areas with higher proportions of
at risk communities should be prioritised when specific interventions are being
planned to address food insecurity. Previous action to address food security in
these areas has enhanced existing community capacity. Council has a role in
supporting community led interventions through simplified regulatory processes.
There is the opportunity for Council to work with key internal and external
partners to explore the need for support for breastfeeding in the community.
Natural
Dimensions – Issues
Large arable land
resource
surrounding urban
areas
Summary:
Considerations
Proportion of arable land has
decreased significantly in past
20 years
Opportunities
Adopt Food Sensitive Planning
and Urban Design (FSUD) Tool
Embed food security initiatives
in the Municipal Strategic
Statement
Food production profile shifting
to smaller & indoor farming
Local food
production and
manufacturing is a
significant industry
Transport routes important
determinant of farm siting
Local access to produce is
limited, except for niche
markets
See ECONOMIC Environment
Explore potential of initiatives
to increase local access to local
food producers
Information on local food
production is limited
Community driven initiatives
Community gardens
located across
suburbs in COGG
Programmes to
support local
growing exist
Food waste
identified as an
issue by
stakeholders
Improve social connection
rather than food security
outcomes
Community driven and often
associated with community
gardens or neighbourhood
houses
Some initiatives exist to rescue
food waste i.e. Second Bite
No initiatives exist to address
food waste from local
producers despite some
interest
No population level approaches
to reduce food waste
Support community led
interventions through
simplified regulatory processes
Explore initiatives to increase
local access to primary
producer second grade
products
The COGG area has substantial access to agricultural land and a strong history of
agricultural production. There is a shift in the quantity and variety of local
agricultural production which will impact the region economically. Higher quality
agricultural land on the Bellarine Peninsula could be threatened by future urban
development. Existing agricultural, economic and food security networks present
an opportunity for a co-ordinated approach to addressing fresh food production
and supply within the COGG.
There are community-driven initiatives to increase local household production,
such as Community Gardens, spread across the COGG. Anecdotal evidence
suggests that Council processes act as a barrier to this community action.
Identifying and addressing these internal barriers is an opportunity for the COGG
to support these community-level initiatives.
Food waste from retail outlets and primary producers has been identified as an
issue by stakeholders. There are services oriented toward food rescue and
emergency food relief. Further exploration of opportunities for enabling local
access
to
local
produce
usually
wasted
is
warranted.
Socio-cultural
Dimensions – Issues
COGG is a
resettlement site for
newly arrived
refugees. People
from NESB, ATSI and
newly emerging
cultural groups
clustered mostly in
two suburbs
Culturally
appropriate food for
CALD communities
is not readily
available
commercially within
COGG
Food affordability is
identified as a
significant issue for
CALD communities
Events promoting
food and social
connectedness are
associated with local
food production
Summary:
Considerations
Key agencies exist in
resettlement sites of
Corio/Norlane, allowing
development of CALD
community networks and
associations but risks isolation
from the broader community
Food security identified and
addressed as issue by key
agencies
Supermarkets intimidating to
CALD community members
Some communities more adept
at applying food preparation
skills to locally available foods
Living in rental accommodation
is a disincentive for home food
production
Many CALD community
members travel to Melbourne
markets to access affordable,
culturally appropriate foods
Access to employment limited
by language and other barriers
Incomes low due to reliance on
welfare funding
High concentration of events on
the Northern Bellarine
Peninsula
Community-driven events
Opportunities
Work with existing support
organisations to increase
frequency of positive cultural
activities across COGG
Embed Food Security Initiatives
in the COGG Diversity Plan
Work with key agencies to
explore options for increasing
local access to culturally
appropriate foods
Support key agencies to
promote access to public
transport options for people
from CALD communities
Explore opportunities for
increased food production
Support existing initiatives to
develop food co-operatives
Support local communities to
promote local food production
Seek opportunities to partner
with key stakeholders i.e.
Agricultural network and
Geelong Otway Tourism
Whilst currently representing a relatively small proportion of the COGG
population, communities from CALD and ATSI populations are at high risk of food
insecurity and should be prioritised when planning interventions.
There are a number of key stakeholders working directly with these communities
to address food security and social connectedness issues. Council could support
these stakeholders through partnership to: address transport and community
safety issues, explore possibilities for access to agricultural land, and support an
increase in cultural events across the region. The recognition of Food Security and
the promotion of a positive, inclusive food cultures in the Diversity Plan would
guide this process.
Areas with closer links to agricultural production, such as the Bellarine Peninsula,
have stronger social food cultures. There are opportunities across other regions
of Geelong to build stronger connections to local food production through similar
events. The emerging interest in local food production should be harnessed and
used to promote the region and support economic viability.
crisis in areas of highest
need
Economic
Dimensions – Issues
High price of healthy
food basket across
COGG
Two fruit and vegetable
wholesalers provide to
retail outlets in COGG,
dictating price, variety
and quality available
Fresh food variety and
quality is lower in
outlets supplying low
income areas
Access to personal and
public transport is a
barrier, particularly in
areas with no local
access to fresh foods
Emergency food relief
services exist and are
concentrated in the
CBD and Corio/Norlane
Summary:
Considerations
Some initiatives exist to
address this issue
Lack of competition at
wholesaling level
Limited local access to foods
produced locally
There is a relative
dominance of take away
outlets in low income areas
vs. fresh food outlets
Communities with access
only to independent grocers
face higher food costs
Community transport is
concentrated in the area of
highest need
The Transport Connections
Project improves awareness
of and access to public
transport across COGG
Safety concerns are a
significant barrier to active
transport
At risk communities with
limited access to public
transport outside these
areas have limited access to
emergency food relief
Existing initiatives address
Opportunities
Support existing initiatives and
explore new opportunities to
increase local access to local
affordable produce
Explore strategies to increase
access to locally produced
foods
Support establishment of food
–related social enterprises in
areas of disadvantage
Develop economic strategies
to support and increase local
food production
Overlay existing GIS mapping
of fresh food outlets with
Public Transport Routes
Support local initiatives to
establish food co-operatives
and food-related social
enterprise
Ensure access to local retail
outlets is considered in
initiatives to improve township
walkability
Address safety concerns in
initiatives to improve
walkability
Resource an independent
Emergency Food Relief
Network
The lack of competition at wholesale and retail level in COGG is a major
determinant of fresh food availability, variety and quality. Strategies to increase
local access to local food producers should be prioritised.
Take away, convenience and liquor outlets are concentrated in areas of relative
disadvantage, where access to fresh food outlets is lower. A long-term, strategic
approach that involves planning and economic strategies is required for this food
supply issue to be addressed.
Food costs are an issue, particularly in areas of disadvantage. Access to local,
affordable fresh food remains an issue in communities with access only to major
shopping centres rather than smaller retail strips. Rising transport costs impact on
food choices, reinforcing the need to work with local retailers to increase local
access. Mapping existing transport routes to fresh food outlets within suburbs will
inform future strategies to address transport costs and food accessibility.
There are a number of organisations working to provide emergency food relief
that would benefit from support to establish a network to further co-ordinate
actions. In addition, there is an ongoing need for a separate broader network
that focusses on environmental and systems approaches to address food security.
based lifestyles
Built
Dimensions – Issues
Food security not
currently considered in
planning documents
including the Municipal
Strategic Statement
Existing strategies to
increase cycling and
walkability focus on
recreational rather than
functional activities
Road and general safety
present barriers to
accessing retail centres
in some areas
Public transport links
the CBD to shopping
centres, but there is
often limited transport
within communities,
particularly in areas of
disadvantage
The density of
convenience, liquor and
take away food outlets
is higher in areas of
disadvantage
New areas of housing
development create
walking distances of
>500 metres to local
food access and vehicle-
Popular urban design
promotes vehicle-dependence
Summary:
Considerations
Walkability strategies have
been embedded in the
Statement previously.
Lack of data on access to
cycling and walking amenities
Community advocacy exists to
address issues of local
walkability on the Northern
Bellarine Peninsula
Cultural discrimination is an
issue for some CALD
communities
Road safety fears on
community walking routes
have been identified as a
barrier
Low car ownership in areas of
disadvantage
Community transport access
higher on the Bellarine
Peninsula
Evidence suggests take away
and convenience outlets
frequently sited near schools
11 suburbs in COGG do not
have access to a local
supermarket
Development areas are on
fringe of existing communities
often without placement of
additional retail strips
Opportunities
Adopt FSUD tool for future
development
Apply model of embedding
walkability in planning to
food security
Address information gaps
Build functional activity focus
into existing strategies to
address cycling and
walkability
Build on existing strategies to
address community safety
and walkability
Map public transport routes
to retail strips and within
communities
Investigate revitalisation of
existing retail strips
Adopt FSUD and apply
prospectively to urban
planning
Explore options with
Planners to limit the amenity,
density and location of takeaway and fast food outlets
Food security is not currently considered in Council documents outside the Public
Health and Wellbeing Plan. The commitment to developing a Food Policy
requires a cross-Council approach that embeds food security issues in planning
documents. The Food Sensitive Planning and Urban Design (FSUD) document is
designed to enable this process. There is internal interest and external support
available to Council for adopting the FSUD into current planning.
Existing strategies to improve walkability and cycling can be strengthened to
create active routes to food retailers.
Planning for food secure communities can align with existing strategies to
improve community safety, active transport and economic development.
Embedding food security into these areas will require leadership and a coordinated approach within Council and with existing community partners.
Support for a broad Food Security Coalition, using existing partnerships is an
opportunity to inform this process.
Key Recommendations
(Added July 2013)
Evidence gathered across the Environments for Health identifies a range of
opportunities for action. Despite the fact that food insecurity exists, there are
significant community resources tackling the issue. Therefore, recommendations
have been prioritised that:
-
build on existing partnerships and council capacity
link to existing council policy
will positively impact the greatest proportion of the population
Council has a role in supporting community stakeholders to implement
interventions in at-risk communities, but will have greatest influence on
population level strategies. Such an approach requires collaboration within
Council. This collaboration must be coordinated, strategic and have a focus on
clear outcomes.
The following recommendations suggest a range of strategies, across all of the
Environments for Health, to address food security. These recommended
strategies are further detailed on the following page, with suggested leads for
each recommendation from within Council.
Short Term Strategies:
1. Develop and implement a Food Policy for Geelong that addresses all
facets of the food system and includes specific strategies to increase food
security
2. Establish and resource a broad-based Food Network to lead internal and
external action on food security and the food system
3. Build the capacity of the Emergency Food Relief Network to improve
service coordination and increase access to nutritious foods for
vulnerable groups
Medium Term Strategies:
4. Integrate The Food Sensitive Planning and Urban Design principles into
planning processes for existing and future urban growth areas
5. Decrease existing barriers and increase support to food-related social
enterprises and cooperatives in communities at relative disadvantage
6. Identify and address existing fiscal and regulatory barriers to community
led food security interventions
7. Develop and implement a ‘Local Food Culture’ strategy that promotes
Geelong as a diverse, inclusive and active food producing region
Long Term Strategies:
8. Explore strategic approaches to increase local capacity for food
production and access
9. Embed Food Security initiatives into Council Plans and Policies as
recommended by the Food Sensitive Planning and Urban Design
Framework
Environment
Strategy
All
Develop and implement a Food Policy for Geelong that addresses all
facets of the food system and includes specific strategies to increase
food security
All
Establish and resource a broad-based Food Network to lead internal
and external action on food security and the food system
CoGG Division
CoGG Department
Community Services
City Services
Economic Planning and
Development
Projects Recreation and Central
Geelong
Corporate Services
Aged Care and Disability
Community Development
Health and Local Laws
Family Services
Environment and Waste Services
Parks and Support Services
Planning Strategy and Economic
Development
Future Proofing
Strategic Project and Urban Design
Community Services
City services
Corporate Services
Aged Care and Disability
Community Development
Emergency Management and Municipal
Resources
Environment and Waste services
Communication and Marketing
Organisation Development
Customer Services
Short
Term
Economic
Medium
Term
Built/Natural
Build the capacity of the Emergency Food Relief Network to improve
service coordination and increase access to nutritious foods for
vulnerable groups
Integrate The Food Sensitive Planning and Urban Design principles
into planning processes for existing and future urban growth areas
City Services
Community Services
Corporate Services
Economic Development,
Planning & Tourism
Projects Recreation and Central
Geelong
Aged Care and Disability
Healthy Together Geelong
Community Development
Health and Local Laws
Corporate Strategy and Property
Management
Communication and Marketing
City Development
Planning Strategy and Economic Dev’t
Strategic Projects/Urban Design
Events Central Geelong and Waterfront
Strategy
Division
Decrease existing barriers and increase support to food-related
social enterprises and cooperatives in communities at relative
disadvantage
Community Services
Projects Recreation and Central
Geelong
Economic Development and
Planning
Corporate Services
Socio-cultural
Economic
Identify and address existing fiscal and regulatory barriers to
community led food security interventions
Community Services
Economic Development
Planning & Tourism
Corporate Services
Socio-cultural
Develop and implement a ‘Local Food Culture’ strategy that
promotes Geelong as a diverse, inclusive and active food producing
region
Community Services
Projects Recreation & Central
Geelong
Economic Development,
Planning & Tourism
Economic-Natural
Explore strategic approaches to increase local capacity for food
production and access through:
 Enabling local production, processing and manufacture
 Increasing wholesale and retail food competition
 Increasing local access to wholesale produce
Community Services
Economic Development
Planning & Tourism
Projects Recreation & Central
Geelong
General
Embed Food Security initiatives into Council Plans and Policies as
recommended by the Food Sensitive Planning and Urban Design
Framework
Community Services
City Services
Economic Planning and
Development
Projects Recreation and Central
Environment
Economic
Medium
Term (ctd)
Longer
Term
Department
Aged Care and Disability
Healthy Together Geelong
Health and Local Laws
Community Development
Events Central Geelong and Waterfront
Planning Strategy and Economic
Development
Future Proofing
Communication and Marketing
Corporate Strategy & Property
Management
Organisation and Development
Health and Local Laws
Healthy Together Geelong
Planning Strategy & Economic
Development
Strategy and Property Management
Community Development
Aged Care and Disability
Healthy Together
Geelong
Family Services
Arts & Culture
Events Central Geelong and Waterfront
Tourism
Aged Care and Disability
Health and Local Laws
Healthy Together Geelong
Community Development
Planning Strategy and Economic
Development
Events Central Geelong & Waterfront
Strategic Project & Urban Design
As Appropriate
Geelong
Corporate Services
References
1. City of Greater Geelong 2012. Food Security Needs Assessment Report.
2. Bellarine Community Health 2011. Food Security Needs Assessment – Older
Adults on the Northern Bellarine Peninsula.
3. Food Skil Inc 2011. Business Plan of 3214 Fresh Food Markets.
4. Bellarine Community Health 2008. Food Security on the Northern Bellarine
Peninsula.
5. City of Greater Geelong, 2008. Municipal Food Security RAP Trial Workbook
6. NSW Centre for Public Health Nutrition. Rychetnik, Webb, Story & Katz 2003.
Food Security Options Paper.