Wollongong’s Climate Change Mitigation Plan (CCMP) is currently available for review, a document that will direct how Council sets out to achieve its target of Net Zero emissions by 2050. At Food Fairness Illawarra we see this as an vital opportunity to highlight the importance of a resilient local food system in achieving these targets, as well as the health and wellbeing of the local community.
Everyone who recognises the central role of food in the transition towards a low carbon future for our region, this is your opportunity to let Council know!
WHAT WE TOLD COUNCIL
We commend Council’s leadership and commitment toward net zero emissions for Council’s operation by 2030 and net zero emissions for the City of Wollongong by 2050. Understanding the importance of a resilient local food system in achieving these targets, as well as the health and wellbeing of the local community, we like to highlight the following areas of opportunity:
- Recognise and include food as one of the key themes of the CCMP
Including appropriate measures, targets as well as dedicated budget in the Delivery Program and Operational Plan. - Update the Illawarra Regional Food Strategy 2013 – 2018 and resource its implementation
This will support Council to identify the intersection of food between departments and enable a pro-active and systematic approach. This also poses a great opportunity to highlight Wollongong City Council’s leadership and innovation, with only two other councils in NSW having a dedicated Food Strategy. See for example, City of Canada Bay and Blacktown City Council. - Contribute (with adequate resourcing) to regional food collaborations, who collectively address local food consumption, food security and food rescue
Local governments play a key role in networking, facilitating and enabling in their communities, such as Food Fairness Illawarra’s Coordination team meetings, Food Relief and Rescue Working Group and Connecting Over fair Food Working Group. - Lead the adoption of food waste reduction targets in the commercial sector
Including supporting pilot programs that help the commercial sector to improve their food waste avoidance practices and facilitate the transition to donate food and other alternatives to landfill disposal. - Advocate for the uptake of the recently published Food Supply and Production in NSW Inquiry Report recommendations
Including:
– Recommendation 6 – That the NSW Government works with local councils to develop and implement strategies to improve local food systems, and provides appropriate funding as required.
– Recommendation 7 – That the Public Health Act 2010 be amended to require local government areas to develop, implement and report on dedicated local food system policies.
How to have your say
Take Wollongong City Council’s online survey and share your thoughts on the key priorities for Wollongong’s Climate Change Mitigation Plan 2023-2027, so we together can achieve zero emissions by 2050!
You are invited to use any of the above in your feedback (Survey Q 11) for your convenience.
