Land-Use Planning, Urban Food Production – Melbourne Forum

Food For All is a VicHealth project. The learnings of this program will be shared at ‘Making The Difference’, a practical, thought-provoking forum to be held on 25 June at Flemington Racecourse 9-3.30.

Over the past five years eight Victorian local governments, covering nine municipalities, have been addressing food insecurity – the availability of food and one’s access to it.

They have been improving access to healthy food by people living in disadvantaged areas.

About The Forum

Michael Velders, a sustainability consultant will lead a discussion on urban food production, his particular interest being sustainable food production and integrating productive landscapes into city living. Michael works for Arup Pty Ltd, consulting engineers.

Trevor Budge from LaTrobe University will discuss how land-use planning can influence food security. Trevor is a geographer-planner, widely acknowledged for his work in integrating land-use planning with natural resource management plans and strategies.

VicHealth will launch a new set of resources for local government on the keys ways to address food security.

What Local Government Has Been Doing

1. Welcome to Brimbank: Fact sheets on food preparation and food purchasing and a handy map are key features of a new ‘Welcome Kit’ for emerging communities in the City of Brimbank.

2. CHOICE: Choosing heralthier Options In Casey And Cardinia Two councils create an awards scheme for local eateries, encouraging them to provide good-value nutritious meals.

3. From Little Things, Big Things Grow Amid global predictions that the next generation will be one of the unhealthiest ever, a child nutrition project in the City of Greater Dandenong is hoping to buck the trend.

4. Food For All In Frankston Cementing food security in Frankston City Council,s Municipal Public Health Plan required good connections, good timing and some good old-fashioned luck.

5. Mapping Uncovers ‘Food Deserts’ in Maribyrnong A mapping project in the City of Maribyrnong produced startling evidence that residents in two-thirds of the municipality don’t have easy access to fresh fruit and vegetables.

6. People, Partnerships & Research Research projects involving the residents of the Shire of melton have put an increased focus on food security and helped pave the way for new local responses.

7. Growing better Community Health On the third Saturday of every month the Robinvale Community Growers Market in Swan Hill becomes the place to be.

8. Sharing The Load An innovative partnership between Wodonga Council andWodonga service agencies will revolutionise the way the city’s residents access emergency food relief.

Forum Details

Date Friday 25 June 2010
Time 9am – 3.30pm Registrations 8.45am
Venue Skyline Room, Flemington Event Centre, Flemington Racecourse
Getting There Catch no 57 tram from the corner of Elizabeth and Flinders Streets. Trams stop at Flemington Drive off Epsom Road
Admission FREE

BUT please RSVP by emailing FFA2010forum@vichealth.vic.gov.au
OR
Fax 03 96671375

Places are limited so please register early

Parking FREE

RSVP