Council urges government to back food inquiry fndings

By Tim Howard

The NSW Labor Government has been urged to get moving on recommendations to improve food security in the Clarence Valley after issues emerged following the 2022 foods.

At the November Clarence Valley Council meeting Cr Debrah Novak was successful in moving a notice of motion to urge the new government to implement strategies recommended in a report commissioned by the previous NSW Coalition Government ‘Food Production and Supply in NSW’ Inquiry and Report (November 2022).

In particular, Cr Novak’s NOM urged action on Recommendation 6 from the Food Production and Supply in NSW’ inquiry, that the NSW Government works with local councils to develop and implement strategies to improve local food systems, and provides appropriate funding as required.

Cr Novak’s original motion praised the Coalition for the report and implied criticism of the new Labor administration for failed to meet the May 2023 deadline to respond to the inquiry recommendations.

But Cr Bill Day urged his colleague to drop the partisan aspects of her motion.

“I fnd items one and two. Rather unfortunate, in that item one is praising a political coalition that’s in opposition,” he said.

“And item two is criticising the other side, which is in government, and I fnd that number one I don’t like party politics, it being brought into council.

“And number two,

I think this is a fairly strange way to get go about seeking support.”

Cr Novak had no problem agreeing to this and dropped the frst two points, although she said did not see it as political, but was just recognition of the work done.

She was also gobsmacked the Clarence Valley Council was not invited to participate.

“It’s a pretty signifcant inquiry and unfortunately, our council wasn’t invited to participate, whereas Ballina council was,” she said.

“I was stunned to understand why, but it’s when you consider the major number of businesses that are involved around food production and food growing in our region, and in particular, the Clarence Valley and we have 65 commodities, this is a pretty important inquiry for us to be a part of.

“Even more so knowing that of the 35 recommendations the NSW State Government has identifed fve of

Inquiry Report as a matter of urgency:

• NSW Premier the Hon. Chris Minns MP

• Minister for Agriculture the Hon. Tara Moriarty MP

• Minister for Local Government the Hon. Ron Hoenig MP

• Minister for Regional New South Wales and North Coast the Hon. Rose Jackson MP them have direct relation to local councils, and they’re offering money to be a part of this food system conversation.”

2. Write to the Chair of the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation, Cr Sharon Cadwallader to have this matter put on the agenda for their next quarterly meeting.

Cr Novak said food security should be a bi-partisan matter.

“The reason of the motion was to actually ask the Labor Government ministers to respond to this because during the natural disasters that we on the back of continually food production is impacted all the time on the back of these disasters,” Cr Novak said.

“So if we can work with the government, make it a bipartisan approach it’s really important that we’re able to work with the government to get this moving to get policies and systems in place to support us going forward so that we are sustainable.”

The council voted unanimously that the Clarence Valley Council:

1. Write to the following NSW Labor Government Ministers requesting the Government to respond to the NSW 2022 Food Production and Supply

3. Write to the Northern Rivers RDA GM Nathan McGrath and ask to have this matter put on the agenda for the next RDA meeting.

4. Acknowledge Recommendation 6 from the Food Production and Supply in NSW’ inquiry, that the NSW Government works with local councils to develop and implement strategies to improve local food systems, and provides appropriate funding as required.

The inquiry received 77 submissions from government, nongovernment, community, and organisations on the front line of food waste and recovery.

The council report said the Clarence Valley Council once led the way with their Sustain Food Model and it is appropriate that this Council 15 years later again take the baton and run with the recommendations from this inquiry on the back of the adopted Rural Lands Strategy and the impacts on food security felt during the 2019 bush fres, 2020 pandemic and 2022 foods which saw food not able to be delivered to many for more than fve days.