Why Food Security Matters
Food security is about more than full cupboards. It means every person in our community has reliable access to safe, nutritious food that supports good health, dignity, and opportunity. When people and families go without, it affects not just physical health but also mental wellbeing, school learning, and social participation.
At the same time, food security is deeply connected to our environment. Choosing local produce and reducing food waste cuts greenhouse gas emissions and strengthens our resilience to climate change. Every step we take to support local food systems helps reduce “food miles” (the distance food travels before it is purchased and consumed), keeps more money in our regional economy, and builds a circular system where nothing is wasted.
Food security is not just a social issue; it is also environmental, economic, and cultural. By working together and connecting with the many existing Tasmanian services, we can ensure that healthy, affordable food is available for everyone while protecting the natural systems that sustain us.
Food Security in Waratah-Wynyard
Tasmania grows and produces exceptional, nutritious and high-quality food such as vegetables, dairy, seafood, meat and fruit. Yet, here in Waratah-Wynyard, many households face challenges when it comes to accessing fresh, affordable food. Rising living costs, transport barriers, and limited food outlets in rural areas can make healthy choices harder to reach.
Despite these challenges, our community is rich in creativity and resilience. Local initiatives are already showing how small actions can make a big difference:
- Community gardens and urban growing projects in Waratah-Wynyard give residents the chance to grow fresh produce, share harvests, and learn gardening skills.
- School gardens and food programs are helping children understand where food comes from, while providing healthy snacks and meals.
- Local markets, food hubs and farm gate sales provide opportunities to buy direct from growers, keeping money in the region and reducing food miles.
Food security here isn’t just about filling plates. It’s about creating a healthier community, building skills for self-reliance, and protecting the environment. By encouraging local food production and reducing food waste, we can also tackle broader issues like climate change and circular economy goals.
In short, Waratah-Wynyard has the building blocks of a strong, resilient food system. By connecting households, schools, growers, and community groups with statewide services, we can ensure everyone has access to nutritious food while strengthening our local economy and environment.
Connecting to Services
Waratah-Wynyard Council’s role is to regulate safe food handling, raise awareness and connect people with the right support. Across Tasmania, a strong network of organisations is already working to ensure no one goes hungry.
- Loaves & Fishes Tasmania redistributes surplus food to schools, families, and local groups, preventing food from going to landfill.
- Healthy Food Access Tasmania provides practical tools and resources for making healthy, local food more affordable. They also offer an interactive local food map to help connect to relevant businesses and services (Interactive Map – Healthy Food Access Tasmania).
- Eat Well Tasmania and the Tasmanian Food Security Coalition support community gardens, local markets, and school programs that keep food systems local and sustainable.
- Live Well Tasmania here in Wynyard brings people together through gardening, youth programs, and skills-sharing projects that put circular economy ideas into practice.
- Local Community Programs and Services offered by community organisations to connect people, provide food relief and promote learning opportunities in growing fresh produce and preparing healthy meals. These include services such as the Wynyard Community Garden, City Kitchen Wynyard, Waratah Food Hub (ADRA), Community Food Hub, Meals on Wheels and Farm It Forward Tasmania. For more information, visit the Community Directory for contact details – Community Directory – Waratah-Wynyard Council.
These services already exist and are funded to do this work – Council’s role is to connect people to them.
Food Security as Climate Action
Waratah-Wynyard Council acknowledges that with a warming climate, food security will worsen without intervention. Food security is not just about human health – it’s also about the health of our planet and the resilience of our community. The way food is grown, transported, and consumed has a huge impact on climate change, biodiversity, and waste. By strengthening local food systems, Council is taking meaningful climate action while supporting the wellbeing of residents.
Council recognises that food security affects health, social connection, and the liveability of our community. Reducing food waste not only supports people in need but also lowers carbon emissions, creating clear environmental benefits. Many solutions to food insecurity – such as community gardens, school programs and local markets – also improve community wellbeing, strengthen local connections, and promote sustainable practices.
When food is wasted, all the energy and resources that went into producing it are lost – from water and fertiliser to transport fuel and packaging. In Tasmania, thousands of tonnes of food end up in landfill each year, producing methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Redirecting this food through relief organisations like Loaves & Fishes Tasmania or composting locally cuts emissions and keeps nutrients cycling back into the soil.
Local growing and eating reduce “food miles” and reliance on long supply chains, making our community more resilient to climate disruptions such as floods, droughts, or shipping delays. Community gardens, regenerative farming projects, and circular economy initiatives help restore soils, protect biodiversity, and demonstrate how resources can be valued and reused rather than discarded.
Council’s approach to managing food security in a warming climate is outlined in our Food Security Policy (Food Security Policy 2025 – Waratah-Wynyard Council). This policy defines Council’s commitment to improving food security and how council can influence and grow initiatives in the community. By building a food system that values people, food, and the environment equally, Waratah-Wynyard can be part of Tasmania’s journey to both reduce emissions and create healthier, stronger and more resilient communities.
How You Can Be Part of It
There are many simple ways to get involved in making Waratah-Wynyard a more food secure, sustainable community. Every action – big or small – adds up.
For Households
Even a few herbs or vegetables in the garden or in pots helps reduce food bills and food miles.
By keeping organic waste out of landfill, food and garden scraps can be composted and return nutrients to the soil. A kerbside FOGO collection service is offered by Council in designated areas – visit FOGO Kerbside Collection – Waratah-Wynyard Council for further information.
Support Tasmanian growers and markets to strengthen our regional food system.
For Schools & Neighbourhood Houses
Access healthy, affordable meals for students while supporting local food producers. More information regarding this Tasmanian Government initiative can be found by visiting School Lunch Program – School Food Matters.
Give children hands-on experience in growing food and learning sustainability skills.
Share skills like making jams, pickles, or affordable healthy meals using seasonal produce.
For Community Groups
Get involved with local gardens such as those supported by Live Well Tasmania in Wynyard. They provide fresh produce, social connection, and learning opportunities.
Exchange surplus produce with neighbours, reducing waste and strengthening connections.
Partner with organisations like Loaves & Fishes Tasmania to help distribute food locally.
For Producers & Growers
Partner with Loaves & Fishes Tasmania or local community groups to make sure nothing goes to waste.
Selling directly to the community reduces food miles and keeps profits local. You can apply for a stall at the Wynyard Foreshore Market by visiting this page – Markets & Vendor/Street Stall Permits – Waratah-Wynyard Council.
Composting, regenerative agriculture, and reduced packaging all contribute to climate resilience.
For Volunteers
Many gardens in the region welcome volunteers to plant, maintain, and harvest.
Packing, cooking, or delivering meals through existing programs makes a direct difference.
From gardening to cooking, passing on knowledge helps others become more food secure.
Where to go for Further Information
2024 Foodbank Hunger Report
Learn about Australia’s growing food security crisis.
World Hunger Map
The interactive FAO World Hunger Map presents the latest global estimates of hunger and food insecurity.
Food Security Introductory Video
Learn about food security and how some people are not eating enough healthy food to maintain good health. These people don’t just live in less developed countries, being undernourished is a problem all over the world.