Planning Principles

Community Orchards and Community Food Forests should be planned as permanent community assets rather than temporary landscape projects. Planning should recognise that these landscapes are expected to mature over many decades and therefore require careful consideration before establishment. Every project should seek to balance environmental stewardship, community benefit, long-term sustainability and responsible public resource management.

Core Planning Principles

Site Suitability

Projects should only be established where environmental conditions, long-term management capacity and community needs demonstrate clear suitability.

Community Benefit

The primary purpose should be to maximise long-term public benefit rather than maximise food production.

Environmental Compatibility

Species selection and landscape design should complement existing ecosystems while strengthening biodiversity and environmental resilience.

Long-Term Stewardship

Projects should only proceed where appropriate stewardship arrangements can reasonably be maintained throughout the expected life of the landscape.

Public Accessibility

Community landscapes should remain welcoming, inclusive and appropriate for all members of the community.

Adaptability

Designs should allow future modification as environmental conditions, community priorities and scientific knowledge continue to evolve.

Planning Philosophy

Successful Community Orchards and Community Food Forests should not be measured by the number of trees planted. They should be measured by the long-term environmental, educational, social and community value they create. Every planning decision should therefore consider not only immediate outcomes but also the condition of the landscape ten, twenty and fifty years into the future.

Planning decisions establish the foundation upon which every Community Orchard and Community Food Forest will develop. Careful planning significantly increases the likelihood that these landscapes will remain valuable community assets for future generations.

Framework Standard Statement

Community Orchards and Community Food Forests should be planned according to long-term community benefit, environmental suitability, responsible stewardship and sustainable landscape management rather than short-term objectives.

Framework Documents

The following documents collectively support the National Community Landscape Framework. While each document may be read independently, together they provide a comprehensive framework for strengthening healthier, greener and more resilient communities.