Approved Development Plans

Business Concierge and Support

If you want to start your own business, or you're looking for advice on growing your business, we can help you make sense of all the information out there. We can work with you to:

• Guide you through applying for permits
• Help you understand which government agencies can assist you
• Find appropriate training
• Help identify commercial land and property
• Introduce you to business associations and networks.

To contact the Business Concierge, contact council on (03) 5153 9500 and ask to speak to the Business Concierge.

Alternatively, email Economic.Development@egipps.vic.gov.au and our Business Concierge will contact you.

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Gippsland Business Connect

Find local businesses, local experts, business events, business news, upcoming projects and procurement opportunities to help you reach your potential on Gippsland Business Connect.

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Gippsland Jobs Hub

Connect with local job seekers via Gippsland Jobs Hub.

Employers can post a free job post to access a community of willing and active local candidates. You can also promote your opportunities on the web and mobile, as well as showcase your vacancies on social media and access supporting information and useful links.

For information on support available for business, recent research, statistical data, and advice about business opportunities or niche markets, assistance with funding applications or general knowledge, email economic.development@egipps.vic.gov.au.

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Agricultural assistance

Council can help you access information, help determine eligibility, and provide details on which agency can answer questions related to your circumstances. For more information, visit our Agricultural Assistance page.

Business Victoria has information on issues such as trading hours, business registration, public health, occupational health and safety, consumer and tenancy enquiries.

The Australian Government business portal provides information on issues such as taxation, business activity statements and Australian Business Numbers.

Which permits might I need? 

If you are opening or expanding a business, you may need one or more permits from us. The following information provides an overview of the types of permits your business may require, and how to apply.

Planning permit

You are likely to need a planning permit if you are doing any of the following:

• Changing the type of business activity from its previous form?
• Constructing or externally altering the building you will occupy?
• Changing the trading hours of the business?
• Adding or changing signs to the land or facades?
• Looking to paint or alter a heritage-listed building?
• Seeking a reduction in on-site car parking requirements?
• Intending to sell or serve liquor or change an existing licence?

Visit the Application for Planning Permit page on our website for more information on how to get started on your planning permit application.

Trading Permit

If you answer yes to the following question, You likely need a kerbside trading permit if you want to sell of offer to sell goods on any land that is owned, occupied, maintained or managed by us.

Visit the Trading Permit Application page to get started on your application.

Goods on Footpath Permit

You probably need a kerbside trading permit if you are planning on putting:

• Chairs and tables on the footpath
• An A-frame sign or display of goods (e.g. fruit stand) on the footpath

Visit the Display Goods on Footpath page to get started on your application.

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Health Permit

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you are likely to need a health permit:

• Do you intend to sell food or drink on the premises of your business?
• Do you intend to sell health related services (e.g. hairdressing, beauty treatments, tattooing or skin piercing) on your premises?
• Will you be providing accommodation?

Visit the Registration of a Food Premises page to apply to register a food business.

Visit the Registration of Prescribed Accommodation page to apply to register accommodation.

Visit the Public Health page for more information on how to apply for health permits.

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Event Permit

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you are likely to need an Event Permit.

• Are you organising a gathering where more people than usual are gathered at the one time?
• Will the activities sit outside the approved use of the venue?
• Will there be impacts on the community?
• Is this event within East Gippsland Shire Council’s public open spaces and managed land and will you be inviting the general public?

Visit the Initial Event Permit Advice page to get started on your application.

For more information on how to apply for an event permit, visit the Events page.

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Building Permit

Council does not provide these. You need to contact a Private Building Surveyor if you want to:

• do internal renovations
• do external or structural building work
• change the number of people that can occupy your building at one time

Visit the Building page for more information.

Council offers a range of workshops and training each year.

Our Business Development Program provides you with fantastic opportunities to build and grow your business.

‍Subscribe to the Business Connect newsletter to receive the latest workshops and training news.

Read past editions of Business Connect

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To register for any of the below workshops, contact our Business Concierge on Economic.Development@egipps.vic.gov.au or call (03) 5153 9500.

Feedback from past workshops:

“The facilitators demonstrated a wealth of knowledge and the guest speakers were a highlight each week. Great concise information was provided.”

“Thanks so much for this incredible program. I’ve had so many take outs that I’m compelled to go back and write my top 10, so I can keep them front and centre. This program really couldn’t have come at a better time, and I feel so fortunate to have been a participant and met some great women along the way.”

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Business Victoria workshop - in person

We host in person workshops in East Gippsland in partnership with BusinessVictoria. Business Victoria also host online workshops on a regular basis. You can view the upcoming online workshops events calendar.

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Small Business Bus

Are you looking to start a small business but not sure how? Do you own a business and need expert advice on how to grow and thrive?

The Small Business Bus offers:

• Free confidential mentoring provided by a small business specialist.
• Advice on developing your business idea, formulating a business plan, marketing your business, improving your understanding of cash-flow management and more.
• Friendly assistance from a Small Business Victoria's programs and services information officer.

The Small Business Bus visits East Gippsland each year.

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The East Gippsland Shire Council is excited to provide the ‘East Gippsland Grant Finder’ to all local businesses, community groups, not-for-profits and individuals. This site provides a comprehensive list of grant and funding opportunities available to you from many sources including State and Federal Government, corporate and philanthropic.

Our free service means you will never miss a grant opportunity again.

Register to receive emailed alerts for new grants, save your favourites and access tips to help you apply for grants.

The East Gippsland Shire Council is proud to partner with Grant Guru to provide you with this service. See our Top Tips and Grant Writers if you need additional help.

To learn more, please visit our community grants page.

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Council helping small businesses navigate digital tech landscape  

Local small business owners are being given the chance to strengthen their digital skills and take their business to the next level at a series of free workshops and one on one mentoring. Delivered by East Gippsland Shire Council in partnership with Gippsland based digital innovators GippsTech.   

With the success of the 2024 Digital Confidence Program, we are excited to deliver this opportunity again in 2025. This program assists local business owners to enhance their digital skills, and is open to business owners, farmers, start-ups, freelancers and more. 

Feedback from last year's participants indicated the one-on one support was highly appreciated, with participants receiving practical guidance and tools to implement within their businesses immediately.  

The program will cater to different skill levels and interests, meeting the individual business's needs.  

If this course had not been free and flexible online, I would not have done it. I thought what have I got to lose and now I feel I have made great progress. I feel quite excited! - a previous program participant said.

Topics will include:

• Cybersecurity,

• Digital marketing,

• E-commerce,

• Timesaving by reducing manual processes,

• Disaster recovery plans relating to digital assets,

• Information storage, and

• AI.  

Workshops will be held online, commencing March 2025

Following the workshops, up to 35 local businesses will be provided with one-on-one mentoring with the digital experts from GippsTech.   

Businesses can register for the free workshops via GippsTech’s Eventbrite page or by contacting GippsTech on 1300 713 368.  

This initiative is made possible through joint funding from the Victorian Government and Commonwealth Government under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. 

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Council is committed to supporting you at all stages of your business.

A Business Support Officer will be visiting rural communities across East Gippsland Shire to offer guidance on access to resources that will help to grow and develop your business

Please see the posters below more dates, times and booking information.

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