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East Gippsland provides an ideal place to mix business opportunity with quality of life.
Rich in natural resources and brimming with economic potential.
The region is home to some of Australia's leading brands and largest businesses, attracted by an abundance of primary produce and natural resources coupled with good transport and logistics, ample water, good physical and telecommunications infrastructure, and affordable and plentiful land supply.
The region is ideally situated between Australia’s two major commercial hubs and ports in Melbourne and Sydney with a world-class road network offering easy access to both.
Check out our Economic Development Strategy 2022-2032 or contact the Economic Development team via email for more information.
With eight main towns and a diverse range of industries, East Gippsland has a solid demand for skilled employees across a wide range of industries and offers excellent opportunities for trade-qualified and professional people.
The food-production sector is of vital importance to East Gippsland with food manufacturing and production fundamental drivers of the regional economy.
The commodities of this sector include fruit and vegetable crops, livestock (meat and products), bakery products, seafood, beverage and food support services.
Lakes Entrance is the home of one of Australia's largest fishing fleets, while Mallacoota is the base of a significant abalone industry. Catches are supplied to markets in Melbourne and Sydney.
Home to 47,316 people, East Gippsland supports 16,539 jobs and has an annual economic output of $4.948 billion.
More statistics on the region's industry and employment can be found on our Economic Profile site.
Here you can find details on the region's economy, including:
Tourism visitor economy data and research:
Future tourism developments in East Gippsland:
Industry newsletters for tourism businesses:
East Gippsland Visitor Services play a vital role in looking after visitors before, during and even after their visit. Being a member of Visitor Services gives businesses the opportunity to be at the forefront of our destination activities. The membership offers a wide network of tourism opportunities, support and helps market our magnificent region.
2022-23 East Gippsland Visitor Services Membership Prospectus
The Economic Development Strategy 2022 - 2032 is Council's key regional economic policy document, aimed to achieve high levels of economic prosperity for our region, and builds on East Gippsland’s Community Vision 2040.
Inclusive economic prosperity is a critical enabler of the quality of life we desire in East Gippsland and drives a range of community outcomes.
The Strategy outlines Council’s role under nine Focus Areas. The objectives for each of the Focus Areas are designed to work toward the East Gippsland Community Vision 2040 and demonstrate the strategic direction and contribution of Council.
See more at Economic Development Strategy 2022 - 2032 and
Economic Development and Tourism Action Plan 2022 – 2026
The East Gippsland Economic Development Strategy (2022-2032) is a document that provides guidance to the broad East Gippsland community including government, business, and community stakeholders on the future strategy endeavours and opportunities for the shire.
East Gippsland Shire Council Economic Development and Tourism Action Plan 2022 – 2026
East Gippsland provides an ideal place to mix business opportunity with quality of life.
The region is blessed with a Mediterranean-like climate – warm summers and mild winters – and stable annual rainfall averaging 600mm-900mm, which allows our agriculture and horticulture industries to thrive.
And when you’re not busy building your business, head outdoors to enjoy the renowned local environment, including pristine lakes and rivers, snow-capped mountains and far-reaching coastal wilderness.
Some of Australia's leading brands and businesses operate from East Gippsland including:
Innovation is also strong in East Gippsland, with a range of businesses and consultants basing themselves in the region while using communications technology to service their customers around the world.
To find out more about living, working and investing in East Gippsland, head to our Live, Work, Invest East Gippsland website.
We produce a regular e-newsletter to share the latest business-related news in East Gippsland, including:
Read past editions of Business Connect
You can fill in your details to subscribe and the newsletter will be sent to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Startup Gippsland is a regional initiative that aims to ignite the region’s startup ecosystem.
Recognising the significant business growth and job opportunities that this culture could bring to regional areas, LaunchVIC, the Victorian Government’s startup agency, funded a select number of regional startup programs in 2018, including Startup Gippsland.
Startup Gippsland has 3 programs to support startups at different life stages:
For more information and details on applying for the above programs, visit the Startup Gippsland website.
East Gippsland is a source of high-value healthy foods, which through collaboration, innovation, sustainable practices, effective marketing and distribution to local, national and global markets, strengthen the region’s economic development and social wellbeing
This diverse produce-growing region boasts an incredible abundance of fresh local produce, including:
· fruit and vegetables
· beef and lamb
· seafood
· milk and cream
· eggs
· honey
With its fertile soils, good rainfall and temperate climate, East Gippsland is a food bowl, producing fresh fruit and vegetables all year round.
The region is also renowned for its high-quality beef and excellent seafood.
The region also produces outstanding wine, beer, olives and olive oil, chocolate and condiments.
The East Gippsland Event Growth Action Plan 2021-2026 outlines how East Gippsland can increase the economic, social and environmental benefits from events.
For the past 11 years, Council has maintained support for the development of events which provide an economic boost to East Gippsland through the Regional and District Events Sponsorship program (RADES).
With an increasingly competitive environment for event procurement and rising expectations regarding event delivery and visitor experience, a review of Council’s approach to growing East Gippsland’s event portfolio was required.
The East Gippsland Event Growth Action Plan 2021-2026 takes a fresh approach to growing and strengthening existing signature events and leveraging the existing event-procurement budget to ensure better value of Council’s investment in this area. Council adopted the plan in October 2021.
Find out more at East Gippsland Event Growth Action Plan 2021-26.
We're on the hunt for business-savvy mentors to join Business Boost
Council is seeking business professionals to join its Business Boost program as volunteers or low-cost providers as part of its Resource Team.
Business Boost, funded by a Victorian Government Local Economic Recovery grant, launched in Bruthen and Buchan to help entrepreneurs and business owners to achieve their goals.
The program will match a team of business professionals and skilled volunteers and students with entrepreneurs, to provide volunteer or low-cost customised professional support.
An entrepreneurial facilitator, employed through Council, will be the first point of contact for the Business Boost program, connecting each entrepreneur with the right match on the Resource Team.
The program is supported by Council’s partner, Ignite Small Business Start-ups. Ignite will provide training throughout the program for both our program facilitator and the Resource Team.
The program is funded by the Victorian Government, Local Economic Recovery Grant - 2020.
Business Check-In provides a quick overview of your business, and helps you identify areas that might present future growth opportunities and identify areas where Council might support you.
The Resources Toolkit for Chambers of Commerce and Business and Tourism Associations provides associations within the East Gippsland region with tools and resources to assist in conducting business on behalf of their organisation.