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                    Street kiosks and cylinders

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                    The City of Melbourne offers small businesses and startups opportunities to lease and run their businesses from small purpose-built kiosks and cylinders.

                    Kiosks and cylinders add vibrancy and diversity to the area they’re in and enable new and innovative businesses access to trade.
                    ​​​​​

                    Expressions of interest (EOI) for any vacant kiosks and cylinders are open from Monday 13 May to Sunday 2 June 2024.

                    See How To Apply below.

                    Kiosks

                    Kiosk licences range from 1 to 3 years duration.

                    Kiosks vary in size but general dimensions are 2m wide, 5m long and 3m high.

                    Some kiosks may have connection to water and/or electricity.

                    Only retail businesses or Class 3 registered food businesses (low risk, pre-packaged) may be considered.

                    Products and services must be unique, distinctive and high quality. Locally made and sustainable (non-disposable items) are considered favourably.

                    Kiosk license fees range from $1000 up to $2000 per month depending on location.

                    Cylinders

                    Cylinder licence durations are negotiable.

                    Short-term cylinders may be leased for 1 day up to 1 year duration. 

                    Long-term cylinders may be leased for 1 year up to 3 years duration.

                    Cylinders are approximately 1.5m wide and 3m high with double doors that open to the footpath (see diagram here (PDF 88 KB). 

                    Some cylinders may have connection to water and/or electricity.

                    Only retail businesses or Class 3 registered food businesses (low risk, pre-packaged) may be considered.

                    Products and services must be unique, distinctive and high quality. Locally made and sustainable (non-disposable items) are considered favourably.

                    Licence fees for cylinders are calculated at a monthly rate of $332 per month.​

                    How to apply

                    Applications for kiosks and cylinders can only be made via the EOI form below.

                    You will need to address the following criteria as part of your application:

                    • Past performance and experience
                    • Presentation of site and goods
                    • Waste management practices
                    • Promotion of business via marketing plans and social media presence
                    • Financial performance including pricing and forecasted sales

                    As part of the application, you’ll need to provide some information about your business including:

                    • photographs of the products
                    • a picture/diagram of the proposed layout of the stall
                    • a site plan
                    • a copy of your Public Liability Insurance (with minimum coverage of $20 million)
                    • Proposed trading hours (twilight trading hours 5.00pm – 7.00pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and 5.00pm – 9.00pm on Friday and Saturday will be considered favourably). 
                    • a copy of your health registration certificate (if selling food or beverage).

                    Applications must be complete and submitted prior to 11.59pm, Sunday 2 June 2024 to be considered. 

                    Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

                    Submit your Expression of Interest here

                    Please contact street.trading@melbourne.vic.gov.au​ if you have any questions.

                    Locations

                    ​Kiosk locations

                    • Adjacent to 447 Collins Street
                    • Adjacent to 120 Swanston Street
                    • South-east corner of Collins and Elizabeth streets
                    • North-west corner of Collins and Swanston streets
                    • Harbour Esplanade, Docklands
                    • North-east corner of Elizabeth and Bourke street​s

                    Long term cylinder locations – one year to three years

                    • South-west corner of Swanston and Little Collins streets
                    • North-east corner of Swanston and Lonsdale streets
                    • South-west corner of Swanston and Bourke streets
                    • South-east corner of Swanston and Bourke streets

                    Short-term cylinder locations – three months to one year

                    • Adjacent to 236 Swanston Street
                    • Adjacent to 461 Bourke Street
                    • Adjacent to 156 Elizabeth Street
                    • Adjacent to 60 Elizabeth Street
                    • 171 Spencer Street, west of Bourke Stree​t
                    Locations are also shown on the map below.

                    Fees

                    Licence fees for cylinders are calculated at a monthly rate of $332 per month.

                    Licence fees for kiosks vary depending on location. These are calculated by means of an independent market valuation and can range from $1000 up to $2000 per month.

                    Licence fees are invoiced monthly in advance, and the first three months must be paid in full prior to the issuing of the licence, permit and keys to the kiosk/cylinder.

                    Weather

                    ​Our cylinders and kiosks are located on footpaths within the CBD and are exposed to Melbourne’s weather conditions including wind, rain, heat and cold. This needs to be considered when submitting your application, and how you plan to display your goods and services.

                    We don’t provide alternative arrangements or compensation for loss of business due to weather conditions.

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                    Street kiosk and cylinder locations
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                    Application requirements – cylinders

                    You’ll need to provide all necessary information and supporting documentation when submitting your application​.

                    ​Casual street trading cylinder permit application form (DOC 143 KB)​​​

                    Applicant details

                    Your application needs to include:

                    • ​Business Name
                    • Contact name (both first name and surname)
                    • Postal address
                    • Email address
                    • ​Phone number (mobile number preferred)​.

                    Proposed locations and intended trading period

                    Duration

                    Licence durations depend on the particular kiosk or cylinder.

                    Short-term cylinders may be licenced for 1 day up to 1 year.

                    Kiosks and long-term cylinders may be licenced from 1 year up to 3 years.

                    The City of Melbourne encourages twilight trading hours. Businesses proposing to operate from 5.00pm – 7.00pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and 5.00pm – 9.00pm on Friday and Saturday, will be considered favourably.

                    Proposed dates

                    If your preferred trading period is not available, we may suggest alternative dates depending on availability.

                    Business proposal

                    Your business proposal should have a marketing strategy and business plan that includes the following details.

                    Marketing strategy

                    • How you plan to promote and advertise the business.
                    • Branding and marketing materials that adds to the look and feel of the products you sell.
                    • Links to websites, social media pages or other directories used for promotion.
                    • Any branding you intend to install on or in the cylinder structure, with images or designs included as an attachment.

                    Business plan​

                    • Detail how you plan to operate the business, including staffing numbers, work systems, occupation health and safety requirements and operating procedures.
                    • Outline how you plan to stock and replenish goods to be sold, how you intend to store them outside of trading hours, and to manage payments.

                    No cash should be stored in cylinders at any time.

                    Products / services

                    ​You’ll need to clearly explain your products / services and provide us with:

                    • any advertising of your goods
                    • a full list of the products / services you intend to sell from the cylinder, including pricing for each item
                    • ​photos of the products / services.

                    You must be able to demonstrate the products and services you are planning to sell are of a high quality, unique and distinctive. Applications which include items that are handmade and sustainable (non-disposable items) will be considered more favourably.​

                    Infrastructure and equipment

                    There is no electricity, gas, water or waste water drainage connected to any of our casual street trading cylinders. Please note, generators are not allowed to be used within the CBD.

                    You’ll need to include the details of all infrastructure and equipment you propose to use in the cylinder, including photos, detailed drawings and measurements. You are best to provide a design drawing showing where all infrastructure will be used. Examples of infrastructure include:

                    • displays for goods including shelving
                    • tables and decorations
                    • stools or chairs.

                    Your infrastructure should be of a high-quality, attractive design, and have an engaging street presence. You’ll need to provide photos or detailed drawings of your equipment and show us how you’ll set up and display your products or service.

                    There is a plan (PDF 88 KB) of our cylinder dimensions. 

                    Your infrastructure should only occupy the permissible space in front of the cylinder (refer to diagram below), and should not impact on the flow of pedestrians.​

                    Diagram showing the permissable space (resembling a triangle) in front of the cylinder

                    At the end of the licence period the cylinder must be left in its pre-existing condition, with all fittings and fixtures fully removed, and left in a clean state.​

                    Food Act requirements

                    We’ll only consider low risk and pre-packaged food and drinks (Class 4). You must comply with the Food Act 1984.

                    For further information regarding food legislation, contact the Health and Wellbeing team on 03 9658 8858 or email health@melbourne.vic.gov.au​ before submitting an application.

                    Public liability insurance

                    ​If your application is successful, you’ll need to provide a copy of your public liability insurance certificate, with a minimum of $20 million coverage. Read more about our public liability insurance requirements​.

                    Applicant declaration

                    ​You must sign and date the application before submission. Any unsigned applications will not be considered.​

                    ​​Contact us

                    Need more help? Ask us​ a question.

                    ​For kiosk or cylinder-related questions, use 'Kiosk' or 'Cylinder' as the subject.​​

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