Warrnambool's maritime museum lifts wedding fees as cost to ratepayers grows

The museum will cost ratepayers $741,000 this year, $17,000 more than last year.

Manager of financial services David Harrington said the driver of those numbers was "a big drop in income which is the (sound and light) show is not getting the numbers through".

But the city's corporate services director Peter Utri said the council had also reduced expenditure at the museum through staffing changes such as not calling in people specifically for night shows.

While expenses had been cut back from $2.03m in 2017-18 to $1.9m, revenue had also fallen from $1.27m in 2017-18 to $1.25m.

The cost of tying the knot at Flagstaff Hill will jump 66 per cent from $450 to $750, and the price of using the museum for wedding photos has risen 50 per cent to $150 an hour - double what it was just two years ago.

Use of the museum's church will rise 25 per cent from $400 to $500 while hire of the Steam Packet Inn will rise to $150 an hour - double what it was two years ago.

Marquee fees will stay the same after jumping $750 last year to $2500.

The new fees came into effect on April 1.

At the Botanic gardens, small events will now have to pay a $100 fee while the rotunda hire fees will rise by $10 to $160.

The fee to have a small marquee at the gardens will cost $525, an extra $25 while medium marques will be $1050, up $50.

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The rise in price comes after fees were introduced for the first time on July 1 last year.

Fees were also introduced for events at Lake Pertobe for the first time last year as part of a move by the council to formalise the process of applying for and holding private functions at these two popular venues.

"Council receives regular requests from people looking to hold private functions at Lake Pertobe and the Botanic Gardens, and this process outlines clearly what is expected of event holders, what services they can expect at the venue as well as any other important information," the council said in a statement.

"This system has been in place for the past year, and has made the entire process more straightforward for event holders and council.

"Council receives many requests for private functions and needed a means to enable this to occur in a safe and orderly manner.

"The fee was introduced in recognition of services provided while covering any costs incurred to ratepayers as a result of the event's staging."

Costs for events at Lake Pertobe rose between five and six per cent this year and will now cost $265 for a small event (under 200 people), $525 for medium-sized events and $1050 for events with more than 500 people.

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