AusLeisure

The cost of hiring parks and reserves in central Perth is set to rise sharply, prompting speculation ticket prices for some outdoor events could follow.

Earlier this month the City of Perth approved a 60% increase in reserve hire fees for ticketed events. As a result, from 1st July, the cost of hiring a park or reserve for a ticketed function will rise from 50¢ per person per hour to 80¢.

The cost of road closures, where required, and the application fees for big commercial events such as festival and concerts will also rise, albeit more modestly.

Smaller fee increases will also be applied to non-ticketed events, including hiring gazebos at Russell Square, Victoria Gardens and Queens Gardens. A discount of 50% applies for not-for-profit or charity events.

The increases formed part of the city’s 2015/16 budget, which was approved last night and included an increase in the city’s residential and commercial rates and rubbish collection fees.

A report to the Council said reserve hire fees had historically been kept relatively low to attract visitors to the city and “encourage activation of the city’s reserves”.

City of Perth Chief Executive Gary Stevenson said the increase in fees was to recover operational costs incurred by the city, telling The West Australia "it should be noted that for ticketed events the increase in monetary terms equates to 30c per person per hour."

Stevenson said community groups that had already committed to hosting events and had engaged with the city would have the existing hire fee honoured.

Perth’s parks, gardens and reserves are hired for a wide range of events, including the Perth International Arts Festival, the Fringe World Festival, the Ben & Jerry open air cinema and the Taste of Perth festival.

A Fringe spokeswoman said it was too early to say what impact the fee increase might have on the festival, which uses Russell Square for its popular Pleasure Garden.

Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF) General Manager Julian Donaldson said the festival’s outdoor events were historically non-ticketed events and it was unclear from the city’s budget papers what the impact would be.

Donaldson stated that PIAF would have to absorb any increase to the cost of holding free events in the city, explaining “any increase (in fees) we would hope would go back into the maintenance and beautification of the reserves/

Donaldson said the city had historically been a cheaper place to hire parks and gardens than many other local government areas.

Click here to read the original story in The West Australian.

Image shows preparations for a wedding in Perth' Queens Gardens.

17th December 2014 - CAPITAL LEGISLATION TO BOOST PERTH TOURISM

15th November 2014 - NEW PUBLIC SQUARE IN PERTH CBD TO BE EVENT AND TOURISM HUB 

23rd June 2014 - KINGS PARK NAMED ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOP 10 PARKS

30th May 2014 - KINGS PARK EXPERT ADVISES THAT RISK IS GOOD FOR CHILDREN 

27th April 2014 - EXCELLENCE TO BE RECOGNISED AT WESTERN AUSTRALIA PARKS AND RECREATION AWARDS

22nd December 2013 - MEASURING PERTH’S PARKS PROVISION AS LOCATIONS FOR ACTIVITY

27th December 2012 - NATURE PLAY SETS THE HOLIDAY CHALLENGE

Asking a small favour

We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.