The historical society made a request to council for financial assistance, seeking a reduction or waiver of the fees associated with their monthly muster.

The event is to be held at the Bathurst Rail Museum, a council owned and operated facility, on July 15.

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The July muster will reflect on the life of former prime minister Ben Chifley, marking the 76^th anniversary of him entering the nation's top job and 86^th anniversary of him entering parliament.

Based on information from the historical society and conversations with the museum, the group would need to pay $600 for venue hire, $130 for staff time on an estimate of two hours, and $2 per person who attends.

Council staff were prepared to offer the 20 per cent local community organisation discount, equating to $120, to the museum's venue hire charge for the event.

However, councillors wanted to be more generous.

Councillor Graeme Hanger put up a motion to waive both the venue hire fees and the staff time, which council later resolved to do.

This was despite general manager David Sherley warning councillors that it could set a precedent, and advising just to waive the venue hire fee.

"It's not that it's $130 [for staff time], it's setting the precedent that everyone else is going to expect," he said.

Cr Hanger said he didn't see the waiving of the fees as setting a precedent.

"As far as creating a precedent, if other events come up with something as significant as a 70^th anniversary of the death of our number one citizen, some would say, the prime minister of Australia, if they can come up with something as significant I'll discuss the staff time with that one," he said.

"I don't see this as a precedent. I think this is an absolute one-off, a very important event."

With the resolution, the $2 per head charge is still applicable.

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