The petition was started a week ago by Warrnambool's Shari Nye, with the organiser saying it would make Warrnambool a "world-class destination".

A business case into a new art gallery - something that was predicted to cost $40 million - is under way, with city councillors getting their first briefing on its progress on Monday.

Mayor Debbie Arnott said they were now awaiting more details on the project.

While the report was originally set to go to the May open council meeting, Cr Arnott said it would now depend on whether councillors received that extra information in time.

She said the council wanted to make sure it had all the right information before it went out to the public.

The Change.org petition has attracted 468 signatures in favour of an art gallery at Cannon Hill.

Ms Nye said she was happy with the response to the petition so far and was expecting more people to sign it still.

"I've had a lot of emails congratulating me on being brave and saying what they wanted to say," she said.

A petition - which was a combination of both online and on paper - in opposition to the idea last year attracted about 5000 signatures.

One person who signed the new petition in support of a gallery at Cannon Hill said the idea was "amazing" and "inspired".

"Refusal of this opportunity is regressive and holds back the potential of Warrnambool to be an amazing cultural and tourist centre," they wrote.

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