By DANI ROTHWELL
FITNESS fanatics will have plenty to huff and puff about under new council by-laws.
Their council park bootcamps will now need a permit, which personal trainers believe could force participation fees to increase.
But Cardinia Council said the laws were needed to give officers the ability to act on complaints about noise, signage and parking availability.
Pakenham personal trainer Matt Thambirajah said the council’s $147 annual permit showed how out of touch they were.
“I honestly think they have better things to do with their time rather than hound personal trainers who are trying to improve the lives of others,” he said.
But Cardinia Council said the laws were needed to give officers the ability to act on complaints about noise, signage and parking availability.
“I don’t know how they’ll implement the permits with keeping the cost down, which impacts rate payers yet again,” Mr Thambirajah said.
He has spoken to personal trainers in other municipalities who say council officers only respond if there’s been a complaint.
“If we’re going to need permits, why can’t they make the parks more user friendly?” he said.
“Where I train gets really dark, and I had to buy lights to make sure it is safe.”
Mr Thambirajah said that the combination of rates increases and restriction of behaviour would make people lose belief in the council.
“Council needs to look at what the residents are wanting, rather than rebuilding their council offices,” he said.
“Do they really need that? Or is just something that they’re doing to make themselves look bigger than they are.”
Cardinia’s manager of Development and Compliance Services Brett Jackson said these annual permits were common within other councils.
“Council officers will work with businesses to phase in permits over the coming 12 months,” Mr Jackson said.
He said he did not know how many personal trainers used the parks.
Council said the new local law would also help manage the risk of personal injury.
In comparison, the permits in the City of Casey were adopted in 2014 and are monthly, annual or seasonal and cost up to $670 for an annual permit.
