By ANEEKA SIMONIS
PERMIT requirements for boot camp operators using council-owned land in Cardinia Shire are yet to cause a sweat among personal trainers in the area.
In June this year, council introduced local laws that required fitness instructors to purchase annual permits to train in public parks and reserves.
The permit fee costs trainers $151 per financial year.
Fitness operators huffed and puffed about the decision, fearing the new cost would drive up client participation fees.
But it appears the price sting is yet to be felt by operators.
The council’s compliance services co-ordinator Shannon Maynard revealed the council was yet to hand out a permit.
“Since Local Law 17 was introduced, the council has received six inquiries regarding obtaining a permit for boot camp/personal training in public parks and reserves in Cardinia Shire,” he said.
The lack of issued permits has raised questions about fitness operations in the area over the past few months, namely whether personal trainers have been continuing to use parks illegally or moved elsewhere.
The Gazette asked the council if they had detected fitness instructors operating unlawfully in council-owned reserves but did not receive an answer.
Mr Maynard said operators found to be using council parks illegally will be issued with a warning before being fined.
“The council prefers to educate the public regarding permit requirements and, in most cases, would warn boot camp operators and personal trainers before issuing a fine,” he said.
“If a provider was to ignore the council’s warnings, infringements for operating without a permit would be $200, with a maximum fine of $2000 per offence if the matter went to court.”
The council introduced the laws in order to give officers the ability to act on complaints about noise, signage and parking availability as well as manage the risk of personal injury.
They expect to issue permits in the near future.
Permit requirements for fitness operators are not uncommon in other Victorian council areas.
Monthly, seasonal and annual permits were adopted in the City of Casey in 2014 and can cost up to $670.
