Personal trainers using council-owned parks and reserves will now need a permit to take their classes outside.
A new Wyndham council policy will slug personal trainers with an annual fee of $120 for sessions with one to eight participants, while those running groups of nine to 20 will fork out $240.
Trainers will also be restricted from using certain parks and reserves for training.
Wyndham council databases reveal almost 100 commercial fitness providers are using open spaces within the municipality.
Tarneit-based personal trainer Melissa Moorfoot said she was concerned about the repercussions the policy would bring to fitness providers.
“My concern with the cost for a permit is that it may be passed on to participants,” Ms Moorfoot said. “There’s a lot of competition out there, so if we’re having to put up our prices for group training, it might deter people.”
She said parks were there for people to use and enjoy but the policy was against that.
“I also have an issue with the limiting of which parks we can use,” she said, suggesting that parks that can be used could become crowded.
Council divided
Councillors were divided on the policy at last week’s council meeting.
Cr Peter Maynard said there was a need to ensure the safety of the environment and maintain positive relationships with residents in properties surrounding reserves and parks.
Cr Glenn Goodfellow also agreed with the annual fee and said the policy was about maintaining parks for all to enjoy.
But Cr Heather Marcus disagreed, saying she wanted to see more people exercising outside and parks filled with people. The policy would discourage this.
Cr Intaj Khan echoed her sentiment, saying it was unfair to charge trainers and council should explore other sources of income.
