Wollongong City Council is proposing to introduce a steep fee hike for trainers from July, as part of its recently released draft annual plan.

Annual fees will increase by more than $1600 for some of the region's larger fitness organisations, which will have to pay $5000 to train large groups near the beach.

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Trainers in the city's central suburbs, like Wollongong, Gwynneville and Fairy Meadow, will have to pay up to $4613 a year, while fitness groups in other suburbs will pay between $1063-$3080 depending on the number of people they train.

In contrast, the City of Sydney charges nothing for exercise groups to use its parks and companies wishing to train clients at Rushcutters Bay Park pay Woollahra council just $252 for a two-year permit.

Kickstart Fitness owner Peter Gollop runs exercise groups for up to 18 people at Lang Park.

Under the council's draft plan, his fees will rise almost 40 per cent to $2500 a year - an increase he said could be crippling for fitness providers.

"I'm not a large business, I'm just a sole trader so that's a big chunk of cash straight out of my wallet," Mr Gollop said.

Mr Gollop said he was happy to pay a fee to use public grounds for his business, but did not understand how costs were calculated or why they needed to rise.

"There is no justification for what they're charging because it's not like they have to clean the parks or do extra lawn mowing because we're there," he said.

He said clients would end up paying for the increase because trainers would be forced to raise their rates.

Council project manager Peter Coyte said the planned increases would bring fitness trainer fees into line with market pricing.

"The costs associated with independent fitness trainers using grounds and equipment provided by the council for the general public is proposed to be set at market pricing," Mr Coyte said.

However, he said the listed increases were just a proposal and urged residents to have their say on the councils draft annual plan for 2013/2014, which is on exhibition until May 13.

Proposed fee increases for group fitness trainers

Number of people                       Proposed annual fee 2013/14       Per cent increase from 2012/13

Zone A – Wollongong beach foreshore

Groups of 3-10 people                $1750                                                 30.11%

Groups of 11-18 people              $2500                                                 39.28%

Groups of 19-36 people              $4000                                                 48.98%

Groups of 37-54 people              $5000                                                 48.81% 

Zone B – Central Wollongong suburbs (Wollongong, Gwynneville, Fairy Meadow, Balgownie)

Groups of 3-10 people                $1613                                                  30.08%

Groups of 11-18 people              $2305                                                  39.27% 

Groups of 19-36 people              $3695                                                  48.99%

Groups of 37-54 people              $4613                                                  48.81%

Zone B – Outer Wollongong suburbs

Groups of 3-10 people                $1073                                                  30.06% 

Groups of 11-18 people              $1539                                                  39.28%

Groups of 19-36 people              $2466                                                  49%

Groups of 37-54 people              $3080                                                  48.79%