Angela Saville, director of one of the region's biggest outdoor fitness businesses, doesn't object to paying to use council parks, but she finds the 48 per cent fee hike "astounding".
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Wollongong City Council is proposing to increase annual fees by more than $1600 for some of the larger fitness organisations, which will have to pay $5000 to train large groups near the beaches.
Savvy Fitness has been operating for 6½ years and has paid fees since starting.
"We approached council to do so as we know this form of activity is not a fad but will be a long-standing service accessible to all community members," Mrs Saville said yesterday.
"We have never had an issue with paying the fees but are astounded that council can propose a 48 per cent increase in these fees when across all other council fees and charges there is a maximum of 5 per cent," she said. "We make every effort to adhere to public space issues and consider it a crucial part of our operations. We are just interested to know how the additional revenue is used."
Mrs Saville said commercial fitness operators were working together to comply with regulations "so as not to disturb the public and ensure that our activities cause minimal disruption to the general public".
"Most services on average operate in the parks at a maximum of three hours a day, generally early morning and evening," she said.
"These businesses have overheads like any other business, leasing separate office and work spaces, vehicles, equipment, paying quality professional trainers, staff and all other common expenses. Considering other councils don't charge fees there are some questions to be answered.
"We are interested to know how the council came up with a 'market price'."
The issue has sparked much debate on the Mercury website, with people sympathising with the outdoor fitness trainers, while others are accusing them of "taking over" the parks and streets.
"I'm all for keeping fit so give them allocated areas in the reserves and off the footpaths before someone gets bowled over when stepping out of a shop," one reader posted.
"It's ridiculous the groups are getting too big and there are too many groups training at the same time," another said.
Mrs Saville said people who had an issue with the outdoor fitness groups had a lack of understanding of the overall benefits for the community.
"These services change people's lives for the better, improving health in all aspects including physically, mentally and emotionally," she said.
"Once our members get wind of this I am positive the majority of comments are pro commercial fitness operation.
"These services add so much to the community - making people healthy and happy. Many of these services often engage in fund-raising and assisting the success of community events.
"They make Wollongong a better place to live."