It was the news Wollongong’s group fitness trainers had hoped not to hear – their fees are set to increase.
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But the initial pain won’t be as bad as first feared with trainers copping a 20 per cent increase per year over three years after Wollongong City Council adopted its 2013-14 budget on Monday.
Initially fee rises of up to 50 per cent were flagged; however Councillor David Brown’s suggestion for the more gradual, compounded increases passed the vote.
Speaking at Monday night’s meeting, Nikki McCarthy-Hicks from Savvy Fitness said the hike was at odds with the council’s plan to increase residents’ health and lifestyle opportunities.
She said group fitness owners faced overheads and costs similar to other small business operators that included vehicle and equipment maintenance, computers and licensing and registration costs.
Yesterday Ms McCarthy-Hicks said the result was a small win for group fitness providers, but she feared some of the smaller operators would still suffer.
‘‘We’re happy that we’ve definitely been able to significantly reduce what the increase will be and we don’t have any issue with paying a fee,’’ she said.
‘‘I just get the feeling that they are looking at businesses like Savvy and Chodat and assuming that all outdoor groups are that size and they can afford to pay more.’’
The city’s group fitness trainers mounted a campaign opposing the original proposal, which earmarked a rise of 30 to 48 per cent.
Council staff recommended increases in personal trainers’ fees to use council parks go ahead despite more than 600 community objections to the proposal, made in the council’s draft strategic management plan and budget released in April.
At Monday’s meeting, Councillor Bede Crasnich said he didn’t believe outdoor fitness trainers should pay a levy, particularly when Wollongong operators were facing higher fees than affluent Sydney council areas.
Councillor Vicki Curran said she was concerned volunteer sporting groups, who also paid to use council land, had not come forward to voice their concerns over paying fees as non-commercial organisations.
The increase will take place annually over three years, or until the council has achieved full cost recovery.