Council muscles in on gym

MEMBERS of Nine12 Fitness Centre regularly take to the streets of Lismore’s CBD for their exercise routines.

LEFT DEFLATED: Nine12 Fitness Centre members Michelle Burgess and Adyn Windsor are disappointed council has issued a $3000 fine for a range of non-compliance issues. Picture: Cathy Adams

MEMBERS of Nine12 Fitness Centre regularly take to the streets of Lismore's CBD for their exercise routines.

Gym owner Jason Windsor says it promotes an image of a town that is healthy, fit and community minded.

But Lismore City Council has fined the gym $3000 for a range of "non-compliance" issues, including operating a gym at the Woodlark St building without development approval and using public land for gym activities.

It's a fine the small, locally owned and operated business can't afford, Mr Windsor says.

"Just three weeks before we got the letter about our non-compliance we had been told by council staff that our business was fine," he said.

"We barely make ends meet here.

"People think we ignored the issues [identified by the council], but we didn't.

"There were complaints about the use of tractor tyres in the street, so we stopped that and we moved into the back alley.

"Yes, we use kettle bells, but it's a controlled environment with a trainer and we are all very aware if other people are around.

"We have only good intentions."

Lismore City Council's manager of development and compliance, Peter Jeuken, said the council first wrote to Nine12 Fitness Centre in October to advise that they needed development approval to operate the gym.

"It was also reported to council that large tractor tyres had been dragged and rolled along the footpath [and that] gym members were swinging kettle bells on footpath areas as part of classes and doing other activities around the streets, which council had serious concerns regarding safety of pedestrians and the potential for damage to shopfronts," he said.

"Council also received complaints about ropes and other articles being placed and causing trip hazards on the footpath."

He said that despite follow-ups and the further allocation of staff time and resources, the gym failed to "show cause" as to why it should not be fined.

He also said a development application to use the building as a gym was not lodged until January.