Puffs and grunts of personal training classes plague city residents

EARLY, noisy exercise classes are still waking residents living in the CBD ­despite new guidelines introduced to force trainers to behave responsibly.

Personal training in public spaces must now align with the City’s code of conduct.

Personal trainers are still plaguing residents living in the CBD ­despite new guidelines introduced to force trainers to behave responsibly.

In April, the City of Sydney introduced its Outdoor Fitness Training voluntary code of conduct in response to the growing number of personal trainers and fitness groups which use council land — and attract up to 40 complaints each year.

The City of Sydney says the code is working despite residents’ complaints, timetabled classes and picture evidence secured by Central Sydney.

Haymarket residents said the council had failed to uphold the code and are calling for action after two years of 6.30am wake-ups.

Clint Stewart, who lives in an apartment building opposite the Harmony Park, said he has been woken up four times a week for the past two years due to fitness groups who operate out of the park.

“I did not move above an outdoor gym, I moved into the city where there are pubs, clubs, parties and drunk people and I accept that,” Mr Stewart said.

Central Sydney’s photographer snapped this session taking place between 6am and 7am, despite a condition that classes occurring within 50m of residential apartments must not begin before 7.30am.

“But being woken up four times a week when you don’t want to start your day off in the wrong way ... I normally wake up at 7am or 7.30am and resent being woken up an hour earlier.”

When he heard that the code of conduct, albeit voluntary, was being introduced Mr Stewart said he was optimistic that the situation would get better.

Instead, he said the group “amped up” their training sessions, starting classes at 6.15am despite regulations which restrict training ­before 7.30am within 50m of residential properties. Harmony Park is bounded on three sides by residential apartments.

“The music they play, (and their actions show) a complete disregard for any residents. There’s thumping of equipment and ­clapping and cheering,” Mr Stewart said.

“Whenever I complain to council they send out a ranger to tell them to turn the music down but I’m already wide awake and they’ll resume a day later.”

The City implemented its Outdoor Fitness Training voluntary code of conduct last year.

A City of Sydney spokesman said the classes had not been found to be operating outside the guidelines.

“In the past when City rangers have been made aware of noncompliance … they have worked with the trainers who have been keen to ensure their activities are compliant,” the spokesman said.

Mr Stewart said he would like to see the code reduce the number of people allowed to train from groups of 18 to three.

The spokesman said rangers resolved most fitness class issues in face-to-face meetings with trainers.

“If outdoor fitness classes make excessive noise, City rangers can issue orders or penalty notices,” he said.