Fitstop Ipswich: Plans submitted to set up new gym at Riverlink Shopping Centre

A fancy new Brisbane fitness business that already has 50 locations across the country is earmarked for a prime retail location in Ipswich.

A new gym has been proposed for Riverlink Shopping Centre.

A growing Brisbane-based fitness chain wants to set up a gym in a busy Ipswich shopping centre as part of grand plans to grow around Australia and the globe.

A development application has been submitted to Ipswich City Council on behalf of Fitstop, which already has 50 locations across the country with more in the works and plans to set up in the United Kingdom and United States.

It is seeking the council’s approval to establish a new gym in Riverlink Shopping Centre.

Plans show the gym would be established in the Lifeline site.

The application has been signed off by billionaire developer and Riverlink operator Bob Ell.

Fitstop already has one location set up in Springfield.

“The proposal does not involve any major building works or changes to floor levels,” the application noted.

“The existing tenancy floor area is to be repurposed with no major building work with existing building components to be reused to suit the proposed gymnasium.

“The main components of the proposed development include the gymnasium area, reception, toilet/shower facilities and storage areas.

“The proposed gymnasium area encompasses the majority of the ground floor tenancy with the proposed use only requiring a large open floor space suitable for various gym equipment.

“The proposed use being a gymnasium does not require any additional internal structural building work other than shop fitting and bathroom upgrading.”

Fitstop already have more than 50 locations around Australia with one in Springfield.

The 239 m2 facility will be used for indoor circuit training sessions which last for about 45 minutes.

According to the application, class times would be held at 5am, 6am, 7am, 4.30pm, 5.30pm and 6.30pm from Monday to Friday.

If given the go-ahead, classes would also be held at 7am, 8am and 9am on Saturdays.

Only two staff members would be on-site at any one time with average class sizes of about 20 people.

Plans submitted to the council appear to show the gym will be established in the site which houses Lifeline.

“The toilet and shower facilities will be mechanically ventilated,” the application noted.

“Adjacent to the toilet facilities is the proposed kitchenette.

“The maximum class size is proposed to be 40 members however other Fitstop gyms across Australia have an average of 16 members per session in Queensland and in Victoria our sessions average 12 members.

There is already a Goodlife Health Club in Riverlink.

Read more stories by Lachlan McIvor here.

Originally published as Fitstop Ipswich: Plans submitted to set up new gym at Riverlink Shopping Centre