Total Fusion Morningside gym delayed, 100 staff let go, after neighbours appeal BCC approval

Neighbours of Queensland’s biggest gym have launched a last-ditch appeal against its approval, forcing its ‘devastated’ owner to get rid of 100 staff and delay its opening.

An appeal has been lodged against “Queensland’s biggest gym facility” on Brisbane’s eastside, with more than 100 workers laid off after the company was forced to abandon its December 1 opening date.

Total Fusion, which already operates three other fitness centres at Newstead, Mount Gravatt and Westfield Chermside, received approval to establish a new 4500 sqm facility at 500 Lytton Road, Morningside in November

The facilities include six rooms for yoga, pilates, a functional training room, a two-level cycle-room and a run-club with 20 treadmills.

Total Fusion founder Leon McNiece, who also founded Goodlife and worked at Snap Fitness, said the facility would be “Queensland’s biggest” and already had 2,000 members.

A collage of gym equipment at Total Fusion Morningside. Picture: Total Fusion/Facebook

But industrial neighbours have sounded the alarm over the swanky new venue, claiming in court documents that it’s a waste of prime industrial land.

Beef supplier Australian Country Choice, which operates next door to the facility, is leading an appeal in court urging a judge to overturn Brisbane City Council’s approval.

“The development application … proposes a use that is of a scale and form that is not consistent with the land use intent for the site,” the appeal said.

A collage of gym equipment at Total Fusion Morningside. Picture: Total Fusion/Facebook

Lawyers for Australian Country Choice further argued that Total Fusion’s premises is “for a non-industrial facility that does not reasonably provide a direct nexus or support to industrial activities and cannot reasonably be considered to be for the convenience of industrial workers.”

The new gym is located within a 30-minute drive of the Port of Brisbane, Brisbane Airport and the Brisbane central business district.

ACC said in an earlier submission to Brisbane City Council that it employed around 870 workers and had been established in the area in 1994.

The facility would have a number of attractions, including yoga classes and saunas. Picture: Total Fusion.

The plans were previously opposed by the Queensland Bulk Terminal, which claimed in a submission to Brisbane City Council that using prime industrial land near the Gateway Motorway, Port of Brisbane and Brisbane Airport as a gym was a waste.

“The application is inconsistent with the Council’s intention to preserve Brisbane’s highly effective freight infrastructure,” the submission said.

Total Fusion founder Leon McNiece. Picture: Peter Cronin

Total Fusion founder Leon McNiece said the matter was before the court, but said 100 staff had to be laid off as a result of the delay.

“It was heartbreaking,” Mr McNiece said.

“We would’ve opened on December 1.”

When asked about the saga, a Brisbane City Council spokesman declined to comment.

“An appeal has been lodged with the Planning and Environment Court and the matter is now before the court,” the spokesman said.

Originally published as Total Fusion Morningside gym delayed, 100 staff let go, after neighbours appeal BCC approval