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Fitness Trainers

A permit system is in place to perform personal training activities in Yarra Parks. The system provies the opportunity for people to exercise, while also making sure commercial fitness activities do not prevent others from enjoying Yarra's parks.

Permit details

Personal training sessions are only permitted between 6.00am and 8.00pm in 23 parks and reserves across Yarra. Before holding a session in a Yarra park, personal trainers are required to obtain a permit which is based on the size of their training group and the number of sessions being held.

If you wish to hold a training session in a park then you need to first check which permit categories are allowed at which parks.

New permit fees for personal training 

From 1 July 2011, Council adopted standardised permit fees that have been set by the State Government for personal trainers using Crown Land.

The new fee schedule requires personal trainers to pay $110 for an annual training permit and an addtional $1.10 per person, per session. Children cost 0.75c per session (children are defined in the regulations as 'school students and children'.)

From November 2011, Council began issuing annual personal training permits under this new fee structure.

These fees will increase again from 1 July 2013, with an annual licence to cost $255, per adult cost $2.40 and per child cost $1.60.

Please click here to visit the State Government web page that provides further information on the new licensing system.
(Please note, although the fees refer to 'Tour Operators' using public land, personal training activities come under the policy. Personal - or fitness - trainers are considered to be conducting a commercial activity on public land.)

Why has the State Government taken on Council's role to set fees? 

The State Government introduced the new fees to provide a consistent charging model for personal training activities on all Victorian Crown Land.
Council is still responsible for issuing permits, collecting fees and managing personal training activities in Yarra.
The new standardised fees apply to 23 parks Council currently makes available for personal training.
If you would to know more about the changes, please contact Stuart Grant, Recreation Team Leader, on 9205 5735 or at Stuart.Grant@yarracity.vic.gov.au 

Other changes to personal training activities

At its November 2011 meeting, Council considered a number of other matters concerning personal training activities in Yarra in conjunction with the introduction of the new State Government fee system.

The other changes backed by Council included:

• A decision to extend the new Stage Government fee structure to four Council-owned parks used for personal training activities that were not on Crown Land. This ensured a single and equitable fee structure applied all personal training activities in Yarra
• Reclassify Kevin Bartlett Reserve to Category C (which allows personal training sessions of up to 20 people)
• Allow personal training activities to be conducted near pavilions on mornings between 6am and 8am
• Allow trainers to use a small table to store paperwork and equipment (table to be no greater than 1000m x 1000m).

Personal training at Citizens Park and Edinburgh Gardens

Due to their popularity, Council has previously placed a cap on the number of personal training licences made available to use Edinburgh Gardens in North Fitzroy and Citizens Park in Richmond.

To comply with the new State Government rules, Council is now required to conduct and Expression of Interest (EOI) process for licences to use these parks. This process is not expected to occur until early 2012.

Applying for a permit

Applications for personal training permits will be open twice a year in August and January. The more recent round of applications closed on 30 January 2012.

The cost of the annual permit  is $110 plus a usage charge $1.10 per adult per session and children cost 0.75c per session. 
The annual licence fee is payable in advance on the granting of the licence. 
The usage charge is payable quarterly in arrears and is calculated on actual participation numbers. 

Personal Trainers will be required to keep a daily record of attendances and must submit this quarterly to Council.
Council will invoice personal trainers quarterly for the “use fee”.

More details on the fees are available in the Personal Training Policy  Personal Trainers Policy - Nov 2011 (76.32 KB)

Personal trainers using 'A' Frame signs should note that Council amended its Footpath Trading Policy in June 2011 to allow for the use of slightly larger signs.
Signs measuring 600mm wide X 1000mm height (including 100mm legs) are now allowed. Previously the maximum size allowed was 600mm wide X 900mm height.
Click here for more information. 

Here is more information on Council's personal training policies and an application form:   Personal Trainers Application Form (246.49kB)

Here is a map detailing what parks in Yarra allow personal training services  Personal Trainers Park Map Nov 2011 (99.52kB)

(Please note Kevin Bartlett Reserve now caters for C category training sessions.)

List of personal trainers currently permitted to use Yarra parks

Further information
Stuart Grant
Team Leader Recreation
9205 5735
grants@yarracity.vic.gov.au