Boot camp Melbourne

Questionnaire feedback results for Yarra Council personal Training Policy

More than 100 people attended  this consultation meeting. Their feedback was recorded as follows:

Questions

1. What will be the length of sessions allowed?

Answer: The length of sessions has not yet been specified. Average personal training sessions can range from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Council officers will consider this matter and propose a length of session in our report to Council.

2. Will the Metropolitan Fire Brigade require a permit for training purposes?

Answer: The Metropolitan Fire Brigade will not require a permit. The policy only covers commercial activities.
Not- for–profit community groups will not require a permit and will not be charged. However, it will be necessary for these groups to seek approval and register their use.

3. Can personal trainers have multiple permits for the one site?

Answer: At this point, this has not been considered but will be discussed as part of the preparation for a revised permit system. It should be noted that the number of sessions per permit has been increased in the draft updated permit system to accommodate additional sessions.

4. Will the number of permits allowed for each park vary depending on the time of day? (such as peak and non-peak
usage times)

Answer: At this point, this has not been considered but it will be discussed as part of the preparation for a revised permit system.

5. There were only four complaints recorded – how does this qualify for Council to impose restrictions on personal trainers?

Answer: Four formal complaints were made to Council’s Regulatory Services. In addition to formal complaints, about 20 additional complaints/comments have been received in regard to personal training activities by other sections of Council.

6. Can the size limit of 15/20 people be extended to cater for large groups up to 150? It should be noted that groups break up into smaller groups of 15/20 for training.

Answer: Council will need to consider this matter.

7. Can the permit system have flexibility to allow use of several parks as part of a training program i.e for runs along Yarra’s trail, stopping at parks for 10 minute slots for exercises?

Answer: Council will need to consider this matter.

8. What is the method used to come up with the fees proposed?

Answer: Fees were benchmarked against those charged by other Councils and Park Managers. The draft proposed fees have been reduced to reflect comments that have been received.

9. What equipment is provided for personal trainers?

Answer: Council will need to consider this matter.

10. The categories for the sizes of group need to be flexible to allow for changes in personal trainers’ programs i.e. trainer may do some one-on-one work; and Will there be a permit system for occasional use of parks for personal trainers? For trainers that move around i.e. take training to the client, small groups of up to 10 people.

Answer: Council will need to consider how the system may be able to cater for flexible or casual one off usage


11. How did Council arrive at parks and numbers?

Answer: Council’s Open Space Strategy was used as the basis for deciding which parks should be included along with officer’s knowledge of current usage and park conditions


12. If the time that the training occurs is not peak is a permit necessary?

Answer: Yes, a permit will be required for all commercial personal training activities that are conducted in Council’s parks.


13. Why is a cost required?

Answer: Personal training is a commercial activity. Other groups are charged to use parks i.e sports clubs, weddings etc. and traders are charged to use the footpath for their activity.

continued overleaf...

Agenda Page 266
Yarra City Council - Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Committee Agenda - 3 February 2009
Website: www.yarracity.vic.gov.au Telephone: 9205 5555


14. Is it true that the places/parks not listed can’t be used?

Answer: Yes, only the parks listed will be available for commercial personal training activities.


15. Can Dights Falls be included as a large group site?

Answer: Council will need to consider this matter


16. Can Barkly Gardens be added to this list of parks that are available for personal training?

Answer: No. Alain Bain Reserve has been included for this area, as has the soccer pitch adjacent to Barkly Gardens


17. How will Council introduce the permit system? Will there be an expression of interest? What is the current level of usage? If the permits are introduced on a “first in, best dressed” basis, will the existing demand be able to be catered for?

Answer: It was proposed to be ‘first in, best dressed’ but on reflection Council may need to consider this further.


18. Why does the policy treat personal training groups differently to a group of friends training together in the park?

Answer: Personal training is a growth industry and it is about managing the impact of that industry on our limited open space and other users of that space.
Also, personal training is a commercial activity.


19. What is council going to do with the income derived from the fees?

Answer: Council will need to consider this matter


Comments

• Need to consider small group vs large group needs.
• The proposed fees may be minimal now but Council can always put them up in the future.
• The diversity of the personal training sessions is more complex and requires more flexibility than the permit allows.
• Restrictions of permits means personal trainers cannot plan for their business.
• There is allocated dog on-leash and off-leash areas – there should be allocated spaces for personal training.
• People feel that Council should not charge at all.
• The health and well-being benefit to the community should be payment enough that Council should not be charging personal trainers to do this job.
• The benefits of personal training and boot camps include: social inclusion, increase in confidence, weight loss, community safety, good health.
• Small groups in Barkly Gardens are ok, but large groups at 6am cause disturbance to neighbours.
• Group personal training programs often take place in the early morning (6am) when no-one else is using the park and therefore cause no inconvenience to other park users.
• All research shows that a minimum of three sessions per week is required – this needs to be reflected.
• Large groups of 15 or more are more economical; people can’t afford small groups or one-on-one sessions.
• There is lack of evidence-based knowledge.
• Agree that there should be conditions of use. Problem is that there is not a category which caters for groups greater than 20. Our sessions progress and could cover a distance greater than 8km.
• Council has put limitations on health and fitness.
• Numbers within a group may vary – may range from 4-9.
• Sporting teams are missed because they train at different times.
• Consider using the Port Phillip model as a trial for six months. There is a need to consult business owners.
• Believe the City of Yarra is being short-sighted. Quoted figures on obesity. Should be doing everything we can to promote physical activity.
• Osteopath – refers clients to personal trainers.
• Need to get a better idea of numbers in the parks.
• There has been an increase in numbers over the past few years. Need to consult business owners. If we pay, we do not have exclusive use. Need fitness equipment.
• There is a lack of evidence to back up this policy. Good Health Solutions – Sydney – have good data. Groups act as motivation, change behaviour.
• Councils should be looking at preventative ways to avoid obesity etc, should be educating public on healthy habits and lifestyle.
• A Participant: their groups are well instructed.
• Consider permits for different times of the day, lengths of session, staff ratios.
• Kinnect Australia – should be as part of the permit checks for qualifications, insurance, first aid, CPR, risk management.
• Personal trainers – we are diverse in what we do in terms of structure, times etc. The current structure is unclear. Checking of qualifications should be included.
• Believe that groups have no impact on the environment.
• Groups are well run and professional. This should be about health/fitness.
• Concern about how permits will be issued – “first in, best dressed” does not seem fair. What about just having to register and then require qualifications etc.
• Council spends money on bicycle trails and skate parks. People are not charged to use these. So why charge people for using their local park?
• Council should introduce a trial system first for six months, like Port Phillip.
• Council should install exercise equipment in Yarra’s parks.
• Council is not looking at the large picture. Obesity / health. Council should be seeking to remove all impediments to physical activity, not putting barriers in the way.
• Policy will affect people on a lowincome, making personal training unaffordable.
• It is important that the people who write the policy include social inclusion.
• Need at least three sessions per week to get fit. Category C needs more sessions.
• What is the philosophical basis to the policy? Can’t understand why we need the policy. Seems to be a
money grab for fees.
• Council needs to understand that Boot Camps are not a negative. They improve the environment, making parks safe for other users. Council needs to go out and see how they are operating.
• Boot camps prevent diabetes – prevention is better than a cure.
• The permit system should concentrate on qualifications and insurance.
• Why do we need a permit system? Only based on four complaints.
• Sporting teams are missed because they train at different times.
• Consider using the Port Phillip model as a trial for six months. There is a need to consult business owners.
• Believe the City of Yarra is being short-sighted. Quoted figures on obesity. Should be doing everything we can to promote physical activity.
• Osteopath – refers clients to personal trainers.
• Need to get a better idea of numbers in the parks.
• There has been an increase in numbers over the past few years. Need to consult business owners. If we pay, we do not have exclusive use. Need fitness equipment.
• There is a lack of evidence to back up this policy. Good Health Solutions – Sydney – have good data. Groups act as motivation, change behaviour.
• Councils should be looking at preventative ways to avoid obesity etc, should be educating public on healthy habits and lifestyle.
• A Participant: their groups are well instructed.
• Consider permits for different times of the day, lengths of session, staff ratios.
• Kinnect Australia – should be as part of the permit checks for qualifications, insurance, first aid, CPR, risk management.
• Personal trainers – we are diverse in what we do in terms of structure, times etc. The current structure is unclear. Checking of qualifications should be included.
• Believe that groups have no impact on the environment.
• Groups are well run and professional. This should be about health/fitness.
• Concern about how permits will be issued – “first in, best dressed” does not seem fair. What about just having to register and then require qualifications etc.
• Council spends money on bicycle trails and skate parks. People are not charged to use these. So why charge people for using their local park?
• Council should introduce a trial system first for six months, like Port Phillip.
• Council should install exercise equipment in Yarra’s parks.
• Council is not looking at the large picture. Obesity / health. Council should be seeking to remove all impediments to physical activity, not putting barriers in the way.
• Policy will affect people on a low-income, making personal training unaffordable.
• It is important that the people who write the policy include social inclusion.
• Need at least three sessions per week to get fit. Category C needs more sessions.
• What is the philosophical basis to the policy? Can’t understand why we need the policy. Seems to be a money grab for fees.
• Council needs to understand that Boot Camps are not a negative. They improve the environment, making parks safe for other users. Council needs to go out and see how they are operating.
• Boot camps prevent diabetes – prevention is better than a cure.
• The permit system should concentrate on qualifications and insurance.
• Why do we need a permit system? Only based on four complaints.