Anytime Fitness but not any amount

Anytime Fitness in Balmain is struggling to live up to its name.

Designed to serve its members 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the gym currently has restrictions imposed upon it that severely limit its operating hours and the number of people that can be in the building at any one time.

Imposed by Leichhardt Council, the restrictions stipulate that the gym may operate between 7.30am and 6pm on weekdays, 7.30am and 1pm on Saturdays, and must be closed on Sundays and public holidays. In addition, the maximum number of people that may be in the gym at any given time is limited to 15.

In response to the restrictions, a petition has emerged on change.org that calls for Leichhardt Council Mayor Darcy Byrne to “allow Anytime Fitness in Balmain to have unrestricted access for their members”.

The petition, which notifies the mayor each time someone ‘signs’, has received over 650 signatures since it went live on April 14. On April 23, petition organiser Paul Aitcho commented his appreciation for the support, lauding “we now have the mayor and town planners on our side”.

A statement issued by Council confirmed the two parties are working together to find an agreeable solution. “Council has met with Anytime Fitness on a number of occasions and is working cooperatively with them to address compliance issues, and help them prepare a new application,” it reads.

Anytime Fitness’ battle to operate without restrictions has been ongoing since the development was approved in 2011. Originally granted the same restricted operating hours, the gym did have a period of 24-hour operation from December 2011 until December 2012.

According to the Council website, the gym was forced to revert back to its original hours of operation because they failed to lodge sufficient supporting documentation. The supporting documentation was regarding the impact that Anytime Fitness’ limited parking would have on traffic congestion in the area.

The website also notes that the gym received a number of infringement notices for operating out of hours and breaching the regulations regarding patron numbers.

As other gyms in the area are not subject to the same restrictions, there is a fear that the regulations are crippling Anytime Fitness’ chances of maintaining clientele.

The change.org petition argues that “it is unfair that surrounding businesses in the area are allowed to have up to 200 patrons in their business at any one time … yet Anytime Fitness in Balmain aren’t even allowed to have 16 members in the club at 2pm”.

Matthew Serci, a past member of Anytime Fitness in Balmain, said that he had changed gyms due to the restrictions.

“I knew the restrictions were in place and I didn’t want to show up and not be able to train,” he said.

By Keira Morris-Akeroyd