Gym in limbo over parking
The future of a new South Hedland gym is in limbo after the Town council refused to budge on strict parking requirements.
It is understood Charging Bull, which currently has 11 allocated parking bays, was told that only 10 patrons would be allowed to use the gym unless the business found room for extra bays.
The Town of Port Hedland’s parking rules specify a private recreation facility is required to provide one bay for every 10sqm of unmarked indoor floor area.
According to Charging Bull Fitness business partner Steve Palmer, it would not be commercially viable to only have 10 people on the premises at any one time.
Mr Palmer said despite efforts to negotiate, the Town wasn’t prepared to compromise.
“The Town is so strict when it comes down to these sorts of items … other towns or cities have got these issues but they come up with a solution to it,” he said.
“It’s frustrating because there are other towns that are prepared to work with you, instead of against you, to provide a service.”
According to Mr Palmer, the Town has advised that if Charging Bull can increase the number of parking bays at the facility to 14, they can then increase the maximum number of occupants to 41.
Mr Palmer does not want to move the site further from the South Hedland town centre.
“We want to be in the CBD where most people are … if they force us out to Wedgefield, what good is that? We want to be in the heart of town,” he said.
The Throssell Road gym was due to open last month and had plans to bring in Commando Steve, a celebrity personal trainer from hit TV show Australia’s Biggest Loser, to open the facility.
“We’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars so far trying to get this up and running,” Mr Palmer said.
