A Queensland gym operator fears she will be forced to the wall by a little-known council law that categorises her business as an entertainment venue, which requires a hefty annual fee.
Chantal Coleman operators a small gym at The Gap in Brisbane's western suburbs and has started a petition in an effort to save her business.
The entertainment venue fees range from $535 to almost $2000, with a $376 design requirement fee on top of that.
Despite the permit being in place for 20 years, Ms Coleman said she was only now being asked to pay the fee along with many other small gym operators.
"I've got lots of mates in Brisbane who operate small gyms and none of them knew about it and suddenly we're all getting hit up for it, and it's expensive," she said.
"This permit just doesn't make sense ... [it] does not seem logical.
"If there's a permit for health and fitness or health and wellness, we'll pay it.
"But other than a little tiny boombox in the corner that plays some music, we're not entertaining.
"Permits like this are going to lead to businesses closing."
Ms Coleman said the fee comes on top of a separate music licencing fees gyms already pay, totalling hundreds of dollars a year.
Fee in place to 'ensure health and safety'
The Brisbane City Council entertainment venue permit requires "a permit for any entertainment venue which is open to the public for entertainment whether or not a charge for admission is made".
It potentially includes thousands of small operators in Brisbane including gyms but also markets, indoor sports centres, riding schools, squash courts, golf links and even zoos.
A council spokesman said they had received complaints about early morning noise from gyms including loud music and trainers yelling.
"Gyms are classified as entertainment venues and require an entertainment permit under local law ... and this has been the case since 1999," the spokesman said.
"The permit is issued with a number of conditions to ensure the health and safety of people attending the venue and to limit the impacts on the surrounding neighbourhood.
"As part of the application for the permit, council considers if the venue would unreasonably detract from the amenity of the area and if the level of noise has adverse effects on the surrounding neighbourhood."
