Fitness club steps up with expansion

Popular fitness and recreation facility Busselton Fitness Club is set to expand after a unanimous vote by the City of Busselton council.

The BFC plans to improve its leased premises to accommodate growing memberships and improve the general facility.

Busselton Mayor Grant Henley said the driving force behind the expansion was the need for the BFC to address safety issues that arose due to membership growth and limited space available for fitness equipment and storage.

BFC president Bill O’Byrne said the development would provide much-needed space for people to stretch and lift weights as well as more storage and security for the club.

“We’re working on looking at some of the more popular gym equipment and a bigger variety of equipment to enhance the gym,” Mr O’Byrne said.

The initial proposal from the club was for a two-storey development, which was reviewed by the City in January and a reduction was requested.

The reduction was at the mercy of competing business perceptions and sensitivities of local residents.

“We first approached the City with a two-storey development but that wasn’t approved, so we went for ground-floor expansion at this stage.

“Hopefully down the track, we can build towards two storey, but at this stage we’re comfortable with doing just the ground area,” Mr O’Byrne said.

As part of the development, BFC was required to surrender its current lease and enter into a new agreement with the City.

The council offered BFC a lease term of 10 years with an option for a further 10 years, replacing the previous five years. “The lease is something that we have always wanted,” Mr O’Byrne said.

“It provides sustainability for the future and gives us the opportunity to better provide for members.”

The City was supportive of the development because of the longevity of the club, its demonstrated good governance and the level of investment in the facility.