Media Release

August 24, 2010

ENJOY A WORK OUT IN 24 HOUR GYM AT THE ROCKET

A businessman who for 10 years has operated a successful shopfitting enterprise is establishing a 24-hour gymnasium in CBDRobina's iconic commercial tower, The Rocket.

Matt Lowe, who has a passion for fitness, has acquired the Robina franchise for Anytime Fitness and is investing $400,000 on the latest fitness equipment and the fitout of the gym, to open on July 1st.

Anytime Fitness is an expanding US-based chain with 1,300 gyms throughout North America, Mexico, India, Canada and Australia where there are over 30 are in operation and over 90 territories sold.

Members can utilise Anytime Fitness facilities anywhere in the world.   

The Robina gym will occupy a 266 square metre two-storey space in The Rocket's street level precinct and will operate under a five-year lease with a five-year option.

The premises have 64 square metres of floorspace at ground level complemented by 202 square metres on the second level.

The gym will feature strength-training and cardiovascular equipment, including HHfree weights, pin-loaded weight machines, circuit and cross-training machines, stationary bicycles, and treadmills.

There will be television screens showing mainstream television as well as Austar channels to watch while exercising and members will be able to access the gym around the clock 365 days a year.

The co-gender facility will be staffed from 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 7.30am-12.30pm on a Saturday and members will use a swipe-card to enter outside those hours.

Mr Lowe, who has wound up his Project Seven shopfitting business to take on the new challenge, said he chose The Rocket because of its central-city location and the broad community recognition of the tower.

"Everybody in Gold Coast City knows The Rocket, whose iconic design is a standout feature of the CBDRobina skyline," he said.

"Also, the tower offers ample parking and its location at the junction of Robina Town Centre Drive and Laver Drive captures one third of all traffic entering or leaving the business district.

 "Add to this the fact that CBDRobina sits at the heart of the city and is emerging as its premier commercial hub and all the ingredients necessary for success are in place."

The $110 million, 16-level tower fronts Lake Lido and has been developed by Robina Projects Australia.

The building has 400 basement parking spaces and its 1800 square metre ground-level precinct is topped by 11,000 square metres of office space.

Mr Lowe said he was drawn to Anytime Fitness by its business model.

"I have a passion for fitness and had been considering opening a gym for some time,'' he said.

"The 24-hour business model offers convenience and meets the needs of a city such as the Gold Coast, in which people work days, evenings and nights.

Foundation membership fees start at just $11.50 which is debited monthly.

Mr Lowe, who will operate the facility jointly with a manager, said the gym also would develop staff wellbeing programs for businesses and offer a personal-training service. 

Robina Projects Australia General Manager Hylton Slater said Anytime Fitness brought to The Rocket a 24-hour dimension that complemented its street level food outlets and convenience shopping and which adds and additional attraction for owners and tenants in the Rocket office tower.

"The precinct is a popular, easy-to-access venue for residents of Robina and nearby suburbs as well as for staff of CBDRobina businesses,'' he said.

"Anytime Fitness expands and complements the offering at The Rocket, which provides businesses with a strategic well-trafficked location in what is destined to become the Gold Coast City's premier business hub.''

Businesses in The Rocket's ground-level precinct include coffee shop and eatery Kaffiend, a Night Owl convenience store, Anatolia Kebabs, Trilby Misso and Robina Marketing Australia sales and leasing office. Vietnamese restaurant O-Me-Ly are also due to commence fit out shortly.

Precinct spaces range from 88 square metres to 265 square metres while The Rocket's office spaces range from 90 square metres to whole floorplates of 790 square metres.

 The tower is being marketed by Marcus Weld, of Robina Marketing Australia.

  Download article as it appeared in Gold Coast Bulletin