Skip the Permit

The Victorian Government has committed to improving small businesses’ dealings with state and local governments. In 2020, the Government and the regulatory system was able to respond quickly to changes in circumstances. Struggling small businesses were provided with support, including fee relief and relaxations in rules that allowed them to keep trading. The Victorian Government is investigating options to extend some of these regulatory changes and make further changes to help small businesses, including automating or removing approvals for some low-risk activities. As part of this ‘automatic approvals’ program, the Victorian Government is partnering with the City of Casey to make it easier to use public parks for outdoor fitness training. Under the ‘Skip the permit’ program, the City of Casey has proactively identified public parks that can be used for outdoor fitness training. All those wishing to use these parks for outdoor fitness training will need to do is fill out a streamlined form from Service Victoria. This program will run for up to 12 months. The results of this will be used to evaluate whether the automatic approvals program should be rolled out more broadly.

That's it! As long as you have obtained any other approvals you might need (see below), you're now able to use the park/s you have indicated you wish to use. Council will contact you if they require more information.

Activity is not permitted to take place on:

• Playgrounds (public exercise equipment accepted)
• Picnic and BBQ facilities
• Garden beds, vegetation and fencing
• Park furniture and structures
• Memorials, shrines and public art
• Environmentally sensitive areas
• Cemeteries
• Stairways and public footpaths
• Areas without suitable lighting when not in daylight hours
• High profile parks
• Sporting surfaces

The following items are not permitted under the pilot:

• amplified music or audio equipment
• portable gymnasium equipment (e.g. weight benches, weight stacks, stationary bikes, treadmills, steppers, tyres or vehicles)
• equipment that may damage surfaces or flora

• You are registered with Fitness Australia or Physical Activity Australia
• You only conduct:
  • gym sessions (with or without weights, fit balls, skipping ropes etc.)
  • boxing and pad training
  • organised aerobic activity
  • yoga, tai chi and pilates classes and similar activities
  • circuit training or running drills
  • a combination of any of the above.
• No more than 15 people participate in a group/session, not including the instructor
• Your activity does not adversely affect the amenity of the area or impact nearby residents

• You must have public liability insurance with a minimum of $20 million coverage per occurrence
• You must have professional indemnity insurance.

Indemnity

You must agree to release the Council, its servants and agents in relation to all claims resulting in loss, damage, death or injury, in connection with the Skip the permit program. This means that you are agreeing that Council will not be liable for any loss or damage you suffer as a result of your participation in the Skip the permit program and cannot bring a claim against the Council for any such loss or damage. This is legally binding, and the Council will rely upon this release if you do bring a claim.

You must agree to indemnify the Council, its servants and agents from and against all actions, costs, claims charges, expenses, penalties, demands and damages which may be brought or made or claimed against them in connection with your participation in the Skip the permit program, due to your breach of the terms and conditions of the Skip the permit program or in connection with your negligent acts or omissions. This means that you are agreeing to compensate the Council if a claim is brought against it by a third party, such as a member of the public, if they suffer (or claim to have suffered) loss or damage (including property damage, personal injury, and death) due to your acts or omissions. This will include any legal costs of the Council associated with such a claim or action. This indemnity is binding, and the Council will rely upon this indemnity if a claim is brought against it in connection with your participation in the Skip the permit program.

Previously, those wishing to use public parks in Casey for outdoor fitness training had to identify the park that they wanted to use, submit detailed information and pay ongoing fees. Under the new system, Casey has proactively identified suitable parks, has streamlined the form in partnership with Service Victoria, and has waived fees for the duration of this program.

At this stage, you will need to submit an application for each location you wish to use.

No. Participation in the Skip the Permit program is free.

Yes, please send an email to Council to update your details or cancel your application.

Contact council on (03)9705 5200, you may need to submit a permit application and pay any associated fees. You will need to submit a permit application form.

Council may remove you from the Skip the Permit program and you will need to submit a permit application which may or may not be granted and pay any associated fees. The level of compliance will also be an important factor in Council's decision as to whether to continue.

The Victorian Government created Service Victoria to modernise the way people get things done online. Service Victoria is bringing together the most popular transactions in one place and making it simpler, easier and faster to do them. The Service Victoria Business Licensing Program is creating a new central portal where small business customers can easily apply in one location for regulatory permits to operate their businesses. As part of this, the City of Casey is partnering with Service Victoria to allow those wishing to use public parks for outdoor fitness training to easily notify Council of their intention to do so.

• Email: leisure@casey.vic.gov.au
• Call Council on (03) 9705 5200
• Visit us at Bunjil Place