The franchise, managed by Canberra’s Southern Cross Health Club manager Rhys Cutifani, is awaiting the final paperwork to go through although he has given the venture a 95 per cent chance of moving forward.

The new gym will have $250,000 worth of new equipment including 15 pieces of cardio equipment with individual television screens, 16 to 20 pieces of pin loaded and plate loaded equipment, as well as, dumbbells and free weights.

Mr Cutifani said the idea to put a gym in Cooma came about as a result of his travels in the region.

“It’s a good demographic to have a gym because Cooma is an active community and a lot of people stop through on their way to the snow. It will also give the locals another place to meet and socialise,” he said.

Mr Cutifani estimates between three and four staff will manage the gym with a couple of representatives from his Canberra operation

to start the ball rolling, however, that is unlikely to be a permanent arrangement.

“We’ll also be looking for a couple of Cooma locals to manage the gym, so there will be job opportunities there,” he said.

Mr Cutifani said the business model for Anytime Fitness is to make the gym accessible and affordable for everyone.

“It will be a pretty cheap gym membership at $9.95 per week or $520 a year for a base membership,” he said.

Anytime Fitness is opening their first store in Canberra later this week with 10 more planned for the surrounding region.

Memberships will be available for Monaro residents from the middle of July.

Cooma Chamber of Commerce spokesperson David Shelley said it would be good to have a facility such as a gym in town.

“Any venture like this is good for infrastructure and investment in Cooma,” he said.

Monaro Centre owner Ignazio Mondello told the Express although the project was likely nothing has been officially signed.

“The proposal is still with the solicitors, but I have no problem with them moving in, it would be good for Cooma to have something like this,” he said.