The shots punched through the glass doors of the gym and hit equipment and walls inside.

TASK Force Hydra, set up to fight outlaw motorcycle gangs in Queensland, has joined investigations into a Gold Coast gym which was riddled with bullets.

The Serious Violent Crime Squad has also been asked to help look into the attack on the First Choice Fitness Centre at Helensvale, which was sprayed with a dozen shots from a high-calibre weapon late last night.

Police at the scene said they counted a dozen bulletholes. A witness said he heard about four shots around 2am.

Police are investigating whether the shots were intended as a warning.

"The owner of the store is an associate of an outlaw motorcycle gang," Superintendent Dave Hutchinson told reporters on the Gold Coast.

The shots punched through the glass doors of the gym and hit equipment and walls inside.

"It would appear to be a high-calibre weapon. We have ballistics police on the scene at the moment, and they'll be able to give us a better indication of the type of firearm that was used," Supt Hutchinson said.

The owner was co-operating with police, he said.