Published on Wednesday, 23 September 2020 at 9:00:00 AM
The development of a 16-court tennis centre within Centennial Park Sporting Precinct that future-proofs the sport in the region will progress to seeking funding after Albany City Council endorsed the project at last night’s Ordinary Council Meeting.
It was one of three projects Council supported to apply for Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund grants, including female-friendly ablutions and change-room upgrades at Princess Royal Sailing Club, and enhancing ablution and clubhouse facilities at Railways Football Club.
The tennis centre would address current ageing and segregated club infrastructure, and the inability of the sport to grow due to site constraints restricting expansion at several local clubs.
A Project Control Group involving Albany’s three major tennis clubs – Merrifield, Emu Point and Lawley Park – the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Tennis West and the City, identified the Centennial Sporting Precinct’s eastern grounds as the centre’s preferred site.
Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington said a centralised and co-located tennis facility would be very beneficial for the sport in Albany and the region.
“We have a situation currently where some clubs can’t expand, and it’s getting harder for them to fund the maintenance of their individual facilities, so the tennis community has been working together to progress a tennis centre,” he said.
“It has been costed at around $4.8 million and the City has committed the site, some in-kind support and $100,000 to push the project along, but it will need significant State and Federal funding to progress, so that’s the next phase we’ll have to work through.”
The chosen site would co-locate tennis with other sports, including junior football, in the eastern pavilion, with up to 16-floodlit courts that would also allow for junior programs and online community court bookings.
City Chief Executive Officer Andrew Sharpe said the business case for the tennis centre was strong.
“It’s all about sustainability and the work undertaken has found that the tennis centre can support itself financially, future-proofing the sport and the facility, but also giving back significant value to the community by creating jobs and attracting visitors to events,” he said.
“Tennis is a sport that is loved by young and old with a lot of capacity for growth, and this facility will allow players to advance their skills and increase community health and fitness.”
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