Tennis facilities are just ace

TENNIS fans will have more opportunities than ever before to pick up a racket, well after the Australian Open concludes later this month.

Two joint funded projects with the Victorian Government and Council have “served” members of Barwon Heads and Leopold Tennis Clubs with new facilities to encourage participation in this fantastic sport.

On December 14, I had the pleasure of attending the opening of two resurfaced synthetic grass courts at the Barwon Heads Tennis Club.

The new courts were part of the Victorian Government’s Strategic Projects initiative, which contributed $275,000 in funding to the club.

In addition to the resurfaced courts, Barwon Heads Tennis Club has installed competition standard LED sports lighting, so its 160-plus members and their guests can benefit from extended match time year-round.

The windows and doors at the Barwon Heads pavilion have also been replaced.

These upgrades mean the courts can be better utilised long into the darker winter months, with tennis lovers given more time and opportunity to ace the game.

Access to the sport, beyond increased playable hours, is at the forefront of the Club’s plans.

In addition to these upgrades, Barwon Heads Tennis Club has received $355,600 in community grant funding to upgrade its pavilion’s accessibility facilities.

These forthcoming upgrades are a testament to the inclusive nature of the sport, which caters to people of all abilities.

These facilities will provide equitable access for Club members and guests, improving everyone’s chance to enjoy a game, set and match.

The unveiling of the new courts in December coincided with another exciting launch for tennis fans with Leopold Tennis Club opening its new pavilion on the same day.

The $1.72 million pavilion was funded via a $1 million contribution by the Victorian Government’s Local Community Sport and Recreation Projects Fund, and $720,000 from Council.

The new pavilion features a social space with a kiosk and a kitchen, along with internal and external storage. The club has prioritised accessibility to ensure more players can enjoy the new facilities, with a new accessible public toilet and accessible car bay included within the new precinct.

A new playground has been constructed at the southern end of the Leopold Memorial Reserve, replacing play equipment that was demolished to make space for the pavilion.

Home to senior, midweek and junior competitions, Leopold Tennis Club is an integral part of community tennis.

These new facilities will encourage existing members to continue participation in the sport, as well as providing a much-needed social environment to build on the strong communities that both clubs have fostered over the years.

Tennis is thriving, not just in the Bellarine, but across the country.

Last October, Tennis Australia recorded a monumental milestone, with more than one million hours of tennis court bookings logged within the twelve months prior.

The new courts at Barwon Heads and the pavilion at Leopold will help support the growth in tennis as it continues to move from strength to strength.

It is integral that we rally behind participation in community sport, not only for its positive impacts on physical health, but also its positive impacts on mental health and the fostering of invaluable friendships.

The relationships built at both Barwon Heads and Leopold clubs, as with many community sporting clubs, continue to live on well after the final game, set and match.

While we may be in the summer of tennis, these new renovations will see continued support for both clubs well into the winter months and for years to come, where Barwon Heads and Leopold community members can enjoy all that the sport has to offer.

Cr Elise Wilkinson

Connewarre Ward, City of Greater Geelong