State grant sought for tennis courts upgrade


Tamworth Regional Council is rallying with members of the local community, sporting bodies and local business to support an application for State Government funding with the hope of securing the future of the Treloar Park Tennis Courts.

Council is seeking a grant of $815,576 under the Public Reserve Management Fund Program to refurbish 10 of the existing courts and add two new ones.

The facility, on Crown land with Council as the trust manager, is the home of Tamworth Tennis Club which has a proud history dating back to the 1800s. It is also the home of the Northwest Tennis Academy which has provided tennis coaching to thousands of Tamworth children over the years.

Tamworth Regional Council Assistant General Manager, Peter Thompson, said the Council has been working with Tamworth Tennis Club for some time to help them develop a new management strategy to ensure the facility's continued operation as a recreational asset.

“The club is struggling financially and it has not been able to maintain the courts and the final straw came this year when Tennis NSW moved the Easter Carnival to another regional centre,” he said.

“Although the Treloar Park Tennis Courts are owned by the State Government, the centre has been supported in the past by private benefactors, tennis enthusiasts and proud Tamworthians, donating their own money to slow its decline. Inevitably, this private support is reliant on the capacity and will of community members to gift money in a support of the State Government-owned venue.

“The NSW Government has now been asked to lend a hand. The facility has not received funding through the Public Reserve Management Fund previously and Council, the club and local tennis players are all hoping the current application will be successful.

Mr Thompson said the Treloar Park Tennis Courts are an important NSW Government asset which is valued by the local community.

“The facility itself is particularly special because the courts are located on a tiered site,” he said. “For tennis players and enthusiasts, this adds a real sense of spectacle to events.

“Tennis NSW North West supports the facility being the hub for North West Tennis because, quite simply, it is in an ideal location in the region and Tamworth has fantastic support services and accommodation facilities.” 

“With the requested support of the NSW Government to address the condition of the venue, Tennis NSW has committed to returning the Easter Tournament to Tamworth. It is likely this will just be the start of a new era for Tennis in Tamworth by reinvigorating social tennis and competition tennis at the facility.” 

Tamworth Tennis Club President Craig Orvad said the club appreciates the support and advice Council has been able to provide to help ensure a strong future for the facility.

“It is a unique facility in our community and there is a strong interest in ensuring it continues to be there to give local children the opportunity to play and learn tennis.

“Many young players stay with the sport into their adult years and it becomes a positive social interest for a lifetime.” 

Mr Orvad said in addition to the grant application, Tamworth Tennis Club has developed a new management strategy.

“Tamworth Tennis Club is undertaking preliminary discussions regarding a possible amalgamation with another registered club which will offer a sound financial basis for the ongoing success of the facility into the future,” he said.

“The Council and the club have offered a complete solution which includes addressing the ongoing management of the facility we are now waiting to learn whether NSW Government will allocate funding.”

For more information visit Tamworth Regional Council