Weston Creek Tennis Club will be able to build new hard courts. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
The Weston Creek Tennis Club will receive $800,000 for new and upgraded tennis courts if Labor is elected on 21 May, an expansion that will allow it to meet the increasing demand from the growing Molonglo Valley.
Labor Member for Bean David Smith and ACT Minister for Sport Yvette Berry announced the commitment at a meeting with members from the club and Tennis ACT.
The project will build four new acrylic hard courts and upgrade some of the current courts to acrylic hard courts.
The ACT Government will contribute $100,000 to the project and Tennis Australia will also provide funding.
Mr Smith said new residents in the Molonglo Valley were driving up participation in local sport across the area, including tennis.
“This new funding is a win-win – Tennis ACT and the local club get new and upgraded courts and the community gets a greater opportunity to enjoy the game of tennis,” Mr Smith said.
“I know how valuable community sport is, and this $800,000 commitment will provide more courts for more games and more coaching here at the Weston Creek Club.”
Ms Berry welcomed the commitment from Federal Labor into Canberra’s suburbs.
“Tennis in the ACT is booming. There are over 32,000 Canberrans who enjoy the sport, and this facility will help tennis continue to grow in our city’s south,” she said.
Tennis ACT CEO Kim Kachel said the sport was thriving in the ACT with record participation and continued growth on the back of one of the most exciting Australian Opens to date, and people returning to activity post-COVID.
“This project will see a great boost in participation – tennis is a sport for all and a sport for life,” he said.
“Weston Creek, like many clubs, is at capacity and has long been identified as a priority for expansion to keep up with the growing demand and begin to service key areas of the Molonglo growth corridor.”
Weston Creek Tennis Club president Peter Ward said the more than 50-year-old club was thrilled to have the opportunity to expand its facilities.
“The club was first established in 1971 and it has been a wonderful and valuable community asset for Weston Creek and its surrounds for many years,” he said.
“The upgrade will provide a major benefit to the citizens of Weston Creek, Molonglo and the surrounds, and will ensure the club continues to provide a valued and well-maintained community tennis facility for many years to come.”
Ms Berry said that if an Albanese Labor Government were elected, the ACT Government would have a partner it could work with constructively to ensure the ACT got its fair share of Commonwealth funding and investment.
Loading ...
