Gungahlin tennis centre DA approved but long wait to get on court continues

The new Gungahlin Tennis Facility in Amaroo is a step closer with the approval of the development application. But a ball may not be struck until 2026, more than five years after Labor first promised it ahead of the 2020 ACT election.

The tennis facility will be built on a site between Horse Park Drive and Jorgensen Street, and include 10 full-size tennis courts, two hot shot courts, a hitting wall, pavilion, LED lighting, car parking for 33 vehicles, and landscaping.

The notice of decision recommends extra parking spaces be provided on site to accommodate expected overflow parking demand during big events.

A feasibility study identified the site in Amaroo and draft plans for the facility were unveiled in 2020 before the election.

At the time Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the facility would be three years in the making, with construction taking 18 months once a development application was approved.

When the government announced its commitment in 2020, it enlisted Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios to promote the venture.

“I always had Lyneham [tennis courts] growing up; I’m excited to see a new facility,” he said at the time.

The facility is being built by the ACT Government in partnership with Tennis Australia and Tennis ACT.

The next step will be to engage a construction contractor.

The DA said the facility would cost almost $8.3 million to build.

Minister for Sport and Recreation Yvette Berry said Gungahlin was one of the fastest growing regions in Australia and the new tennis facilities could be used day and night to meet the growing needs of the sport.

“The facility will assist in increasing participation through a range of programs, including Hot Shots Tennis and schools’ programs, Book A Court, Cardio Tennis, Adult Social, Junior and Senior Canberra Tennis League, and a number of all-abilities programs,” she said.

“It will also assist in the development of young participants through Tennis Australia’s established tennis pathways, keeping more young people playing the sport and enabling the realisation of their sporting aspirations.”

Ms Berry said it could also host major tennis events in Canberra.

Tennis ACT CEO Mark La Brooy said Tennis ACT was looking forward to the construction phase of the Amaroo Tennis Centre and a wonderful tennis facility for the community of Gungahlin and the greater ACT and region.

“After a number of years of planning, community consultation, estate development planning and now the approval of the development application, this sees the realisation of a vital piece of infrastructure that will bring tennis to one of the important growth corridors in the ACT,” he said.

“We look forward to working with the ACT Government in seeing this through to completion.”

More than 5000 children participate in tennis in the Gungahlin region through schools, but they have no community club.

Overall, there are about 32,000 tennis players in the ACT.

Original Article published by Ian Bushnell on Riotact.