28/9/04
A Gallop Government grant will give Goldfields people access to state-of-the-art tennis facilities all year round.
Sport and Recreation Minister Bob Kucera said the Goldfields Tennis Association had been given $200,000 towards upgrading their centre because it had the potential to boost physical activity in the region.
The Community Sport Recreation Facilities Fund (CSRFF) grant will help a $1million project which replaces the existing grass courts with 18 new acrylic hard courts, installs floodlighting and resurfaces three existing hard courts.
Mr Kucera said the centre had struggled for too long with inadequate facilities.
“The poor playing surface of the old grass courts were impacting directly on the standard of play,” he said.
“This was undoubtedly curbing people’s enthusiasm for the game.
“Now, however, both the new hard courts and the floodlighting will spark a new passion for the sport, as the centre will offer a more consistent game and more opportunity to play.
“Floodlighting allows tennis to be played at night, extending the use of the courts.”
The Minister also said the decision to install hard courts would also allow tennis to be played throughout the wetter part of the year.
“In the past, the old courts would often get water logged and become unplayable, after even one day of rain,” he said.
“Now the water will drain away and once dried, the courts are back in operation.”
Mr Kucera said funding through CSRFF was all about increasing participation through the provision of quality facilities.
He congratulated both the Goldfields Tennis Association and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder for their initiative in bringing this project to fruition.
Minister's office: 9213 7000
