THE Bendigo Tennis Centre expansion project has been served an ace through the federal government’s National Stronger Regions Fund.
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The long-awaited project has been granted an additional $2.09 million through the fund.
The funding was announced on Wednesday by National Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie.
“It’s great to announce over $2 million to complete the Bendigo Tennis Association project, which will make this a 21st century sporting facility,” Senator McKenzie said.
“The expansion of the Bendigo Tennis Centre will create opportunities to host major tournaments, increase visitation, diversify the business opportunities available to the centre and increase local opportunities for participation.”
The $6 million expansion project of the Bendigo Tennis Centre is being funded through the National Stronger Regions Fund, a $2.4 million state government contribution, $1 million from the City of Greater Bendigo and $600,000 to be raised by the Bendigo Tennis Association and Tennis Australia.
The upgrade, which is now fully funded, will include the building of a new grandstand to seat more than 400 people and accompany a new pavilion that will include two function rooms, kitchen and kiosk, reception area, pro shop, administration area, change rooms and toilets and a tournament office, plus four international standard tennis courts.
“This money will also allow us to increase the number of lit courts we have here, which is really fundamental to us because that variability in playing times has been such a huge part of our growth,” BTA president Paul Henshall said.
“Night events are very popular and we’re at capacity now, so the addition of these extra seven lit courts will get a whole lot more people playing again.”
Works are slated to begin on the project early next month following the Bendigo International Women’s Pro Tour event, which will be held from October 23 to 30.
It’s expected the expansion project – which will take about 12 months – will create 37 jobs during construction and 26 ongoing jobs once completed.
Also on hand at Wednesday’s announcement was federal Murray MP Damian Drum, who played a leading role in securing the $2.4 million in state funding during his time as Victorian sports minister.
“This organisation has been batting well above its weight division in relation to hosting tournaments over many years with ultimately sub-standard facilities to host the events that it does… qualifying events for the Australian Open, Junior Davis Cup and Fed Cup,” Drum said.
“To have some of the best tennis players in Australia grace this facility, we have been very proud that we’ve been able to host these events.
“But we’ve had to work so hard behind the scenes to bring in facilities that we shouldn’t have to bring in. In a city the size of Bendigo with our ability to host major events, we shouldn’t have had to put up with makeshift facilities.
“What this project is going to offer is something that’s going to be world class in a regional city that will be able to host more of these top class events.”
Could one of those top class events be Davis Cup ties in the future?
“That’s the top team event in our sport, so why not?,” Henshall said.
“We’ll have the capacity for it, we’ve got the hunger for it and there’s no doubt we can put on a Davis Cup, but a bit like federal funding, it’s hotly contested.”
The BTA upgrade – which has been in development for the past five years – was among only a select number of successful applications among 479 as part of round three of the National Stronger Regions Fund.
City of Greater Bendigo chief executive officer Craig Niemann said the upgrade was exciting for Bendigo.
“This project will help ensure Greater Bendigo remains a destination for regional, national and international sporting events,” Niemann said.
“These events are important to promote our region and generate significant economic activity.
“It will also provide high quality facilities for our own community to enjoy.”