Petition to save ‘iconic’ Wollongong Tennis Club after lease renewal ‘knocked back’
A Petition to save the much-loved Wollongong Tennis Club has been launched, after the club says council knocked back its lease renewal plans.
Illawarra Star
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A campaign has been launched to keep a popular club in the Illawarra open, after council knocked back its lease renewal.
Patrons have today launched a petition to save the Wollongong Tennis Club from closure, after the popular watering hole today revealed Wollongong City Council had refused to extend the club’s lease beyond December 31.
Under the provisions of the current lease, the club’s management said it notified Council of its intention to take the option of a further 10-year lease.
However the club, which has been operating since 1959, said it was then informed by council it was “in breach” of its current lease, citing “ongoing maintenance of the club” and that it would not be extending the lease beyond its expiry date.
In a statement to members, club management said board members and staff were “devastated”.
“If we cannot negotiate a new lease or extension of the current lease, then the club will close at the end of this year,” the statement read.
“The board is calling on the members to unite, support and assist the club to fight this decision.”
In a statement, a Wollongong City Council spokesman said council had been working with the club for “some time” to try and resolve a number of issues.
“We have extended a further invitation to the Club to meet. As discussions are ongoing we will not make further comment at this time,” the spokesman said.
The Wollongong Tennis Club is popular with students from the University of Wollongong, with a petition launched to save the club, already garnering 439 signatures.
While the club’s future is in danger, council confirmed tennis at the adjacent courts would not be affected by this process.