Longueville Tennis Club members defend plans for new night games after resident backlash

North shore tennis players insist their club is not looking to ‘bring the Australian Open to Longueville’ after the club’s plans for new night-time matches copped an angry serve from local residents.

North shore tennis players are rallying behind plans for their club to install light poles to host new night-time matches after the proposal copped an angry serve from local residents.

Longueville Tennis Club has lodged a $100,000 plan to expand its hours of operation to meet rising demand for tennis facilities on the north shore.

The proposal includes adding six new light poles on two of the club’s courts, enabling the club to extend its current sunset closing hours until 9pm.

The non-profit club, founded in 1921, argues the works would address record membership growth which jumped by 236 per cent from 2015 to 2022.

But many Longueville residents have opposed the plans due to concerns over “light pollution”, increased traffic, noise impacts concerns and implications of the night-time behaviour of native wildlife.

The club estimates the new light poles, which would stand up to 9m tall, would provide an extra 6916 player hours at the site each year.

New light poles would be installed at the tennis club.

“In the Lane Cove community, most of the time for tennis is only available during daylight hours (and) this precludes many members of our community,” the club’s plans stated.

“The aim is to see groups such as working men and women, parents of young families, and high school and university students given the opportunity to play tennis at a time best suited to their circumstances.”

Longueville Residents Association president Ron Gedeon believes the “adverse impact” of the proposal would “far outweighs any benefits”.

Concerns have been raised over the impacts on nearby homes.

“The area is a quiet residential neighbourhood with homes in tree lined streets. It is not a commercial area nor is it a built up area with high density style living,” he said.

Another resident in a submission to Lane Cove Council stated the “flood lights” would shine directly into their home and had the potential to disturb sleep.

“Longueville is a highly sought low density residential area, and it is unjust to introduce public noise and light,” Jane Van Balen wrote in another submission.

The club’s plans have been lodged with Lane Cove Council.

Resident Tamis Hunter, who has also supported the plans, said she was surprised by the negative response from some residents.

“I’m not sure why so many people are opposed to this, I feel most are privileged elderly people who don’t want to see even a speck of light come through their windows past sunset,” she said.

Club member Bruce Hogan has defended the plans – saying strong population growth and high‐density living has “significantly increased” demand for recreational facilities.

Mr Hogan said the club was not looking to introduce the “Australian Open in Longueville”.

Residents are worried about light pollution if the poles are installed.

“The local population has grown very rapidly and there’s a lot of demand for people to find healthy outdoor activities,” he said.

“I respect that people don’t like change and people can write whatever they like (about the proposal) but it will have very limited impact on residents and all the expert reports say the lighting won’t have an impact on flora or fauna.”

According to the club’s plans, the proposal is partly aimed at addressing the temporary closure of the nearby River Road Tennis Centre which is currently being redeveloped as part of the Lane Cove Golf Club development.

The extended 9pm hours at Longueville would operate for both games and coaching

The proposal has been lodged with Lane Cove Council and remains under assessment.