A $26.5m Geelong Regional Tennis Centre planned for Armstrong Creek

The state peak body for tennis has called for new infrastructure to address a “significant gap” in the region, with plans for a $26.5m Geelong Regional Tennis Centre in the works.

Tennis Victoria says Armstrong Creek, the fastest growing area in the region, urgently requires new facilities.

Tennis Victoria says it is “time for the government to act” and establish urgently-needed facilities in Armstrong Creek.

The sport’s peak body has listed a proposed $26.5m Geelong Regional Tennis Centre in the area as a priority venue project, according to a new internal document developed to communicate the importance of the proposed hub to councils.

While a site has yet to be secured, a full business case is in the works with no significant new tennis infrastructure in the Geelong and Barwon region since 1983.

In the document, Tennis Victoria said there was a “significant facility gap in the state’s southwest”, with an opportunity in the fastest-growing area in the region, Armstrong Creek, which could deliver up to $5m in annaul benefits to the economy.

“This is Tennis Victoria’s number one regional infrastructure priority in terms of new facilities in Victoria,” chief executive Kim Kachel said in the report.

“With 75,000 people in the community and no dedicated venue, Armstrong Creek is the only major growth area in Victoria without the facilities to host significant national and international events such as pro tours.

Kings Langley tennis courts.

“This project is essential to meeting both grassroots, community access and elite tennis needs.”

The proposed regional hub could service local, regional, national, and international major events/marquee tournaments pre-or post-Australian Open, the document read.

“Most importantly, the growing local community currently lacks tennis facilities,” the document revealed.

The peak body believes the region is home to exceptional tennis talent but local players face the ongoing challenge of travelling long distance to compete and train.

A purpose-built tennis facility would provide a “long-overdue home for the local tennis community”, offering “fairer access”, stronger development pathways and a space to grow the game.

“The new venue would also serve as a central hub for coaching, mentoring, and community connection,” Tennis Victoria said.

“With the backing of council, this project can become a legacy for the region.”

The facility has “long been planned”, Tennis Victoria said, with two 18-court sites identified as part of structure plans for the region.

Kings Langley tennis courts are due for an upgrade.Generic pics of the courts.

“14 years as an infrastructure inclusion and priority at Armstrong Creek; it is now time for Government to act,” it said.

It comes after the peak body’s Barwon Tennis Strategy, which was endorsed late last year, identified a glaring gap in tennis infrastructure around Armstrong Creek.

It recommended the establishment of a “at least one significant venue” to service future demand.

The strategy revealed “significant gaps” in other local government areas outside Geelong in the Barwon Region, notably the Surf Coast, Golden Plains and the Borough of Queenscliff.

It revealed there were no venues with at least five courts within 5km in Armstrong Creek where a “significant” number of people will reside in the next decade, recommending a future hub with at least six courts.

“Outside of Greater Geelong very few 5+ court venues exist and significant gaps appear throughout the region,” the strategy revealed.

“The ‘gaps’ in the network are in low density population areas.

“Proximity to venues with five or more courts (those more likely that offer a suite of tennis offerings) is more limited.”

The report predicted the vast majority of additional tennis players in the region by 2031 will be to the south of Geelong – in excess of 5000 more tennis players – with the majority around Grovedale, Armstrong Creek and further south towards Torquay.

“A lack of venues, and specifically a lack of larger venues that typically provide a range of services, coupled with the significant growth in population and demand to play tennis means there is a strong business case for at least one significant venue to service

future demand,” it found.

Geelong Lawn Tennis Club proposed selling courts for a housing development. Picture: Alan Barber

“There is a significant gap in provision in the Barwon region and specifically Geelong.
“This is best positioned to be in Armstrong Creek growth area.”

Two locations were earmarked for large tennis facilities in 2026 and beyond 2030.

It comes as works begin on a new sports facility in Armstrong Creek with four multi-use courts.

Meanwhile, a third of the 42 venues within Greater Geelong could be considered for an “alternate use potential” or complementary use, the strategy found.

“This is due to the glut of similar type venues within close proximity of each other,” the report revealed.

“Barwon region has broadly enough courts, and they are generally located in the areas where there is a density of tennis interest and participation.

“Improvements can be made to the venue ‘mix’ and distribution of the network to ensure

improved proximity to a range of venue types/offerings.”

The report found courts at the Bell Post Hill Tennis Club at Myers Reserve and the Belmont Uniting Tennis Club had “alternate use” potential.

A Victorian Government spokesperson said it had invested in the sport locally, with $3.1m towards projects across Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.

This include upgrades at Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, Leopold, Lara, Mount Moriac and Point Lonsdale.

“We encourage local councils to consider applying for a grant through our funding programs including the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund and to liaise with Sport and Recreation Victoria on potential for future projects,” the spokesperson said.

The City of Greater Geelong executive director City Life Anthony Basford said the strategy was an important blueprint around how the sport could be grow in the region.

“We’ve shared the strategy with councillors and are working closely with Tennis Victoria to ensure that tennis infrastructure required for our region is delivered for the community, with a particular focus on improving access in the Armstrong Creek growth area,” Basford said.

Originally published as A $26.5m Geelong Regional Tennis Centre planned for Armstrong Creek