Clifton Hill Tennis Club calls fault over meddling Greens Yarra Council

Greens-run Yarra Council will continue to manage a local tennis club despite a push by members to be free of town hall control.

Clifton Hill members Michael Lettieri, Paul Collins, Liz Minter, Pietro Papantuono, Tony Hodge and Anna Tran at the Mayors Park tennis courts. Picture: Mark Stewart

Greens-run Yarra council will continue to manage a local tennis club despite a push by members to be free of town hall control.

Clifton Hill Tennis Club put together a plan for self-management but was rejected, leading to claims of council interference in community sport.

Independent councillor Stephen Jolly backed the club’s proposal and slammed the council vote.

“Why is a council so determined to micro-manage a tennis club?’’ Cr Jolly said.

“What’s next, the local football, soccer and cricket clubs?”

The Herald Sun revealed that one of the club’s main issues was that the council offices were closed when the club was busiest – during evenings and weekends – often leaving bookings and queries in chaos.

The council has also refused to allow control over the court lights at the Mayors Park centre so high-energy globes burn every night even when no one is playing.

The tennis club has almost 500 members including former pro and committee member Liz Minter. It has conducted outreach programs on the local housing estates. Netball is also played at the venue.

Greens-run Yarra council will continue to manage a local tennis club despite a push by members to be free of Town Hall control.

Club treasurer Tony Hodge said the committee would review the Yarra decision but said he was disappointed.

“The council had the opportunity to remove the burden of an overworked volunteer committee, but they failed to do so,’’ he said.

“They’ve decided to treat the two largest tennis clubs in the city of Yarra differently, allowing Fitzroy Tennis Club to have access to fees for public bookings and coaching so they can employ a caretaker and system administrator to take on these onerous tasks.

“It was our hope they would allow us a similar licensing agreement.’’

Independent councillor Herschel Landes sided with four Greens to accept a council officer’s recommendation to maintain the current management model.

Mayor Sophie Wade recused herself from the vote.

The council report showed council made a profit of almost $43,000 from the centre’s operations last financial year.