Historic Frankston tennis courts to be bulldozed by Andrews Government

A 127-YEAR-OLD tennis club in Melbourne’s southeast has been told its courts will be demolished for a hospital expansion by the Andrews Government, which hasn’t committed to help the club pay for a new centre.

Frankston Tennis club is to be demolished to make room for the Frankton Hospital expansion. Coach Steve Foot and John McGillivray are joined by juniors Chase Hudson, 3, Mackenzie Hudson, 5 and Roxy O'Brien, 4. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

AN award-winning Melbourne tennis club founded in 1891 — a year before Kooyong’s lawn courts — will be demolished to make way for an Andrews Government expansion of Frankston Hospital.

Hundreds of players, young and old, have been left in limbo after Frankston Tennis Club was told to find a new home.

Despite being voted Victoria’s Most Outstanding Club in 2012 and regularly named in Tennis Victoria’s “Top 50 Clubs”, the centre has been ordered to make way for new hospital space. Club chiefs are now lobbying the government to help pay for a new centre.

OTHER NEWS: GUY PROMISES $50M FOR FRANKSTON STATION CARPARK

SHOPS, HOTELS PLANNED FOR 1980S ARCADE

NEW PLANS FOR LA TROBE ST HIGH RISE

They have agreed to merge with another tennis club and a gymnastics club, secured Frankston Council funding and offered to build a smaller home base to house all three.

But club relocation subcommittee chairman John McGillivray said it was conditional on state and federal funding.

“We’re not asking for anything that we haven’t already got,’’ he said. “We’re doing the right thing for the community. We just want the right thing done by us.’’

The court drama could become an election issue in the state’s second-most marginal seat, held by Labor by just 0.48 per cent, or 336 votes.

Mr McGillivray said the club, on crown land, had a lease until the end of 2022 but had agreed to leave earlier.

“We agreed to the move because we feel the hospital is more important,’’ he said.

“We didn’t want to move. It was an emotional decision, but we know we have to shift.

“The government made its big announcement the other day and that’s great but it wouldn’t have happened unless we agreed to vacate.’’

The government on Monday trumpeted a $562 million Frankston Hospital redevelopment including 120 new beds if re-elected. But it failed to mention the club’s courts would be wiped out to make way for it.

The Frankston Tennis club is to be demolished to make room for the Frankton Hospital expansion. Juniors Roxy O'Brien, 4, Chase Hudson, 3, Mackenzie Hudson, 5 and Logan Brings, 4. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The club has agreed to merge with Frankston East Tennis Club and Bayside Gymnastics Club to build a $27.6 million centre at Centenary Park. It has also raised $3 million and attracted $11 million from Frankston Council but will only be able to move if the state and federal governments chip in $8 million each.

Sports Minister John Eren stopped short of pledging cash.

“We’ll help the club find a new local home, while we deliver a brand-new hospital and better care for Frankston families,’’ he said.

Liberal Dunkley MP Chris Crewther said the federal government was willing to back the project.

“I have already been advocating for federal funding for this project for a long time,’’ he said. “I will continue to advocate for funding for this important project, which needs both state and federal funding to bring it to fruition.”

State opposition MPs said yesterday they would meet club officials next week “in order to further consider this exciting proposal”.

Tennis Victoria government relations general manager Ken Barton said moving Frankston Tennis Club into a new home was a priority.

“There is a limited window to start the construction of the new facility so that they’re not left without a home,’’ he said.

[e-mail]

@rolfep