Prospect Council plans $10m revamp for Broadview Tennis Club for elite matches
A struggling sport club north of the CBD could become one of SA’s top tennis venues under a bold multimillion-dollar plan.
An ambitious plan for a $10m revamp would transform a struggling tennis club into one of the sport’s top South Australian venues suitable for hosting international tournaments.
Prospect Council last week considered seeking a $9.2m election pledge from the federal government for an upgrade to Broadview Tennis Club that would meet Tennis Australia’s design standards for an elite “tier two-lite” venue.
Tier two venues are required by Tennis Australia to be suitable for international tournaments and elite player development, with features such as high-performance courts, a clubhouse with multiple changerooms, a Pro Shop, physio rooms, a high-capacity kitchen, bar and kiosk for players, and spectator and media facilities.
Under the proposed upgrade, Broadview Tennis Club would also get four new tennis courts, upgrades to eight courts, LED court lighting and a new two-storey clubroom, which would continue to be shared with the Prospect Blair Athol Lions Club.
The upgrade would make the 104-year-old Broadview Tennis Club one of metro Adelaide’s top three tennis venues, outranked only by Memorial Drive at North Adelaide (tier one) and Playford Tennis Centre at Elizabeth East (tier two).
Prospect Mayor Matt Larwood said he understood Memorial Drive was “very well used, but already at capacity” and he believed there was a need for another high-level tennis venue close to Adelaide’s CBD.
“We think that this is an important enough project that it deserves some attention at a federal level (and) the state level of politics, and we’re working with Tennis SA and the Broadview Tennis Club to jointly push the concept,” he said.
Broadview Tennis Club head coach Martin Richards said the club was “pushing hard” for the upgrade and club members were “100 per cent behind it”.
He said the upgrade was needed because “the facility’s old and we don’t have enough space for our current members”.
A council report said the upgrade would enable Broadview to host national-level and ITF Pro Tour tournaments, “bridging the gap between elite metropolitan facilities and local community clubs”.
The report said Playford Tennis Centre, which was constructed for about $10m and opened in 2017, was a benchmark for the Broadview upgrade.
Prospect Council last week deferred an option to seek $9.2m from the federal government, while the council would contribute $500,000, the tennis club would contribute $100,000 and Tennis Australia would contribute $200,000 through a court rebate grant.
The council resolved to advocate to the federal and state government for another month before deciding on a funding plan.
Broadview is in the federal electorate of Adelaide, a safe Labor seat held by Steve Georganas.
Mr Georganas said he had submitted the funding request for the “important project” to Infrastructure Minister Catherine King.
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Originally published as Prospect Council plans $10m revamp for Broadview Tennis Club for elite matches
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