Tennis courts redevelopment finally complete
Watervale Tennis Club secretary Susan Cunningham, player Fos Cunningham, president Matt Casey and past player Trevor Mace at the newly redeveloped tennis courts which were completed last month.
After a lengthy wait, Watervale Tennis Club are back on home court.
The redevelopment of the tennis courts at the Soldier's Memorial Park had been in the works for about five years before the project was finally completed late last month.
Members of the Club had identified the need to upgrade the courts as they deteriorated over time.
President Matt Casey said in previous seasons, players would patch over cracks before games started.
"It was at the point of getting unsafe to play on, so it needed to be done" he said.
Past president David Long was instrumental in getting the project off the ground by liaising with various power brokers.
Funding for the project was first obtained in 2014 through Tennis Australia's AO Blitz promotion where the club obtained $10,000 following Li Na's Australian Open win that year.
Na was Watervale's allocated player as part of the promotion.
From there the Club were successful in applying for other funding channels, which included grants from state and federal governments, Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council and Tennis Australia.
Funds were also raised by the Club itself.
In total the project cost about $130,000 and included better drainage, new fencing and a new, blue Plexipave playing surface recommended by Tennis Australia.
Watervale were forced to play away from home last season as the much-needed upgrades were underway.
Current player Fos Cunningham said it was good to be back on home soil after a year off.
"At the moment it is a bit slower but I think that's because it has not been played on much, it is a bit rougher still," he said.
The redevelopment of the courts was the first project to be completed in a wider plan for the complex.
New clubrooms for the Tennis Club and Cricket Club are planned, as well as a multi-purpose court which can be utilised by Watervale Primary School students.