CHANGES ARE COMING: Cessnock Tennis Club president Max Carter and club manager Sonia Close (centre) with Cessnock City Council staff Kate Harris and Nathan Eveleigh at the Aberdare Road club, where four courts will be repurposed as multi-sport courts.

The major revamp at Cessnock Tennis Club will continue after the club received $140,000 from the NSW Government's Infrastructure Grants program.

The grant will help fund the conversion of four tennis courts into multisport courts at the Aberdare Road complex.

Club manager Sonia Close said the upgraded courts will initially be used for futsal, and will hopefully be ready for use by term four, depending on COVID-19 restrictions.

Ms Close said the funding is fantastic news for the club, with projected participation growth of 500 extra weekly participants, creating up to 15 additional employment opportunities in Cessnock.

"The true indication that this is a project that the community is excited about is the contact from local schools looking to add new programs into their school sports curriculum," she said.

This project is the latest in a two-year revamp at the 102-year-old tennis club. Since partnering with Club Evolve in 2018, its hall has been refurbished as a community space and its kiosk is now open to the public, selling local produce.

The club plans to collaborate with other local sporting and community organisations by offering wet-weather and off-season training alternatives for sports such as football, hockey and netball on the synthetic multisport courts.

 NEW USE: An artist's impression of the repurposed courts, which will initially be used for futsal.

Cessnock Tennis Club president Max Carter also welcomed the infrastructure grant funding and said offering its facilities to the wider community would increase the club's membership, tennis programs and overall participation.

"We are truly excited to be expanding operations at the club that will in turn inject a new enthusiasm into everything we offer," Mr Carter said.

"The increased participation will secure our financial sustainability and enable the club to implement future upgrades and developments."

The Infrastructure Grants program is made possible by ClubGrants Category 3, a fund that reinvests profits from registered clubs' gaming machines into community projects.

Since 2015, the NSW Government has funded more than 350 community projects worth $62 million under the Infrastructure Grants program.

The latest round saw $4 million in grants awarded to 32 projects across sport and recreation, arts and culture, disaster readiness and essential community infrastructure.

"Our government is pleased to provide this much-needed support which will stimulate local economic activity and help organisations get back on their feet after facing often devastating impacts of bushfires and COVID-19," Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Catherine Cusack said.

"The $12.5 million yearly program is aimed at funding projects to build or upgrade community facilities, and the latest round gave special consideration for projects to repair and rebuild community assets affected by bushfires.

"The projects will help boost participation in sports; encouraging active engagement in local theatres, creative arts and museums; and helping communities recover and prepare for future challenges."

Applications for the next round of funding open on September 21 at responsiblegambling.nsw.gov.au.

Originally appeared in the Cessnock Advertiser 20 July 2020 (https://www.cessnockadvertiser.com.au/story/6835918/grant-boosts-tennis-clubs-big-plans/)