Court Resurfacing Project 2021-2025

Panton Hill locals would have noticed that the Panton Hill Tennis Club had become run down over the last decade or so (2010s to early 2020s). A group of us, who played social tennis every Tuesday, decided we needed to do something to revitalise the Club. In 2021 we formed a Club Committee, with the goal of bringing the courts back to a standard that the local community deserved.

We contacted Tennis Victoria for guidance on next steps. Fortunately, they were in the process conducting facility audits on all the tennis clubs in the Shire of Nillumbik. In March 2022, we received a thorough 27-page audit report. In this report our courts were given a ’Court Surface Rating’ of “Unusable.” From this point, we were unable to use the courts due to safety concerns. The Audit Report was sent to Nillumbik Shire Council and so began the journey towards updating our courts.

The Council, through their ‘Recreation and Leisure Services’ area got on board after receiving the Audit. Numerous meetings and contacts were had between the Council and the Club, thrashing out what we required, and how we could achieve the desired outcome. The Council sought out professional advice on all aspects of the project. Ultimately a ‘Scope of Works Statement’ was developed. The scope of works included:

· Demolition of the old courts and tree removal.

· Installation of new and improved drainage.

· Earthworks creating a multi-layered court sub-surface.

· Installation of a concrete layer over the earthworks.

· The application of an acrylic court surface.

· The addition of four pickleball courts, as well as two tennis courts.

· Replacement of the old court fencing.

After numerous meetings between the Club and Council officers, requiring many decisions taken over a number of Council meetings, the Council was able to allocate $300 000 over two financial years towards the project. For this, the Club is eternally grateful. However, this was not enough to complete the works. So, with the help and support from our Bunjil Ward Rep at that time, Karen Egan, the Council and the Club applied for a grant from the Victorian Government through the ‘Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.’ Unexpectantly, we were successful in getting the grant for a further $300 000.

Now that we had financed the project, we advertised for tenders to complete the project. A successful tender was chosen (Victorian Sports Group), and work began in March 2025. Numerous on-site progress meetings between the Contractor, the Council and the Club took place over the next seven months. After a number of delays, mostly weather related, the Project Completion Meeting took place 24 September 2025. The new courts were finally open for business.

Well done to all those who contributed to this transformation of the Panton Hill Tennis Club. It just shows what can be achieved when dedicated people put their minds to it.