THREE of Bayside City Council’s commercial tennis centres: Elsternwick Park Tennis Centre, Royal Avenue Tennis Centre and Bodley Street Tennis Centre will be leased, operated and managed by new tenants, from 1 July 2008.

The Victorian Tennis Academy and the Top Tenn Tennis Academy will lease, operate and fully maintain the Elsternwick Park Tennis Centre for 15 years.

McKimm Tennis will lease, operate and fully maintain the Royal Avenue Tennis Centre for two and a half years. Council will be developing a masterplan of the Royal Avenue precinct during this time and a long-term arrangement at the Tennis Centre will be put in place in late 2010.

Brad McMillan will lease, operate and fully maintain the Bodley Street Tennis Centre for five years.

Bayside Mayor Councillor Andrew McLorinan said tennis formed an important component of Bayside’s leisure and social infrastructure.

“All tenants will be required to ensure the long-term sustainability and viability of the tennis centres by carrying out upgrade works to improve court surfaces to achieve water savings.

“The Victorian Tennis Academy and the Top Tenn Tennis Academy at Elsternwick Park Tennis Centre will be resurfacing the eight courts to make the surface more water efficient. This is a real benefit to the community and will help meet the needs of both recreational and high-level tennis participants,” Cr McLorinan said.

All three leases are consistent with the recommendations outlined in Council’s Tennis, Lawn Bowls and Croquet Strategy. The strategy can be viewed on Council’s website www.bayside.vic.gov.au/Documents/Tennis_Lawn_Bowls_and_Croquet_Strategy.pdf