Free tennis trial wins council extension

In early 2013, the council agreed to offer five tennis courts for free between March and December last year.

These were Emerald Park in Edgewater, Glengarry Park in Duncraig, Harbour Rise in Hillarys, Kingsley Park in Kingsley and Camberwarra Park in Craigie.

During the trial, which involved removing court padlocks and altering floodlights to allow manual operation, occupancy rates increased from 16.9 per cent in 2011-12 to 29 per cent.

At last month’s council meeting, the trial was extended to June 30 next year to give more time to review the trial and its effect on the infrastructure and community.

‘We’ve increased participation of the community at our tennis courts and it was heartening to read that some other interest groups, such as inline hockey have actually used some of the courts as well and haven’t damaged them,’ Mayor Troy Pickard said.

Councillors voted to extend the trial to include Penistone Park in Greenwood, Blackboy Park in Mullaloo, James Cook Park in Hillarys and the courts at Kinross College.

Commercial groups and those needing to use the courts exclusively are still required to pay a hire fee.

A further report will be presented to the council in September 2015.