The City of Wanneroo’s 2015-16 capital works budget listed $29,000 to resurface the public courts because they had become cracked, but a detailed assessment found this was caused by their proximity to trees and their root systems, and contamination of the soil underneath the courts.
A City report presented at the April 4 council meeting said it did not support two initial options for court re-surfacing or rehabilitation as there was no guarantee they would be effective long-term because of the tree roots and subsoil.
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It investigated two more options – moving the courts east away from the root system, which would require moving barbecue facilities and playground equipment, or rebuilding them at the former skate park site just to the west.
The latter was the preferred choice because the courts would be built over existing asphalt, but to retain a native tree the facility would need to be orientated east to west instead of Tennis West’s preferred north to south to avoid inconvenience from sunlight.
“It is suggested that there are large leafy trees surrounding the site to reduce the level of glare from the sun,” the report said.
“As the intent of these courts is to provide for community-level tennis activity and this option preserves the court footprint 4.5m clear from the base of the tree, which satisfies a requirement of the inspection report, the use of the existing old skate park hard stand is administration’s preferred option.”
Councillors unanimously supported the recommendation and the project is expected to be delivered within the 2016-17 capital works program at a cost of $153,875.