Counties Tennis Centre is set for major renovations that will see a permanent roof constructed to cover five courts at the West Street location in Pukekohe.
The plan will see six existing courts replaced as part of the re-build. Five new courts will be laid out in the opposite direction with a new hard court surface under a permanent canvas roof allowing for all-weather play.
State of the art LED lighting will accompany the new structure, while there is planned to be more area for spectators to move between courts without disrupting play.
The planned new indoor tennis arena sizing will meet current International Tennis Federation regulations and is likely to cost between $3m-$3.5m.
“We will see an increase tennis play, coaching, events and player development,” said Counties Tennis Association president Sharon Nelson. “We are looking forward to having the arena full of tennis activity from hotshots, coaching, interclub and club play which will minimise disruption especially for our school and afterschool coaching programs – we know the stress of children and parents having to make last minute arrangements, and we have the solution. We are also keen to drive greater tennis activity and ensure there are minimal barriers to participation.
“We are passionate about our community becoming more active.”
The construction is expected to be completed within 4-5 months, starting as early as this November, and the result will change the landscape of the sport in the region.
It will allow tennis to be played at different times, including at night and through the winter months, while Tennis New Zealand have already expressed interest in staging ITF Futures tournaments at the venue.
The upgrades have been eight years in the making with a plan initially developed when the old Edinburgh Street facility (owned by Pukekohe Lawn Tennis Club) was sold, and funds set aside to improve the West St facility.
Over the past 18 months that loose idea has been fashioned into an orderly plan with the goal to improve facilities and pay for manpower to drive tennis in the region.
Brett Young from Community Assets Solutions was brought on to help put together a business plan and begin work to realise the initiative.
Last October, the project team applied to the Auckland Council Sport and Recreation Facilities Investment Fund, which was accepted to go through to the next stage.
The decision on whether the project will proceed with Council funding is due in September.
Counties Tennis Association has set an ambitious funding plan.
“We have developed a funding plan that has a mix of private, public and community arms. Our ambitious plan will require community support and we will be grateful for their support,” Nelson explained.
The project is currently seeking proposals from industry providers for the design and construction phase with the finished Indoor Tennis Arena planned to have a similar look to that of the Pukekohe Netball Centre, with enclosed walls.
It proposes to be one of the largest outdoor canvas covered structures for sport in New Zealand and could be used as a blueprint for similar centres around the country.
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