It's time to dust off the racquet and enjoy a hit of tennis at the newly upgraded courts at the Coolum Sports Complex.
Founded in 1982, the Coolum Tennis Club has a new lease on life with the asphalt courts replaced with four acrylic-surfaced courts. The hard courts are surrounded by new fencing, LED lighting and new nets have also been installed.
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said it was terrific to see sporting facilities like Coolum Sports Complex benefit from State Government COVID-19 Works for Queensland funding.
"Coolum Tennis Club has benefited from an investment of $350,000 from the Queensland Government funding package, along with an additional $70,000 from council's Minor Capital Works program, with these improvements helping to cater for the growing demand the club is experiencing," Mayor Jamieson said.
"The works undertaken on these facilities also support local businesses while our economy continues to recover from the impacts of COVID-19."
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Steven Miles said the Coolum tennis court upgrade would provide a boost for the local community.
"This program is helping create jobs for local businesses and local tradies and help them recover from the impacts of the pandemic," Mr Miles said.
"Throughout the State, the Works for Queensland program and the COVID Works for Queensland program have created or supported more than 22,750 jobs so far, with Queenslanders employed on more than 2,370 projects.
"It's projects like this that make a real difference in local communities."
Division 9 Councillor Maria Suarez said it was an exciting time for the club to have fresh new courts to cater for the popular sport on the Sunshine Coast.
"It's rewarding to see projects like this come to fruition and deliver great spaces and places for everyone in the community to enjoy, whether that be competitively or socially," Cr Suarez said.
"The funding has also allowed the Coolum Tennis Club Committee to budget for additional upgrades including to the club kitchen and flooring."
Coolum Tennis Club president Arthur Ziakas said the grant was critical and timely for the club and its players, to cater for increasing demand.
"The club will make great use of the newly constructed courts with space at certain times already at capacity, but with good management we can ensure these courts are used extensively and can cater for more participants," President Arthur Ziakas said.
"The feedback so far has been very positive towards the new competition standard hard courts which are once again, available for use.
"The hard courts cater for a range of participation needs, from competitive and social tennis, specialty programs, junior and senior fixtures, wheelchair tennis and Pickle-ball."
Tennis Queensland President, Warwick Nicol said the Coolum Tennis Club upgrade is a fantastic example of how an infrastructure upgrade can inspire even greater energy for physical activity in a community.
"Coolum Tennis Club is deservedly enjoying strong interest from people who want to pick up a racquet either for social or competitive reasons," Mr Nicole said.
"The resurfaced courts and lighting makes the club even more appealing to new members with an interest in learning a new pastime or rediscovering tennis.
"I congratulate the State government, the Sunshine Coast Council and the Coolum Tennis Club for working together to deliver this successful transformation."
