$3.6m international tennis complex to be constructed at USQ

The construction of a $3.6 million international-standard regional tennis centre at USQ Toowoomba will begin this month (September).

The Toowoomba Regional Tennis Centre – USQ is set to feature 12 world-class standard courts and a two-storey tennis clubhouse linked to the Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre on Baker Street.

The project is a joint partnership of the University, the Toowoomba Tennis Association and the Toowoomba Regional Council, with funding provided under the Regional Tennis Facilities Program, initiated jointly by Tennis Queensland and the State Government.

USQ Facilities Group manager, Mr Dave Povey, said the construction of the centre was an exciting coup for Toowoomba and the University, and would attract a variety of tournaments to the city.

'The new Centre will have 12 International Tennis Federation full-sized courts surfaced with the same Plexicushion surfacing used at the Brisbane International and the Australian Open and all courts will have competition standard lighting systems. These new courts will complement the existing nine synthetic grass courts on James Street managed by the Toowoomba Tennis Association', Mr Povey said.

'The clubhouse servicing these new courts will offer a Pro-Shop, Manager's Office, First Aid Room, Equipment Storage and high quality Amenities areas on the ground floor level and on the upper level, a tournament office, meeting room, players lounge area with an outdoor dining / viewing deck overlooking the courts.'

The complex is predicted to attract local open and closed tournaments, Junior Masters Series Tournaments, Optus National Junior Tournaments, ITF (International) Junior Tournaments, Australian Money Tournaments, Pro Circuit Tournaments, and potentially a Davis Cup or Fed Cup qualifying tie - such as the upcoming tie against Belgium in Cairns in September this year.

'Each of these events attracts large numbers of competitors and potentially thousands of spectators from outside the region, therefore resulting in an injection of money into the local economy through accommodation for players, their families, coaches and spectators,' Mr Povey said.

'This facility will also create additional employment opportunities for coaching and support staff to operate this facility on a day-to-day basis and will provide substantially increased opportunities to residents of the Toowoomba region to participate in a wide range of player development opportunities.

'It will also allow talented local players to access and train on the same quality of courts used at the highest level tennis events held throughout Queensland and Australia.'

It is expected that the centre will be fully operational by June 2011, with tenders to be called for the day-to-day management of this facility in late 2010 or early 2011.

The Toowoomba Regional Tennis Centre - USQ was one of only five such projects approved jointly by the State Government and Tennis Queensland under the Regional Tennis Facilities Program that best addressed the nominated program guidelines and objectives.