By Kerri-Anne Mesner
ASPIRING Lleyton Hewitts could be drawn to Deer Park Tennis Club by the end of the year.
Club members have their fingers crossed after talks with Brimbank City Council staff revealed the club could get two world-class tennis courts.
The club president, Shane Braszell, said discussions with the council’s leisure and cultural services manager, Ken Phillips, and others last week were centred around what type of court surface would be used to replace two Plexipave courts that were put in in 1985.
Mr Braszell said the discussion had led club members to believe the courts could be replaced with Plexicushion surfaces — the same type being put down at Melbourne Park, Albert Reserve and other sites for the 2008 Australian Open.
According to Tennis Australia, the new surface will retain less heat during days of extreme temperature and involves applying multiple layers of rubber-filled resin.
Mr Braszell said if Deer Park got the Plexicushion surface, it would mean not only that it would have world class court surfaces, but there would be three kinds of surface available for players to train on.
He said the club hoped that by having the world class Plexicushion surface and the other two court types — clay and synthetic — it would draw more members to its ranks, in particular aspiring elite tennis players.
A Tennis Australia spokesperson said it cost about $50 to $55 per square metre to lay the Plexicushion surface.
Mr Braszell said the courts that need replacing were 30m by 32m — which means it would cost between $48,000 and $52,800.
The council had allocated $60,000 in the 2007-08 council budget to replace two courts with a synthetic clay surface, subject to an application to Sports and Recreation Victoria for a further $60,000 being successful.
The application for State Government funds was unsuccessful, which meant the Deer Park Tennis Club faced missing out on the new courts altogether.
However, councillors passed a motion at their 10 July meeting to still contribute the $60,000.
The council’s acting general manager for Human Services, John MacDonagh, said the council had met with the club and a tennis consultant and was exploring all options including costs in regards to resurfacing of some courts at the club and other matters.
He said a full report would be presented to the council in accordance with the notice of motion passed at its 10 July meeting.
Mr Braszell said other matters included cracked footpaths, the barbecue area, play equipment, kitchen appliances and other maintenance issues.
He said after council staff looked at the play equipment and reviewed safety standards, the equipment was removed a few days later.
Brimbank councillor Ken Capar said he would be asking for funds to replace the play equipment to be allocated in the council’s 2008-09 budget.
