Photo caption: A $135,000 funding ace for the Uralla Tennis Club to replace its last remaining old courts, members Amy Barraclough, left, President Dean Weiley, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Membership Officer Debra Weiley, Uralla Shire Mayor Robert Bell, Andrew Toomey and James Toomey.
Wednesday, 8 February 2023
URALLA Tennis Club members are jumping for joy, celebrating a funding ace in the form of a $135,000 State Government grant to replace its two remaining 30-year-old courts with new synthetic grass surfaces.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall visited the club yesterday, racquet in hand, to announce the NSW Stronger Country Communities Fund cash and have a final hit out on the old courts.
He said the funding would replace the last remaining old and worn out synthetic courts at the club’s six-court complex. The other four courts were re-laid with new synthetic surfaces last year, courtesy of a previous State Government grant.
“This latest funding will allow the club to complete the upgrade of all its courts, having all six up to the same modern and safe standard and looking good,” Mr Marshall said.
“It will make a world of difference to players as well, with no more uneven bounces and wet patches where the water currently lays after rain.
“Having all six courts to the correct standard also opens up opportunities for Uralla to host various tennis competitions and championships, which were previously out of reach due to the two old courts.
“This is a great funding win for the community – well done to Uralla Tennis Club for their persistence in pursuing these upgrades and securing the funding to do it.”
Uralla Tennis Club Membership Officer Debra Weiley said that they were thrilled to receive the funding to fix the courts.
“This is very exciting news for us,” Mrs Weiley said.
“On behalf of all players, we want to thank Adam for this great opportunity to complete the upgrades.
“In October, the club paid for the old courts to be professionally cleaned. While they were good enough to play on, after the clean they looked old and uneven with small patches of rot.
“The two courts in question have become unplayable for the past two years and are an accident waiting to happen. They were closed and limited activities were undertaken at the Club with junior activities cancelled altogether.
“The new courts will help drive the increasing membership while also positively influencing the local community including visitors to Uralla.”
The project will commence in September this year and local contractors will be engaged.