Road project hits backhand at club
PLANS to force a tennis club out of its home in suburban Cairns have been revealed, but members have found fault with what has been served up.
Construction is under way on Rigg St to make way for traffic signals, a carpark and wider streets. This comes after a long fight over a school zone between state primary and high schools in Woree.
The $3.6m project will impact Woree Tennis Club, which has been a community fixture since 1946.
The club will receive the backhand as the construction puts a road through the middle of the park, removing two courts in the process.
Division 3 Cairns Regional Councillor Cathy Zeiger said authorities were focusing on protecting the lives of schoolkids in the Woree area.
“The tennis club is understandably upset and it’s unfortunate, but our No.1 priority is getting those kids safe,” she said. The council has committed to relocating and merging Woree Tennis Club to a shared court space and facility with Earlville Tennis Club at Lions Park.
Cr Zeiger confirmed the plans to build more tennis courts in Earlville had been approved.
“It’s in the design stage,” she said.
Cr Zeiger said the council initially hoped to have the new courts at Lions Park built before construction at Rigg St began. However, the timing of a grant from the state government has pushed back the building of tennis courts.
“It will start construction next financial year,” she said.
Woree Tennis Club secretary, treasurer and life member Graham Goggin said he understood the council was between a rock and a hard place.
“But the issue with relocating is out of sight, out of mind,” he said.
With delays for the construction of new courts at Lions Park, Woree Tennis Club may be in the shadows a little longer. The move to Lions Park hasn’t proved to be a match winner. Mr Goggin estimated a combined 400 players using the facilities.
He said “the existing club house was not fit for purpose”.
The effects of the relocation are uncertain at the moment, but Mr Goggin said “it will depend on the type of facility we get”.