Tennis Victoria

Environment

In recent years, changes to our environment have increased the workload on tennis club committees and volunteers. Maintaining a tennis club’s grass or red porous surface to a high standard, while also considering water consumption raises a number of questions for the tennis community.

Tennis Victoria understands the impact of water restrictions and the impact that a lack of available water can have on a tennis club. In this section you can find all that you need to know about making your club environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Water Restrictions

On 1 December 2011, the state government and Victoria’s metropolitan water retailers (South East Water, Yarra Valley Water and City West Water) introduced stage 1 water restrictions. Tennis clubs should note that the focus now moves from water ‘conservation’ to water ‘efficiency‘. Therefore public gardens, lawns and playing surfaces can use either (1) hand watering – public gardens, lawns and playing surfaces can be watered at any time, on any day using a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or (2) watering systems – public gardens, lawns and playing surfaces can also use a watering system* between 6 pm-10 pm and 6 am-10 am, on nominated watering days or water in accordance with an approved Water Use Plan.

*Watering systems for public gardens or lawns must be fitted with a rain or soil moisture sensor.

Water saving options for red porous courts

Tennis Victoria engaged the services of Connell Wagner, an environmental and engineering services company, to develop an Environmentally Sustainable Tennis Clubs guideline.

The purpose of the guideline is to recognise the role of red porous tennis clubs in the state, review the existing options available for reducing water use on red porous courts, evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of each option and providing a club ‘self audit’ tool to use in assessing the environmental sustainability of your club, centre or association. The document pays particular attention to the two long term projects covered under the Smart Water Fund Project funding (Dendy Park Tennis Club and Port Melbourne Tennis Club). The guideline was completed in December 2008. More information about the Dendy Park Tennis Club project can be found below.

The report provides information regarding the various options available for reducing water consumption on red porous tennis courts. These options are merely suggestions offered to take some of the legwork out of sourcing information for tennis clubs. The list is not exhaustive and not all options have been tested comprehensively by Tennis Victoria. An information poster is available from Tennis Victoria encouraging your club or centre to evaluate its environmental friendliness.

If your club or facility is undertaking a water saving project and would like tell us about it or you would like some colour hard copies of the poster, please email tvreception@tennis.com.au with the details.

• Environmentally Sustainable Tennis Clubs guideline
• Smart Water Fund Dendy Park case study

On 28 Janury 2010, Yarra Valley Water put out a media release detailing water saving efforts of 10 club in Maroondah City Council.

The below documents provide more information on chemical treatments as well as some Frequently Asked Questions.

• Calcium Chloride Information Sheet
• Magnesium Chloride Information Sheet
• DIY Treatment Tips from Knoxfield Tennis Club
• Court Treatment Contractors and Suppliers 2010/11 Season

Links

• City West Water
• South East Water
• Western Water
• Yarra Valley Water