Bendigo, Australia, 23 August 2013 | Tennis Australia

Bendigo, one of Victoria’s regional tennis hubs, received a boost on Friday after the Federal Government announced $5.2 million towards the redevelopment of the Bendigo Regional Tennis Facility.

The new multi-use community and events facility represents the next stage of the Tennis Australia Regional Partners Infrastructure Plan, which has also seen funding announced for projects in Blacktown (NSW) and Busselton (WA).

The exciting new project will include:

• New show court facilities with spectator seating for 900, enhancing Bendigo’s prospects to attract and maintain regional and national tennis events
• Construction of a redeveloped tennis events and community hub building, including a multi-purpose function space for active after school programs and community recreation, new player change rooms and accessible community meeting spaces
• Development of two MLC Tennis Hot Shots courts to grow junior tennis participation
• Redevelopment and upgrade of four courts to plexicushion in line with the surface at the Australian Open Grand Slam event
• Links to surrounding open space, encouraging outdoor fitness such as walking, running and cycling

Minister for Regional Australia Catherine King and Labor candidate for Bendigo Lisa Chesters were joined by Tennis Australia Board Member John Fitzgerald to make the announcement in Bendigo this morning.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the community of Bendigo,” said Fitzgerald.

“Bendigo Tennis Association and the City of Greater Bendigo are renowned for hosting major tennis events including the highly successful William Loud Bendigo International and last year’s Junior Davis and Fed Cup Asia/Oceania qualifying tie.

“The venue will be fundamental to the growth of the sport in attracting more tournaments to the area and are key to our grassroots participation program MLC Tennis Hot Shots and talent identification.

“Bendigo Tennis already has 400 MLC Tennis Hot Shots participants, 1000 members and 68,000 visitors annually and will plan to build on these numbers in the future.

“The project’s venue design also broadens to multipurpose functionality for leisure and entertainment activities, offering additional benefits to the community including a local meeting space for young families and a wet weather option for clubs and fitness groups when needed.

“Tennis Australia would like to thank the Federal Government for their strong support in this project,” added Fitzgerald.