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18 February 2020 | Tennis NSW

Collaroy Tennis Club have been successful in the Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grant to see through their special project “providing benefit to people with disabilities”.

The NSW Government offers grants to communities across NSW to support the building, renovation and fitout of infrastructure for sport and recreation, arts, cultural and emergency preparedness projects. The success of the  Wheelchair Accessibility Project (WAP) grant will make a great impact at Collaroy Tennis Club moving forward ensuring tennis at this popular northern beaches club is accessible for all.

Evolve Tennis Academy with the support of Collaroy Tennis Club, Tennis NSW and Wheelchair Sports NSW launched a wheelchair tennis program in January 2019. The club now has two weekly squads and private lessons operating and one wheelchair tennis weekly activity. Currently wheelchair tennis players at the club are unable to access and use the tennis courts independently, without assistance. The Wheelchair Accessibility Project will allow the club to address accessibility issues as follows:

  • New keypad access/egress to the entry gate
  • Removal and relay pathways to meet accessibility standards
  • Rectification of the door thresholds to meet accessibility standards
  • New access ramp and entry gate to the hard court
  • On site storage shed for sports wheelchairs

By undertaking this project, Collaroy Tennis Club will provide an opportunity for people in wheelchairs to participate in outdoor sport, that would otherwise not be possible. The health benefits to wheelchair sports participants are well founded and include; improved physical and mental health, reduced stress and depression, and positivity that flows on to other aspects of peoples lives.

It will also allow a broader section of the local community to participate in tennis and become a member of the tennis club, with flow on benefits to the community through an established wheelchair tennis ‘hub’ on the Northern Beaches.

It is expected that the project will be completed mid 2020 as the club look forward to expanding the wheelchair tennis program.