Published on Wednesday, 11 March 2020 at 10:08:00 AM
Removal of the majority of the original tennis courts and centre fencing commenced today at the old Busselton Tennis Club on Marine Terrace Busselton. The courts and associated infrastructure are being removed to provide greater pedestrian accessibility between the foreshore and the Busselton town centre via the Queen Street Cultural Precinct.
Six courts situated in the northern end of the centre will be retained marking the footprint for a future hotel development on that portion of the site. However, in the short to medium term this area will be landscaped and retained for public open space.
Other works underway during this stage of the development include the construction of an additional 176 car parking bays on the corner of Marine Terrace and Jetty Way. These additional bays will cater for increased visitation to the Foreshore and future parking requirements associated with the Busselton Entertainment Arts and Cultural Hub (BEACH) which is currently in the design stage.
A significant portion of the existing court area will be permanently returned to the community with landscaping including the planting of shade trees, creation of public open space and the installation of seating walls and exposed aggregate footpaths. The look and feel of these works will be in keeping with earlier stages of the foreshore development which have received several awards. The former club house will be retained for commercial lease.
Removal of the old courts marks the end of an era for the historic tennis club which moved in to brand new facilities on the Foreshore east of Barnard Park late last year. Club President Barry House expressed nostalgia: “There have been grass courts on the Busselton Foreshore since the early 1900s. They‘ve been a constant feature of the landscape for well over 100 years and a focal point for our growing community. Thankfully the new tennis centre ensures the club’s unique bay-side character is retained for future generations.”
City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley, shared Mr House’s sentiment but also acknowledged the importance of this stage of the development in terms of realising the overall objectives of the community-led Busselton Foreshore Masterplan. “Linking the Foreshore and Busselton town centre has always been a key objective of the Busselton Foreshore Masterplan and is central to CBD activation plans.”
The Objectives outlined in this media release are aligned to Key Goal Area 1 in the City of Busselton’s Strategic Community Plan (Review 2019): Our community is welcoming, friendly and healthy and Key Goal and Key Goal Area 4: Our economy is diverse, robust and prosperous.
Media enquiries can be directed to the City’s Public Relations Coordinator, Meredith Dixon on 97810446 or meredith.dixon@busselton.wa.gov.au
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