An hour long debate over the future of a South West tennis club sees members dreading more delays

There was almost as much back and forth than a match at Wimbledon at Harvey’s council chamber as councillors debated the future of the Brunswick Tennis Club at its last meeting. The four courts of the tennis club were ripped up about a year ago with plans for an upgrade, comprising four courts. However, in December, the Shire of Harvey took control of the project and work has been at a standstill since with the local government unwilling to fork out the cash needed to finish the project with all four courts. In June, the council voted to proceed with the shire committing to building three courts. It is proposing two to three courts after costs more than doubled from the initial price of $221,000, but the Tennis Club is not happy. At the most recent council meeting, several members of the club gave deputations with Brunswick local Pam McGregor asking how many contractors the shire had approached to price the project. The answer: only one consultant agency, with the shire only to contact contractors once the project goes to tender. Shire of Harvey director of infrastructure services Rick Lotznicker said the shire was following normal procedure by hiring a qualified consultant the shire has worked with several times in the past. “I can’t see how building a tennis court is any different to building any other works that requires pavement, earthworks, compaction and drainage,” he said. Brunswick Tennis Club president Julianne Hill shared a letter of support from Tennis West with the council before the meeting, which said it would be a step backwards to remove a court. “The Brunswick Tennis community is a thriving and vibrant venue that has seen much success over the last decade and services the local community and wider area greatly,” the letter said. “The passion and dedication to the club is clear with Brunswick Tennis Club having a representative in the volunteer of the year category three times in the last five years at the annual Tennis West Awards, with Julianne Hill winning the award in 2019.” The letter said out of the 188 tennis clubs affiliated with Tennis West, only four have three or fewer courts, with three of these serving a population 25 per cent that of Brunswick. It went on to say the Brunswick Tennis Club had double the number of children and adults participating in tennis last year compared to the Harvey Tennis Club, which has four courts. “This clearly highlights the need for the club to remain with the current infrastructure levels,” the letter said. Ms Hill said the club would like to work together with the shire to see the project completed, requesting it be able to jointly manage the project or take full control, but the shire said it would appoint a project manager. Ms Hill asked if the club could provide volunteers to reduce costs and speed the project up, but this was also rejected, as was the request for an update at October’s meeting with December said to be more likely. Life member of the tennis club Mark Talbot told council he had been playing at the club since he was about five years old. “The Brunswick Tennis Club has been a major part of our community, and is currently the only junior sport played in town,” he said. “For the last 23 years we have had between 60 and 70 kids turn up every Tuesday afternoon to play tennis. “I’m concerned now, with the break that has happened, we are going to lose these kids.” Mr Talbot said he was mortified to see the council’s estimate of $460,000, saying he had spoken to independent contractors who said they would be able to deliver the project significantly cheaper. “That’s an outstanding amount of money to build four tennis courts. I think we could build a fair section of the Forest Highway with that,” he said. Mr Lotznicker said the shire looked at the initial estimate given to the them and did find those prices to be high “but it’s an estimate”, he said. “When we go out to marketplace, that’s when the actual costs come in, and some people may put a really low price in and others may put a really high price in,” he said. Mr Lotznicker and Mr Talbot’s exchange soon became heated when Mr Lotznicker said the project was going “pear-shaped” before the shire stepped in. Mr Talbot interrupted Mr Lotznicker asking in what way, as the rubble was in the process of being removed when the shire took over in December. Mr Lotznicker said he was not in the council to argue, but to “deliver this project too”. Mr Talbot said the council needed to get this project up and running saying it was “absolutely embarrassing” to have the tennis courts in such a state. “I see this going on for another six months,” he said. “I think it’s a pretty fair call to say if you put this out to tender, by the time it has gone around, we won’t see anything happening before March or April next year.” Following the deputations and questions, elected members voted unanimously to revoke the June decision, with shire president Michelle Campbell putting forward an alternate motion for the council to receive accurate costings for the construction of three and four courts. Cr Campbell said this would open up the opportunity for four courts with future potential for lighting. “We are not taking away the opportunity for four courts to be established,” she said. “This allows for councillors to make an informed decision on three or four courts, ensuring the selected option is within the 2024-25 budget allocation.” Cr Campbell said giving the councillors accurate costings for the courts was “fiscally responsible” and would ensure the project would be delivered within the budget allocation. Cr Craig Carbone was quick to speak against the new motion saying it leaves the option open for three tennis courts and he was “not interested” in getting a tender for three courts. “I think it has been made abundantly clear by the club over a number of meetings that four tennis courts are needed,” he said. He said the matter comes down to cost and believes the estimate given to the council is “excessive”. “I think we will get quote back once this goes to tender that will come in well under budget,” he said. “This is just a further delay. We will be talking about three or four tennis courts again when we get the tender back in a few months and it will just drag the process out even further.” Cr Joe Capogreco said he was not concerned with the monetary value — confident the project would come under budget — but was concerned with the summer months approaching with nowhere for the club to play. “I think we should be looking at ways we can accelerate this project . . . not waiting for 30 days for this to come back to council to decide whether to go for three or four,” he said. “What I can gather here from our discussion is that everyone is keen on four, because if we weren’t we wouldn’t have revoked the first motion. “I just want to accelerate this process and give these kids a chance to get back on the tennis courts. I don’t want to get to February or March next year where we’ve just completed the project and it’s the wrong season for kids to play.” Cr Campbell said she was confident the project would come under budget, but said the move would ensure the council was managing its money responsibly. “I know this is a sensitive issue,” she said. “But sometimes councillors have to make these difficult decisions, and this isn’t a difficult decision, it is just being fiscally responsible.” The ultimate vote tied, with Crs Wendy Dickinson, Dakota Krispyn, Tiny Holly, John Bromham and Campbell all voting in favour and Crs Boylan, Carbone, Capogreco, James Junio and Robyn Coleman voting against. Cr Campbell used her casting vote as shire president to pass the motion. Speaking to the Reporter after the council meeting, Ms Hill said she was disappointed the vote would lead to further delays.