Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER city council has double-faulted on its decision to slash the number of courts at Maylands Tennis Club.

Two months ago the council decided to reduce courts from 17 to 11, after a council review revealed the club only had 78 members and was costing ratepayers around $1400 per member.

The council is responsible for most maintenance of the 14 grass and three acrylic courts.

After a heart-felt plea from Cr Michelle Sutherland, the council agreed to maintain all courts for another year, giving the club time to boost its membership and prove its viability: “The club has just got a new coach and that is vital to its growth,” Cr Sutherland said.

“The coach is the linchpin around which a club grows and we need to give it more time: look at the effect the coach at Bayswater tennis club has had.

“I’m confident we can get the numbers back up there.”

“Lots of our sporting facilities, like gyms and swimming pools lose money, but we don’t close them down.”

Cr Terry Kenyon says the club has had several chances to boost membership and had failed miserably: “Most of the members don’t even live in Maylands and some of the courts are waterlogged in winter,” the former mayor said. “Bayswater tennis club thrived because of its location but this club is out of sight on a reserve. Some of our other facilities may break even or make a slight loss, but we don’t subsidise them to the tune of $1400 per head.”

Club president John Hogben says a number of measures to boost membership have been mooted, including a new website, coach and two-for-one membership deal.

“We have already boosted membership by 30 per cent and have launched a $40 winter deal, which lets you play as much as you like,” he says.

“I’m confident we can get the numbers back up there.”

Mr Hogben adds the historic club, established in 1930, is one of a dying breed with grass courts. The club has been at Clarkson Reserve since the early 1980s.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK