Upgrading Community Facility into Regional Tennis Precinct

Location :

Caroline Springs, VIC

Client :

Brand Architect | Melton City Council

Year :

2017-2019

Sector :

Acrylic | Basketball | Netball | Tennis

To meet the needs of a growing community, the State Government assisted Melton City Council in upgrading the Caroline Springs Leisure Centre into a state-of-the-art sporting precinct. This upgrade included an extension to the indoor centre and development of a sub-regional tennis facility.

SPORTENG were responsible for the design and documentation of the regional tennis facility which consisted of eleven Tennis Australia compliant tennis courts. These courts will be accessible for both public and club use.

In addition to the eleven courts, there is also:

Four hot shot tennis courts for juniors wishing to learn
Tennis hit-up wall
Two (2) additional internal basketball/netball/futsal courts
One (1) competition sized external multi-use netball and basketball court
Three (3) external basketball hoops with casual use space

THE CHALLENGE

Like many other Field of Play sites constructed in the western suburbs of Melbourne, the existing ground conditions were less than ideal. The site consisted of highly reactive soils and extensive amount of rock floaters.

THE SOLUTION

Working closely with the project geotechnical engineers, SPORTENG documented the required subgrade remediation to account for the reactive subgrade. The subgrade remediation works extended beyond the courts fence line to help provide greater level of protection from the underlying reactive subgrade material.

Having proposed different pavement options for Council’s consideration (ie. rigid and flexible), it was Council’s preference to proceed with a rigid concrete pavement.

THE RESULTS

City of Melton Mayor Cr Bob Turner said that this project “has transformed Caroline Springs Leisure Centre into one of the most impressive sporting precincts, not only in our City, but in Melbourne’s western suburbs. […] It’s wonderful to think of all the healthy competition that is set to take place on these courts over the coming years.”

Source: Caroline Springs Leisure Centre redevelopment opens by Mirage News

Local Government Minister Marlen Kairouz added that “this [project] will mean better sport and recreation facilities for Caroline Springs families, close to home. […] Through our Growing Suburbs Fund, we’re building the new facilities that our rapidly growing outer suburbs need.”

Councillor for Coburn Ward, Sophie Ramsey, echoed the minister’s sentiments: “it’s fantastic to see quality sporting facilities being built in our city, encouraging people to get fit and active.”

Source: Leisure Centre Revamp by Star Weekly