Tara Moriarty
Minister for Agriculture
Minister for Regional NSW
Minister for Western NSW

Steve Whan
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education
Member for Monaro

MEDIA RELEASE

Queanbeyan East Tennis Courts serve up community spirit

Tuesday, 4 June 2024

Queanbeyan's newly upgraded tennis courts are acing it with locals whilst serving up the popular options of tennis and pickleball side-by-side at their official opening.

The Queanbeyan Park Tennis Club has been in operation since 1885, with the eastern courts first hosting matches in 1936. 

While passion for the original sport is enduring, the club has branched out to embrace the new global sensation of pickleball by offering a combination of courts at the Waniassa Street site. A combination of tennis, badminton, and ping pong - pickleball is taking the region by storm with the club already hosting more than 50 come-and-try sessions.

Queanbeyan Park Tennis Club received $531,128 from the NSW Government to resurface the courts from artificial turf to hardcourts, and to fund part of the installation of energy efficient lighting.

The club caters for players of all ages and abilities, casual users, families, club members and community groups and the transition to hard courts has improved accessibility. Courts are available for social, casual and competition play, as well as coaching sessions.

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said: 

"These upgrades will mean the courts can better withstand the weather extremes we get here in Queanbeyan, and let players hit the courts year-round.

"I understand these are the first purpose-built pickleball courts in the Queanbeyan-Palerang and I'm keen to get out there and have a go."

Member for Monaro Steve Whan said:

"As some may be aware, my wife Cherie and I are avid tennis players, and we can't wait to come and have a few games down here at the Queanbeyan Tennis Club.

"These upgrades will ensure the courts will last longer, and require less maintenance, leaving more time for the community to get out and enjoy their healthy lifestyles.

"With the growing popularity of pickleball, I'm very happy to hear that there has been such a big response from the community to visit the only dedicated courts in the region. Regular exercise, in any form, is an important part of a healthy life, and I'll always welcome and support projects working to improve that."

Queanbeyan Park Tennis Club President Wendy Grant said:

"Thanks to the NSW Government's support, we have come a long way from courts that were unusable due to past flood and environmental damage to these wonderful hardcourts, and it's exciting to see the community using these courts for both tennis and pickleball.

"The idea of installing court lighting was first raised in 1939, so we are thrilled that 85 years later we have been able to install LED light for night play which is giving people more options to pick up a racquet or a paddle at a time that best suits them."