The newly-built Cairns International Tennis Centre in North Cairns has attracted a major infrastructure award.

Cairns Regional Council received a high commendation for the centre for projects in $5 million to $10 million category at the Institute of Public Works Engineering Queensland Division (IPWEAQ) Excellence Awards dinner in Maryborough.

Council’s Infrastructure Services General Manager, Ross McKim, said the $6.3 million tennis centre was a world-class facility of which the region could be proud.

“We have delivered to the community a 12-court, international-standard tennis centre that has not only brought high-standard sporting competition to Cairns, but provides quality infrastructure for the use of residents,” Mr McKim said.

“It’s is the first tennis facility in Australia, outside of a capital city, to feature a plexicushion playing surface, which offers superior shock absorption, consistent bounce and durability.”

The plexicushion surface secured the hosting of the Davis Cup tie between Australia and Belgium for Cairns in September last year, but the newly-opened centre was criticized for its lack of shade and hot conditions, as both players and spectators suffered from the heat.

On the first day’s play, Australian Lleyton Hewitt struggled with the hot conditions and play was halted for medical treatment to an elderly woman spectator who had fainted in the stands, which receive full sun.

The third day’s play was washed out due to rain.

Mr McKim said the layout of the facility allowed for temporary grandstand seating for up to 3000 spectators, while still providing sufficient warm-up and practice courts and says prior to construction, extensive consultation – including preparation of a draft management plan – was undertaken with experts, stakeholders and the general public.

Consultation, planning, preliminary design and sourcing of funds started in 2007.

The detailed design phase took 11 months and construction started in November 2009 before the centre was officially opened in September 2010.

Mayor Val Schier said the construction project demonstrated the skills of Council staff and the ability to deliver community infrastructure to the highest standard.

“As a council, we pride ourselves on the ability to provide innovative, high-quality facilities that are the envy of other local government areas,” Cr Schier said.

“In this instance, we have created a piece of sporting infrastructure that has already proven to be worthy of the world’s best tennis players and which will provide a breeding ground for the next generation of sporting talent.

“The calibre of events that can be held as a result of this infrastructure has already been acknowledged nationally.”

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