Pakenham Tennis Club scores a new pavilion

Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Jack Kowarzik and fellow Councillors (from left) Graeme Moore, Carol Ryan, and Colin Ross, with Cardinia Shire Council CEO Carol Jeffs, join Pakenham Tennis Club President Greg Menzel and club members, project stakeholders and community members to celebrate the official opening of the newly completed Pakenham Tennis Club Pavilion extension at Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre. Pictures: ROB CAREW

Cardinia Shire Council has officially opened the new Pakenham Tennis Club Pavilion at Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre on Tuesday 19 March.

The pavilion extension for the Pakenham Tennis Club, which began and completed construction 2023, includes a small kitchen, unisex toilet and a social space.

Cardinia Shire Mayor Councillor Jack Kowarzik said the facility extension was designed with the club’s needs both today and the future in mind.

“As Cardinia Shire Mayor, it is a privilege to be able to officially open this new facility for the Pakenham Tennis Club today,” Mayor Kowarzik said.

“Cardinia Shire Council is proud to be able to undertake facility upgrade projects like the pavilion extension here, which we know will be appreciated and well used by the Pakenham Tennis Club, which has served the local tennis community for more than 120 years.

“The kitchen, unisex toilets and social space will enable the club members to come together to connect socially, as well as host their meetings, get ready for game time, and host special events.

“Thank you to the Pakenham Tennis Club and Aligned Leisure for representing the needs of the Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre and the club, and for working collaboratively with Council to achieve this wonderful outcome for our community.”

Henty Ward Councillor Carol Ryan pointed out the benefit of engaging with the community when planning and delivering community projects like the Pakenham Tennis Club pavilion.

“When we work collaboratively with our community, we achieve great outcomes. This is one such example of this, and we can all be confident knowing this new pavilion will meet the needs of the club, even as it grows and changes, for years to come,” Cr Ryan said.

Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre became home to Pakenham Tennis Club in October 2021, which shares the centre’s vision of increasing local participation in tennis and attracting elite players from outside the municipality to train and compete within Cardinia Shire.

The $1 million extension project was fully funded by the council and follows the earlier construction of the Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre, which opened in 2009.

Other facilities available at the Centre include 14 plexi-cushion and four synthetic grass, fully lit, tennis courts, a multi-purpose function room, kiosk, bar and change rooms. The entire facility is wheelchair friendly and has accessible bathrooms.

Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre is located at 11 Webster Way, Pakenham.

For more information about this major project and more across Cardinia Shire, visit cardinia.vic.gov.au/majorprojects

There are a range of tennis programs, activities and events held throughout the year at Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre. For more information about these, visit Cardinia Leisure’s Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre website.

For more information about Pakenham Tennis Club, visit their website online at Tennis Australia’s Pakenham Tennis Club website.