A project designed to deliver long-term benefits to Australian tennis that can't get off the ground
- Brett Phillips
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
A proposed A$7 million privately funded High Performance Tennis Centre in Queensland has been stalled for more than two years, due to a planning deadlock between Moreton Bay Regional Council, the Queensland State Government and the State Planning Authority.
Despite broad acknowledgment by all parties that the project is trapped in a bureaucratic loop, no pathway forward has been identified, raising serious questions about how privately funded, community-focused sporting infrastructure can be delivered in Queensland ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
"It's been a long journey the last three years trying to build something for free, pretty much for something that is really needed in tennis," owner and project lead John Newtown told The First Serve Live on Monday Night.
The centre is proposed on an 11-acre private residential estate owned by the Newtown family in Dakabin, approximately 30 minutes from Brisbane Airport, to include six tennis courts, clubhouse, gym, pool, accommodation, dedicated classroom facilities and much more.
It is designed as an academy-type set-up in the development of up to 20 Queensland junior athletes, plus acting as a global respite destination for professional tennis players from around the world.
"We are not trying to take away from club tennis, and we are not trying to take away from the National Tennis Academy; we are trying to build something that is in between," Newtown said.
Listen to The First Serve Live every Monday at 8pm AEDT in its 18th year on the SEN Network/App, Australia's only dedicated weekly tennis program on commercial radio running through till the end of November.
The project already has the endorsement of Cameron Pearson (CEO Tennis QLD), Jane Prentice (Chairperson Tennis QLD Board), Steven Miles (QLD Opposition Leader), plus tennis legends who have all been onsite to check the progress, like Scott Draper (AO Grand Slam Winner).
So why isn't it getting the green light to go ahead?
"A couple of acres of trees that they didn't like being removed, even though the State Koala people have said that is ok, here is a letter, we forgive, tree overlays, the State Government has already said they have forgiven, council gave us a fine, we paid the fine," said Newtown.
"So, three departments that are part of this have all given us the approval, but they won't allow it to pass through.
"Moreton Bay (Council) is the kicker at the moment. We have asked the mayor to come out. I am giving back eleven acres to sport and rec. This is the biggest tennis investment in this space for 10 years since they built KDV Sport on the Gold Coast."
You can watch the Interview with John in full below and see more at www.newtonstennis.com.au
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