Playing host to two international tournaments within its first month of operation in 2010, the new Cairns International Tennis Centre facility has placed Cairns firmly on the map as a sports tourism destination.
Built to cater for the fast growing demands of the region and meeting International Tennis Federation (ITF) guidelines, the facility features 12 ITF standard hard courts including one show court, high quality lighting, provision for temporary grandstands and a new two storey clubhouse. The $6.2 million facility was funded by $3.8 million from CRC, $1.9 million from the Queensland Government, $420,000 from Tennis Queensland and an $80,000 rebate from Tennis Australia for the court surface.
The Cairns centre is one of the few tennis venues in Queensland outside of Brisbane featuring Plexicushion surfacing – the surface of choice for Tennis Australia and the ideal training surface for future Australian champions.
“With its capacity to host high profile international events including the Davis Cup, this facility will attract tennis fans from all over Australia and overseas, and generate millions of dollars in sports tourism revenue for the city,” said Lyn Russell, CRC’s Chief Executive Officer. “With tennis being played just a block from the Pacific Ocean with a magnificent backdrop of rainforest, this is a facility unique to the tennis pro circuit.It has been a calculated and forward thinking investment for Cairns Regional Council to be in financial partnership with the Queensland Government and Tennis Queensland.
“The community will reap the benefits, and aspiring young players will have the opportunity to play on the best surface to improve their game.”
