Thank you to everyone who helped develop the Tennis Strategy.

Council will be asked to adopt the final proposed document at the meeting on Monday 5 October. To view the meeting agenda and papers and to request to speak about the Strategy, go to Council's website.

Stage 2 engagement

From 1 July - 28 July 2026, nearly 100 people provided feedback to guide the future provision, management and development of tennis and pickleball opportunities across the municipality, through an online survey.

Take a look below at some of the things we heard, or do a deeper dive by reading the Feedback Summary Report.

What we asked

  • We asked the community about:

    • Their involvement in tennis
    • Support for the proposed vision for tennis in Banyule.
    • The proposed actions in the draft Strategy.
      • Which focus areas should be the highest priority.
      • Whether the proposed actions meet the needs of tennis and pickleball players.
      • How well the actions support different community groups.
      • Their overall level of support for the draft actions.
    • Whether anything is missing from the draft strategy.
    • Any other comments or feedback about the draft Strategy.

What we heard

  • Overall support

    There was broad support for the draft Tennis Strategy.

  • Better facilities

    Improving courts, lighting, drainage, amenities and accessibility was the highest priority.

  • Clear implementation

    People wanted clearer information about funding, priorities, timelines and delivery.

  • Access for everyone

    Affordable, accessible and welcoming opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds were important.

  • More ways to play

    Support for more casual, social and beginner-friendly tennis opportunities.

  • Stronger clubs

    Clubs need support with volunteers, governance, facility management and long-term sustainability.

  • Fair investment

    Respondents called for transparent and equitable funding and facility improvements across Banyule.

  • Tennis and pickleball

    There was a strong support for more pickleball opportunities in Banyule.

  • Community connections

    Stronger links between clubs, schools and the community could help grow participation.

  • Value of tennis

    Tennis was recognised as an inclusive, lifelong sport that supports health, wellbeing and social connection.

What we changed because of your feedback

Based on your feedback, we made several changes to strengthen the draft strategy:

  • We explained more clearly how decisions will be made about tennis court and facility upgrades.
  • We added more information about funding, priorities and when actions will happen.
  • We strengthened actions to improve and renew older tennis facilities.
  • We added a new Try Tennis initiative to help more people get involved, including free or low-cost beginner sessions.
  • We added an action to look at increasing court availability for casual and social players.
  • We added more support for local tennis clubs and volunteers.
  • We made it clearer how future investment in tennis facilities will be prioritised.
  • We expanded plans for new pickleball facilities across Banyule.
  • We added actions to make tennis more welcoming and accessible for a wider range of people and communities.
  • We added actions to strengthen connections between tennis clubs, schools and the community.
  • We added a new action to consider the future of the tennis courts at Macleod Recreation Centre.
  • We included information showing how the Tennis Strategy connects with other Council plans and strategies.

What next?

The draft Tennis Strategy will be presented to Council for adoption on Monday 5 October 2026.

Community engagement

Stage 1 engagement

From 12 November 2025 - 11 January 2026, over 270 people and 15 Clubs shared their views on how tennis clubs, courts and facilities could be easier for the community to access. We heard from the community through an online survey, pop-up sessions, a targeted stakeholder survey and a workshop with sporting clubs.

Take a look below at some of the key things we heard, or read the Feedback Summary Report for more detail.

What we asked

  • How residents take part in tennis
  • Barriers to getting involved in tennis
  • Issues with tennis courts and facilities
  • Interest in pickleball
  • General feedback for Council

What we heard from the community

  • Most people who completed the survey (65%) were members of a tennis club.

  • People who were not club members were mainly interested in playing tennis casually.

  • The main reasons people don’t play tennis more often are poor court conditions, lack of time, and courts not being available.

  • Just over half of respondents (51%) said they are interested in pickleball.

This feedback has helped inform the development of the draft Tennis Strategy 2027–2032, which we are now seeking feedback on.

What can you influence?

Community feedback helped shape the final Tennis Stragey. During Stage 2 consultation, we asked for feedback on:

  • Vision
    • The long-term direction for tennis in Banyule
    • How the strategy reflects community needs and participation
  • Key focus areas
    • The main priorities identified in the strategy
    • Whether these themes are the right focus areas
  • Actions
    • The proposed actions and initiatives
    • Suggestions to improve, refine or add actions

Some parts of the strategy were outside the scope of consultation and could not be changed through community feedback:

  • Budget allocation
    • The amount of funding Council sets aside for general tennis facility upgrades through the budget

Background

Tennis is a popular sport in Banyule. There are many clubs and programs that make it easy for everyone to play. People of all ages and abilities can enjoy tennis - from a casual hit to a competitive match - at good-quality courts in friendly settings.

We are developing a 5-Year Tennis Strategy that aims to:

  • Ensure tennis continues to thrive in Banyule over the next 5 years.
  • Explain how Council will support local tennis clubs to be welcoming, inclusive and financially stable.
  • List actions Council will take to make it easier for people to use tennis courts for social and casual play.
  • Share information about how people currently take part in tennis and where there may be chances to grow participation in the future.
  • Show what we heard from clubs, residents and other stakeholders, and how this feedback will guide future decisions about tennis in Banyule.
  • Create more opportunities for the community to play pickleball across Banyule.

Frequently asked questions

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