Launceston Tennis World to receive community and events centre

The building, which will be supported by state government, the City of Launceston and Sport Australia, is expected to be completed by 2022, with a true timeline to be released once the tender process is complete.

The LTCEC will be situated at the Northern end of court three at the Tennis World Launceston complex and will face Racecourse Crescent, allowing for street access to the facility, while the court will be moved further south on completion.

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Tennis Tasmania's regional manager for the North and North-West Simon Aufder-Heide described the plans as "massively important for the whole region".

"We have a lot of clubs around the Launceston area that benefit from having a regional centre like this, not just for the Launceston International and the crowds and interest in tennis that it brings," he said.

"But also having a local central point that the clubs from the area can come to, utilise as finals for pennants, they can be part of future workshops and developments in that space, so from a club's point of view and for tennis overall, it's going to be a massive thing for growing participation with a facility like this."

The news is a long time coming for Launceston's tennis community, with plans and ideas for a clubhouse circulating for several years since the facility was opened in 2011.

Described by then Tennis Tasmania president Phil Bowden as "the last piece of the puzzle" in 2017, the facility will aid the running of the annual Launceston International tournament.

"Based on the calibre of players that we've had in the past, this is always a great tournament that's run here locally at Launceston," Aufder-Heide said.

"It draws international interest and exposure and having a clubhouse like this will mean that we don't have to use facilities nearby for playing to enjoy the tournament overall, everything will almost be on site."

The clubhouse will be locally designed, featuring solar design technology and incorporating tennis imagery and memorabilia as well as Aboriginal cultural design elements.

City of Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten was excited about the centre's plans and what they could mean for his region.

"The City of Launceston is delighted to be working in collaboration with the state and federal governments and Tennis Australia around this wonderful development," he said.

"Tennis is experiencing growth in participation right across the country, and to have worked with all our stakeholders, including Tennis Australia, to provide these much-improved facilities at Tennis World in Launceston is certainly exciting."

The centre is set to be a multi-purpose facility and is expected to be used by several community groups around Launceston.