Primrose Park Tennis Courts Refurbishment

Submissions closed at 11.59pm, Sunday 11 April 2021

UPDATE MAY 2021

At its meeting held Monday 26 April 2021, Council considered a report detailing the feedback received. The report is available in the Document Library.

14 submissions were received; 1 supported the proposal and 13 opposed the proposal.

The key issues raised in the submissions were:

• acknowledgment of the increased popularity of tennis as an outdoor activity due to COVID-19, including health and social wellbeing benefits.
• appreciation of Council and its current position to provide the tennis and associated facilities at Green Park for free.
• concerns raised by current users that the existing level of general public access will be significantly reduced for current users under the proposed temporary lease arrangement.
• concerns raised about access to free leisure activities during the most popular times for these courts. The nominated time slots proposed to be allocated to the Primrose Park Tennis Courts Operator conflict with the most popular times for other leisure activities that the courts are used for.
• concerns about public land being used by a commercial operator.
• concerns about whether the only basketball hoop in Green Park area will remain accessible to the public.
• a request to ensure the toilet facilities remain open for public use at all times, as they are used by all park users including those using the courts, playground and surrounds.

In light of submissions received, the report outlined a number of changes to the hours of operation proposed in the temporary lease. These changes were made to enable more hours for general public access to the courts.

Council resolved (in part):

1. THAT as Council is in a position to award a tender for the upgrade of the Primrose Park Tennis Courts it is recommended that Council enter into a temporary lease arrangement with the Primrose Park Tennis Court operator (Dalbech Pty Ltd) to utilise the Green Park Tennis courts for the duration of the upgrade works with amended operational hours at the Courts as outlined in Table 1 of this report.

BACKGROUND

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO TEMPORARILY RELOCATE THE PRIMROSE PARK TENNIS COURT OPERATOR TO GREEN PARK TENNIS COURTS AND TO GRANT AN ‘EXCLUSIVE LEASE’ OVER CROWN LAND - GREEN PARK

On 2 February 2021 Council called for tenders for the refurbishment of Primrose Park Tennis Courts in Cremorne. Tenders closed on 11 March 2021 and Council will soon be determining its position. Subject to Council being in a position to award a tender for the project, it is essential that the tenant vacate all premises currently being occupied at the Primrose Park Tennis Court facility to allow the proposed works to be carried out practicably and effectively.

Relocation of the Primrose Park Tennis Court Operator to Green Park Tennis Courts

The proposal to temporarily relocate the Primrose Park Tennis Court Operator to the Green Park Tennis Courts was resolved on by Council at the 22 February 2021 meeting. The tennis court operator and the temporary tennis operations at Green Park will be managed through a lease arrangement with Council.

Facilities at Green Park

Green Park comprises two (2) tennis courts with public amenities. The courts do not have any lighting for evening use; therefore, it can only operate during daylight hours as a tennis facility.

The Tennis Courts at Green Park are generally open to the public for use throughout the day. However, to accommodate the needs of the Primrose Park Tennis Court Operator, Council is proposing that the usage time of the Green Park Tennis Courts be shared between the Primrose Park Tennis Court Operator and the general Public as follows:

Temporary lease arrangements with Primrose Park Tennis Court Operator for the duration of the refurbishment to use Green Park Tennis Courts (Crown Land)

On 22 February 2021, Council resolved in part, that the Primrose Park Tennis Court Operator is to be granted exclusive use of the courts during the times outlined above (full report available from the document library). This temporary use and arrangement between Council and the Primrose Park Tennis Court operator will be through a formal lease.

Green Park is Crown Land and Council, as the Crowns Lands Manager manages Green Park as Community Land under Sections 46 and 47 of the Local Government Act 1993. Therefore, Council, in accordance with Section 47A of the Act, is required to give public notice of the proposal for 28 days, during which time submissions will be accepted.

The details of the proposal are outlined in the Statutory Advertisement below:

STATUTORY ADVERTISEMENT

In pursuance of Section 47A of the Local Government Act 1993, it is notified that North Sydney Council intends, at the expiration of 28 days after the date of publication of this notice (11 April 2021), to grant an exclusive temporary lease to the tenant, specified in Schedule 1, in respect of the land specified in Schedule 2, and for the term and purpose specified in Schedule 3.

SCHEDULE 1 - Primrose Park Tennis Club (operated by Dalbech Pty Ltd)

SCHEDULE 2 - Exclusive Temporary Lease over Part Lot 7138 in Deposited Plan 93723

SCHEDULE 3 - Term: Approximately 9 months, proposed to commence in May/June 2021, for the purposes of allowing Primrose Park Tennis Courts to be refurbished.

Submissions closed at 11.59pm, Sunday 11 April 2021.

For more information contact Council’s Property Officer on 9936 8214 or 0413 115 832.