City of Stirling councillors were divided on the future of a beach tennis facility in Scarborough that has attracted noise complaints from a small group of nearby residents.
Beach Tennis WA has been operating from the Scarborough Sports and Community Club at Abbett Park Reserve, having built the beach tennis facility in January last year, as previously reported by PerthNow.
Beach Tennis WA faced opposition from some nearby residents complaining of noise brought from the racquet sport.
The future of the only beach tennis facility in Perth was in jeopardy ahead of the May 14 council meeting, with council members narrowly voting 8-7 to allow the sporting group to run on a month-by-month basis in accordance with its sub-lease conditions, as the Scarborough Sports and Community Club’s lease had expired.
In August 2023, the city approved light poles for the beach tennis facility on the condition they be installed with curtain shades.
Council documents said Beach Tennis WA was informed its lights did not comply with approval as they did not have curtain shades installed, and in April was given strict conditions to not use the lights until the shades were fitted and to only operate beach tennis between the hours of 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday, with no play on Sunday or public holidays.
A petition containing 10 verified signatures was received by the city requesting the council halt the operation of the beach tennis club due to ongoing sound and light issues negatively impacting home lives.
Another petition was presented at the May 14 council meeting with 164 verified signature to “save Beach Tennis WA”.
Two nearby residents spoke at the meeting during question time of their difficulties working from home with the noise in the afternoons.
Another, Sarah Longhorn, said “we’ve never had a problem with any other sport played at Abbett Reserve, beach tennis noise level is incomparable such that people cannot relax in their own home noise-free”.
“Do the councillors now agree that beach tennis should not be positioned so close to homes?” she asked.
When asked by council members whether the sub-lease conditions were adhered to, city director of community development Michael Quirk responded, “broadly, I would say yes but this is a complicated case.”
“In terms of Beach Tennis WA using their leased areas for the purpose for which it was intended, yes,” he said.
“Obviously there have been some unintended consequences associated with that, which would be difficult for the head leaser to resolve by themselves, hence the city has become involved.”
Cr Michael Dudek described the restrictions as onerous.
“I hate to see a great sports club in the area not be open from 7pm onwards,” he said. “Obviously we need to think about the residents’ concerns.
“What we have at the moment is a situation where a club can’t operate on Sunday or on weeknights at their busiest time and I feel somewhat sad for them so I’m happy to stand up for them.”
Cr Suzanne Migdale described the situation as a lose-lose where the operator is heavily restricted with residents still unhappy.
“We have them in the wrong location,” she said.
“I don’t think anyone would argue that beach tennis is an outstanding sport, there are so many benefits to those who engage in it.”