IPWEA Awards 2011

Cardinia Tennis Complex

Project Summary

• 18 court facility incorporating Plexicushion pavement (same as Melbourne Tennis Centre)
• Building incorporates ESD items of double glazing, north facing, flexible lighting control system for court lights and energy efficient appliances. The facility is designed for community use and is available not only for tennis but also for public functions, meetings, weddings, etc.
• Courts provided under a design and construct contract to allow flexibility and innovation in the design approach, whilst ensuring risk was managed by the appropriate stakeholder.  Outcomes were specified in regard to court tolerances with specific hold points.
• Foundation is up to 600mm depth of lime and cement stabilised subgrade – ensuring performance targets in relation to court movement is met long term.
• Lights to each court, with lights configured so that each court can be lit separately whilst still achieving the required completion illumination levels
• Incorporates water saving initiatives were 100kl tank installed for rainwater capture from the clubhouse, for use in court maintenance, surround irrigation and toilet flushing.  Provision has been made for future connection of runoff from the court surfaces.
• Integrated PA system throughout the facility to allow for tournaments and or “local” court activities
• Access for all abilities.
• Gazebos installed to “break” the remoteness of courts and allow for cluster of communities or clubs throughout the facility during match day – therefore keeping the whole area vibrant.
• Trees integrated into the facility to provide shade and visual relief.  Rootbarrier was installed to manage the risk associated with root intrusion into the court areas.
• Carpark was provided for the facility with lighting and incorporated sections of sensitive environmental design in the stormwater collection and treatment.
• Court fences installed without stays to provide a cleaner appearance and reduce the risk of children climbing the posts.
• Courts grouped into sets of two (2) so as to reduce the scale of the facility and again create groups of courts that fit more readily with social or weekend competition.
• Wide central laneway for access and viewing.

Project Description

Project objectives

The project sort to deliver a modern, ‘state of the art’ tennis centre that meets the wider regional communities needs now and into the future.

Project outcomes

The project has more than met its objectives. Along with strong support from the community and coaching clinics, the following events have taken place which has brought many visitors to Cardinia. These include:

• Victorian Junior Hardcourt Championships in Dec 2010;
• Australian Open Junior qualifying in January 2011;
• The West Gippsland Regional Tennis finals.

The Junior Development Series (JDS) State Championships will take place in June 2011.

Innovative features of the project

• The 18 court facility incorporating Plexicushion pavement is unusual outside Melbourne.
• The courts were delivered as part of a ‘design and construct contract’, to allow flexibility and innovation in the design approach, whilst ensuring risk was managed by the appropriate stakeholder.  Outcomes were specified in regard to the tight court construction tolerances with specific hold points to ensure these requirements were met. Court foundation depths of up to 600mm depth of lime and cement stabilised subgrade will help ensure performance targets in relation to court movement is maintained long term.
• Court fences were installed without stays to provide a cleaner appearance, improve spectator viewing  and reduce the risk of children climbing the posts.

Distinguishing features of the project

• The 18 court facility Plexicushion pavement is unusual outside Melbourne.
• The facility was designed top allow access for all abilities. Council aims to achieve the enhanced disability standard wherever practical in it buildings and facilities development.
• The building incorporates ESD items of double glazing, north facing, flexible lighting control system for court lights and energy efficient appliances. The facility is designed for community use and is available not only for tennis but also for public functions, meetings, weddings, etc.

Barriers overcome to achieve success

There were significant barriers with the development of the facility. These included:-

• a tight timeframe to deliver the project;
• coordination of the building contractor and the court construction contractor on the same site;
• There was no power on site as the construction of the residential subdivision beside this facility was not completed. Time delays for the delivery of all services were experienced;
• The poor soil conditions required extensive lime and cement stabilisation to a greater depth than was anticipated. This was exacerbated by the wet weather conditions;

The Plexicushion contractor was delayed due to wet, windy and cool conditions. The 10 layers required on each court Plexicushion court made it difficult to deliver the full 18 courts.