Northcote Tennis Courts lighting upgrades

As part of our ongoing commitment to community health and wellbeing, we are planning for upgrades to Northcote Tennis Courts’ lighting to accommodate growing tennis participation and ensure a quality and reliable playing experience for the community.

Why is Council upgrading the tennis court lighting?

Lighting on courts 1,2,3 and 4 has become unreliable and costly to maintain. The infrastructure delivers unsuitable lighting levels for court hire, coaching or competition match play. The lighting was rated as a top priority for upgrade in Council’s recently adopted 2026–30 Capital Works Program.

What is being delivered as part of this project?

The project will replace the existing court lighting with 28 new energy-efficient LED lights, upgrade the electrical infrastructure, and connect the lighting to the Book A Court booking system. The upgraded lighting will provide a safer, more reliable standard for community training and competition. The LED lighting system will comply with Australian Standards and Tennis Australia requirements, ensuring safe, high-quality tennis participation experience while minimising light spill and glare outside the court perimeter.

What community and user benefits does this upgrade offer?

Council will deliver upgraded LED lighting on courts 1–4 to meet current requirements and community needs. Once completed, this project will complement the recent courts 5 and 6 LED lighting upgrade and maximise the opening hours and booking access for the community and coaching programs with integration to the existing Book A Court electronic booking and gate access system.

Improved lighting will benefit current and future casual court hire and coaching participants at the venue.

The courts will remain open from 8am to 10pm daily for court bookings and programs, encouraging more community members of all ages, genders and backgrounds to access quality facilities to support healthy, social and active lifestyles.

The new LED lighting system will comply with Australian Standards and State Sporting Association requirements, ensuring safe, high-quality sport participation. The design ensures the field lighting is targeted to the tennis court, with minimal light spill and glare outside the court perimeter.

How will the project be funded?

Council’s adopted Annual Budget and Financial Outlook 2026–27 to 2029–30 has been developed in anticipation of budget being allocated to this project.

In July 2026, Council is applying to the Victorian Government’s Local Sports Infrastructure Fund for additional funding to support the delivery of this project. Outcomes will be announced for this competitive grants program in late 2026.

What are the project timelines?

Who was involved in the consultation process?

We completed targeted consultation with key user groups and stakeholders throughout the design process. They include:

• Northcote Tennis Coaching
• Northcote Tennis User Group
• Tennis Victoria
• relevant external services authorities
• internal Council departments.

How will these upgrades impact the ground and sporting club users?

Some minimal disruption and inconvenience is expected for neighbouring residents and tennis users during the works period.

More information regarding construction noise can be found on the neighbouring construction webpage.

Who can I speak to with further enquiries?

If you have further questions or feedback regarding this project, please contact the Leisure Services Team on 03 8470 8305 or email us at sport@darebin.vic.gov.au.

How do I find out more about this tennis facility?

Please visit the venue website to find out more about coaching programs on offer, and how to book a court to play.