The Future of Nieass Reserve

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Have your say on the future use of Nieass Reserve, Clarence Gardens

The City of Mitcham is inviting community feedback on the future use of tennis facilities at Nieass Reserve, located on Dinwoodie Avenue in Clarence Gardens.

Background

Since 1947, the Nieass Reserve Tennis Club (NRTC) has called this reserve home, providing social tennis for generations of local families. The reserve includes three lit tennis courts and a small clubroom with shared facilities. NRTC held the lease for these facilities and had a small number of active members who meet for social tennis up until May 2025. The club also hired the courts to Colonel Light West Tennis Club (CLWTC) for training and matches until this time.

To view photos of the reserve and associated facilities please refer to the Photos tab to the right of this page.

In recent years, NRTC saw a decline in membership that has made it difficult to manage the club’s operations and fill committee roles. After thoughtful discussion, the club decided it was no longer viable to continue and expressed a desire to end its lease and formally cease operations. Following conversations with CLWTC, it was decided that NRTCs social tennis activities would continue under the CLWTC banner.

CLWTC, based at Hillview Reserve in Colonel Light Gardens, has approximately 130 members and provides social and competitive tennis, along with coaching. Due to court lighting restrictions at their home site, they have hired courts at Nieass Reserve over the past three years to meet growing demand.

CLWTC is now proposing to take over use of the Nieass Reserve courts more regularly, including the continuation of NRTC’s social tennis programs.

What does this mean for the community?

At the Full Council Meeting held on 18 March 2025, Council approved a 12-month licence for Colonel Light West Tennis Club to use the three tennis courts at Nieass Reserve during specific days and times. This arrangement reflects the Club’s current usage, but importantly, it allows the courts to be available for public use outside of these designated times—something that was not previously permitted under the existing lease. The hours, days and periods of the year that the club can use the courts for under this licence are:

Monday 9am - 12pm (Year round)
Tuesday 9am - 12pm & 6pm - 10pm (Year round)
Wednesday 9am - 12pm & 3:30pm - 8:30pm (Year round)
Thursday 6pm - 10pm (Year round)
Saturday 12:30pm - 6pm (October 1st - March 31st)

In addition, Council has endorsed a 12-month lease for the clubroom building at Nieass Reserve, providing Colonel Light West Tennis Club with exclusive use of the facility. This continues the existing arrangement, where the building has historically been used solely by the Club.

Before any new agreement is made, Council wants to hear from local residents about the future use of the courts, clubroom, shared facilities and underutilised reserve spaces.

How you can help shape the future use of Nieass Reserve

To help guide the future use of Nieass Reserve, Council invites the community to provide feedback on the following:

  • Lease and licence arrangements
  • Public access options
  • Alternative uses / activation
  • General facility improvements

We invite you to share your thoughts via the survey below by 5pm Friday 4 July 2025.

Next steps

Following consultation, a report will be presented to Council to decide on the future of the reserve and use of its facilities.

Thank you for sharing your feedback to ensure the usage of these facilities reflects community need.

Have your say on the future use of Nieass Reserve, Clarence Gardens

The City of Mitcham is inviting community feedback on the future use of tennis facilities at Nieass Reserve, located on Dinwoodie Avenue in Clarence Gardens.

Background

Since 1947, the Nieass Reserve Tennis Club (NRTC) has called this reserve home, providing social tennis for generations of local families. The reserve includes three lit tennis courts and a small clubroom with shared facilities. NRTC held the lease for these facilities and had a small number of active members who meet for social tennis up until May 2025. The club also hired the courts to Colonel Light West Tennis Club (CLWTC) for training and matches until this time.

To view photos of the reserve and associated facilities please refer to the Photos tab to the right of this page.

In recent years, NRTC saw a decline in membership that has made it difficult to manage the club’s operations and fill committee roles. After thoughtful discussion, the club decided it was no longer viable to continue and expressed a desire to end its lease and formally cease operations. Following conversations with CLWTC, it was decided that NRTCs social tennis activities would continue under the CLWTC banner.

CLWTC, based at Hillview Reserve in Colonel Light Gardens, has approximately 130 members and provides social and competitive tennis, along with coaching. Due to court lighting restrictions at their home site, they have hired courts at Nieass Reserve over the past three years to meet growing demand.

CLWTC is now proposing to take over use of the Nieass Reserve courts more regularly, including the continuation of NRTC’s social tennis programs.

What does this mean for the community?

At the Full Council Meeting held on 18 March 2025, Council approved a 12-month licence for Colonel Light West Tennis Club to use the three tennis courts at Nieass Reserve during specific days and times. This arrangement reflects the Club’s current usage, but importantly, it allows the courts to be available for public use outside of these designated times—something that was not previously permitted under the existing lease. The hours, days and periods of the year that the club can use the courts for under this licence are:

Monday 9am - 12pm (Year round)
Tuesday 9am - 12pm & 6pm - 10pm (Year round)
Wednesday 9am - 12pm & 3:30pm - 8:30pm (Year round)
Thursday 6pm - 10pm (Year round)
Saturday 12:30pm - 6pm (October 1st - March 31st)

In addition, Council has endorsed a 12-month lease for the clubroom building at Nieass Reserve, providing Colonel Light West Tennis Club with exclusive use of the facility. This continues the existing arrangement, where the building has historically been used solely by the Club.

Before any new agreement is made, Council wants to hear from local residents about the future use of the courts, clubroom, shared facilities and underutilised reserve spaces.

How you can help shape the future use of Nieass Reserve

To help guide the future use of Nieass Reserve, Council invites the community to provide feedback on the following:

  • Lease and licence arrangements
  • Public access options
  • Alternative uses / activation
  • General facility improvements

We invite you to share your thoughts via the survey below by 5pm Friday 4 July 2025.

Next steps

Following consultation, a report will be presented to Council to decide on the future of the reserve and use of its facilities.

Thank you for sharing your feedback to ensure the usage of these facilities reflects community need.

  • Future Use of Nieass Reserve (Survey - Open)

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Page last updated: 04 Jun 2025, 11:59 AM