Redevelopment Plan for Melbourne Park

As the Australian Open tennis tournament enters its second week, the Victorian Government has announced plans for a major redevelopment of the Melbourne Park site.

Victorian Premier John Brumby said the project would increase the venueâs seating capacity and its shaded and open areas while also providing better public transport access. Key aspects of the plan include a roof for the Margaret Court Arena, a new headquarters for Tennis Australia, better players facilities, more practice courts, and improved media facilities.

Unveiling the project at the Australian Open, the Victorian Premier stated that "the plan also proposes a new Town Square in the centre of Melbourne Park, which has the potential to become an important Melbourne meeting place. The vision includes a lightweight roof to provide shade and protection for patrons."

The Premier added that the redevelopment would enhance Melbourneâs reputation as the home of Australian tennis is a major focus of the vision.

Current arrangement will see Melbourne Park host the Australian Open until 2016 and the planned improvements are, according to Premier Brumby aimed "to ensure Melbourne retains this important event for a further 20 years."

The new project is expected to require a multi-million investment, worth $300 million to more than $500 million. At this time the Victorian Government is only committing $5 million to develop the plan.

Tennis Australia (TA) is backing the multi-million dollar development, mindful of wanting to secure the event on Victoria and Australiaâs calendar of major sporting events beyond 2016.

TA has long faced calls from players to move the event to February to beat the January heat and give players a longer off-season break. TA and Victoria is aware that major Asian nations may want to wrest the first Grand Slam event of the year away from Australia and of interest from Queensland and NSW in hosting the event at their State Tennis Centres.

TA President Geoff Pollard said he was "delighted with the strong support shown to the Australian Open, and tennis in Australia from the Victorian Government".

Pollard also hopes that the redevelopment will ease some of the pressure to change the tournament date, stating "I think most of the players now have realised that (the Open) has been a success in January.

Pollard added that the redevelopment includes measures to address the heat issue, including putting roof cover on the third court (the Margaret Court Arena) and a cover over the public square area outside Rod Laver Arena.

Looking back on the success of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, Premier Brumby explained that âit has been 21 years since the Australian Open was moved from Kooyong to its new home at Melbourne Park, and since that time the Open has grown to impressive new heights, last year attracting 605,000 patrons, compared to 250,000 patrons back in 1988.

"The Open also makes a significant contribution to Victoria, generating around 1000 equivalent full time jobs, injecting $164 million into the economy and raising the tourism profile of our great city with almost 240 million viewers worldwide.

"Now is the time to take a look at how we can refresh and improve this terrific precinct to ensure it remains a world-class facility and continues to meet the needs of the tournament."

The development of the proposal follows $1.5 million of funding announced last year to scope the possible future requirements of Melbourne Park.

Melbourne Park is part of the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Precinct, which each year hosts around 600 events and attracts more than two million people. In recent years the Victorian Government has invested more than $400 million in the MCG redevelopment , as well as the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium , which is currently under construction.

Image shows the Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park.