Warringah Council to retender tennis centre management

Warringah Council has rejected bid for the leasing rights to its Bob Giltinan's Tennis & Squash Centre, chosing to re-open the tender process for management of the facility.
The decision over the management of the well known North Manly sports centre came earlier this week when the Sydney northern beaches council was expected to award the centre's leasing rights to either current manager Bob Giltinan, a former Australian Davis Cup player, or former squash world champion Michelle Martin.
However, the council was not happy with either proposal, plus that fromanother unnamed bidder, and has extended its original intention to have the high profile site specifically maintained as a tennis and squash facility.
A Council spokeswoman told local newspaper The Manly Daily "we are calling for expressions of interest for potential future uses of the site because we believe the community can get a better outcome by broadening the scope.
"Council wants to make sure that the community gets the optimum use of the site, so we're seeking expressions of interest to see how best it can be used."
There are council provisions which restrict the site to being leased as either a sporting or community amenity, but Giltinan, a Warringah councillor, said "anything could go on that land, we might have another McDonald's."
Giltinan said he was unsure if he would put together a follow-up bid, but was clearly disappointed he was not awarded the rights to retain the centre.
Giltinan siad losing the rights to continue operating the centre long-term would mean nine of the centre's staff members, including himself, would be out of work.
Giltinan will continue to operate the centre on a month-by-month basis until the new tender process is complete, which is due to start soon.