After 10 years of waiting, work has finally started on the bottom five courts of the complex, which could be ready for action by the end of September.

The Maitland City Tennis Club president Ann Richards told the Mercury the revamp would cost more than $400,000.

“It’s a big project but I think this centre, being the major centre for Maitland tennis, needs to be good,” she said.

The redevelopment includes five synthetic grass courts and one hard court with disability access. The Maitland City Tennis Club got approval for the funding in July 2006 after a 10-year battle to fix the courts’ deteriorating surfaces.

“We jumped up and down a few months ago and it’s moved very quickly since then,” Richards said.

“We’re so pleased with the way it’s been going the last few weeks.”

The cost of the courts will be shared between Maitland City Council and NSW Sport and Recreation.

“Our back courts have been out of action so there’s been no revenue there and that’s hurt the club,” club secretary Narelle McGregor said.

Once the courts are finished the association will hold a ‘Back to Maitland’ tennis event to attract new and past players back to the sport.

“We want local people using the facilities,” Richards said.

Maitland City Tennis is also redeveloping their clubhouse with disability access and putting a fence around the new courts.

“We’ll be looking at organising veterans tournaments,” Richards said.

“The State Veterans have an Australian team’s event, which they’ve used our courts for before. “We’ll also be looking at attracting State age titles.”

With floodlights over the new courts Maitland City Tennis Club is also considering holding twilight competitions.

“We want to draw more players back into tennis in the local area. That’s the main thing,” Richards said.