Naremburn tennis centre faces eviction following land claim

The Talus Street Tennis Centre in Naremburn faces eviction following a land claim by the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC). The MLALC took ownership of the Crown land reserve in 2022, and the Northern Suburbs Tennis Association (NSTA) has been ordered to vacate the eight-court facility by September 30.

The dispute highlights tensions regarding New South Wales Aboriginal land rights laws, specifically when returned land hosts long-standing community infrastructure. The NSTA has occupied the site since 1978, and the private operator Love’n Deuce has managed the centre for approximately 40 years.

A central point of contention is the current financial arrangement. The MLALC has argued that the NSTA’s annual rent of $46,000 is significantly below the market value for a commercial operation occupying more than a hectare of land.