BEECHWORTH Lawn Tennis Club has given the Australian Sports Commission 14 days to agree to a re-assessment of its failed funding application before heading to the Federal Court in a potential test case for other grassroots sporting bodies in the wake of the sports rorts affair.
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The club once had 50-plus members, but has had to resort to playing informal competitions at nearby Wooragee as it awaits funding to build four courts at Baarmutha Park.
It applied for $500,000 in federal government funding, but missed out in the program which led to the resignation of sports minister and Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie.
Lawyers Maurice Blackburn warned if ASC refused to confirm it would undertake the reassessment process again by March 17 "proceedings will be issued" in the Federal Court.
"A Federal Court challenge would be a test case about the legality of the sports rorts affair," the firm said.
"If the BLTC is successful in a legal challenge, the benefit is likely to flow through to all other clubs that should have received grants on merit."
Club president Andy Carr said he wanted ASC to reassess its funding bid and "judge the project on its merits without ministerial or government interference".
The club is seeking to add $500,000 to the $800,000 already at its disposal from the sale of its former courts to a development group which includes Wodonga mayor Anna Speedie.
"We've been working on this project for well over three years," Mr Carr said.
"We've had to go down the road to play at Wooragee because we don't have courts.
"I've also got to take my daughter 30km to Myrtleford to do Hot Shots, which for the president of the club is a bit embarrassing.
"We've effectively gone from 50-plus members to just a couple."
The club has submitted a state government funding application for the project, but the maximum amount it can apply for is $250,000.
Indigo Shire is supporting the bid with $35,000 in project management costs.
The letter of demand accuses Senator McKenzie and Prime Minister Scott Morrison of seeking to maximise the prospect of the Coalition winning the federal election when deciding whether or not to grant applications.
Senator McKenzie has been contacted for comment.
Meanwhile, the 10-lot subdivision for the former Beechworth tennis courts approved in 2018 on a 4-2 vote has stalled on access issues raised by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
"Council continues to work with DELWP and the developers to work through some issues associated with road access on the site," an Indigo Shire spokespersons said.
"It is expected that a resolution will be finalised soon which will allow for the developers to proceed further with the project."
DELWP has provided technical and planning advice to address issues in relation to Crown Land access.
