TOWN of Bassendean council has endorsed the establishment of a dedicated committee to help deliver padel courts at BIC (Bassendean Improvement Committee) Reserve.

Padel is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and is a doubles-only racquet sport often described as a mix of tennis and squash played on a smaller enclosed court with glass walls.

The proposal forms part of the town’s efforts to activate BIC reserve and encourage greater recreational use and community interaction to further enhance the Bassendean town centre.

At the April 28 ordinary council meeting, a motion passed supporting the creation of a committee of council and staff members to assess shortlisted proposals received through a recent expression of interest (EOI) process.

The EOI process attracted three competitive submissions, all proposing to design, build, fund and operate padel courts alongside the existing tennis court facilities.

The committee will play a key role in selecting a preferred operator and enabling the delivery of high-quality, fully funded padel courts.

According to the Town of Bassendean, the initiative is expected to deliver new sporting opportunities for the community at no cost to the town, while generating a commercial return that can be reinvested back into local facilities and services.

Planned to be positioned alongside the Bassendean tennis club and bowling club, the padel courts are expected to attract new users, spectators and visitors to the area.

The committee of council will now progress shortlisting, site visits and community engagement considerations before making a recommendation to council.

Once this work is complete, the committee will be disbanded.

The sport’s accessible nature that is suited for all ages and promotes social interaction has meant the sport has rapidly grown in Australia.

According to the International Padel Federation, the sport originated in 1969 in Acapulco, Mexico.

The inventor Enrique Corcuera was a tennis enthusiast but did not have enough space to build a full-size tennis court in his backyard, forcing him to work within his constraints.

He then created a smaller court measuring 20m by 10m, enclosed by 3m walls with a tennis net in the centre.

From its origins in Mexico, the sport spread to Spain and Argentina in the early 70s and by 2025 more than 90,000 people played in Australia, in a 50 per cent increase from 2024.