The Northern Suburbs Tennis Association has been ordered to vacate the Talus Street Tennis Centre in Naremburn by September 30, 2026, after receiving an eviction notice from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC).

MLALC took ownership of the Crown land site in 2022 following a successful Aboriginal land claim enabled by an invalid sublease.

Operating since the late 1970s/1980s, the eight-court facility on Sydney's lower north shore is one of New South Wales's busiest community tennis centres, serving tens of thousands of visitors annually.

MLALC chief executive Nathan Moran stated that the current rent of $46,000 does not cover proper maintenance, insurance, and rates, noting that “paying $46,000 for operating eight commercial courts does not pass the pub test.”

Local residents, politicians, and players have mobilized to save the courts, urging the land council to suspend the eviction and negotiate a sustainable future for the center.

The high-profile stoush has amplified broader debates across New South Wales regarding how the state government handles Crown land claims affecting long-standing community and sporting assets.

More than 44,000 sites in New South Wales are currently subject to a land claim. That list reportedly includes the iconic Bondi icebergs and every surf club along Sydney’s east.

The New South Wales Government is pursuing legislative changes, aimed at closing a legal loophole that would make it harder for land councils to lodge claims over community facilities.

Under proposed changes, a lease alone would make land “lawfully used”, ensuring it can’t be claimed.

Debate on the contentious legislation has so far stalled in state parliament, as indigenous groups argue it is an assault on land rights.