Court Resurfacing FAQ — NSW

A standard acrylic resurface is priced mainly on court size, access and how much crack repair the base needs, plus the number of colour coats. A synthetic grass conversion costs more than an acrylic recoat, because a full turf system goes down, not just a coating. A base rebuild after subsidence or drainage failure is the biggest job of the three and needs a site inspection to price. Rebuilding a base is earthworks. The NSW Codes SEPP's exempt earthworks rules cap cut or fill at 600 mm, among other limits, and do not apply on flood control lots, heritage items or environmentally sensitive areas. Outside those limits, expect to need approval, which adds time and cost.

A straightforward acrylic resurface usually takes 5 to 10 working days, including cure time between coats, weather permitting. Synthetic grass can take a similar time once the base is ready. A full base rebuild adds several weeks, because new concrete or asphalt has to cure before anything goes on top. Location changes the calendar too. Bureau of Meteorology statistics, as at September 2026, average 10.2 days of 40°C or more in January at Bourke Airport, and 19.4 days at or below freezing in July at Cabramurra. Ask the contractor which months they would schedule coating work in your area.

Crack filling and a basic recoat can be done yourself with resurfacer kits, but even colour and straight lines are harder than they look, and a DIY coat over structural cracks is likely to crack again. If you hire it out, ask about licensing. The NSW Government says a contractor licence is needed for residential building or trade work worth more than $5,000, labour and materials including GST. The Home Building Act 1989 excludes concrete tennis courts from its definition of a dwelling, unless the court is built for use with a dwelling and the work is done under a contract for other residential building work. So how the job is contracted can change which rules apply.

The only part of the NSW Codes SEPP naming tennis courts covers building one. A new tennis court is exempt development only on a lot of at least 1 hectare in a rural zone or Zone R5, not on heritage items or in heritage conservation areas or environmentally sensitive areas. It must also be for residential use with a dwelling, sit behind the building line, have no lighting, need no more than 600 mm of cut or fill, be at least 5 m from side and rear boundaries, and be the only court on the lot. No complying development code in the SEPP mentions tennis courts. For a recoat, ask your council whether approval is needed.

NSW Crown Lands says that when development on a Crown reserve needs a development application or complying development certificate, landowner's consent must come from the Minister or the Department. The reserve's Crown land manager, or a club holding a lease or licence, cannot give that consent itself. Low-impact work that clearly fits the kinds listed in section 2.23(2) of the Crown Land Management Act 2016 has deemed consent instead. If it is unclear whether your job fits, contact the Department. A lease or licence term that requires ministerial consent overrides that deemed consent. Allow time for this step before booking new courts or lighting.

Acrylic is the traditional hard-court surface. It costs less upfront, gives a faster ball speed and needs recoating from time to time. How often depends on sun, use and how early cracks are treated, and courts under heavy shade are more prone to moss and algae, which shortens coating life if left untreated. Synthetic grass is softer underfoot with less glare and generally needs full replacement less often, but it costs more to install and the infill sand needs periodic topping up. Which suits you depends on how the court is used and your maintenance budget.