Work has begun on a much-needed upgrade of the Rotorua netball courts - a revamp expected to cost between $1.2 million and $1.5m.
Initial work at the Westbrook courts started in December with extensive engineering work to increase the footprint of the complex and improve drainage.
Netball Rotorua secretary MaryThompson said the club was excited to see the revamp get under way.
"Nothing has been done to the courts in our time there and we've been there 21 years.
Work at the Westbrook sports complex. Photo/ Ben Fraser
"The courts were not in a dangerous condition but they definitely needed work. They started to become slippery when wet, cracks were appearing and we were having drainage issues too."
Ms Thompson said they were in stage one of the upgrade which was the civil works in preparation of re-laying eight courts with rubber.
"We are really excited about the new rubber surface going down ... it will be much more gentle on the players and will mean a lot less knee, ankle and body injuries."
The number of courts will be reduced from 20 to 16 and eight of the new courts will be premier courts which have umpire run lines for safety.
Part of the neighbouring rugby field has been taken over to include this addition.
Ms Thompson said the cost would be shared between Rotorua Netball, Rotorua Lakes Council and funding applications.
Work at the Westbrook sports complex. Photo/ Ben Fraser
A council spokeswoman said funding for phase one, which will cost the council $489,000, was included in the 2015-25 Long-term Plan. Costs for the second phase were yet to be confirmed and will depend on the level of external funding which can be found.
Council sports and recreation manager Rob Pitkethley said the council had been working alongside Netball Rotorua to design the project.
"Netball Rotorua knows the game inside out and it was important that we sought the organisation's help to design the courts so the facility meets Netball New Zealand standards," he said.
Mr Pitkethley said sloped banks at the site had been flattened out and will allow for better spaces for people to watch weekend and tournament games.
Phase two is scheduled to get under way next summer.
This work will focus on resurfacing with a rubberised product and upgrading the lights.
Council sports and recreation portfolio lead Charles Sturt welcomed the upgrade.
"I'm excited by this project as Netball Rotorua has waited a while for it to happen which should mean fewer injuries when the new state of the art surface is installed. It's good to see that years of dedication by Netball Rotorua to raise funds for this are finally becoming a reality."
