Maitland District Netball Association’s new president Kim Starkey toured the construction site with other committee members and Maitland City Council staff on Thursday as the finishing touches were being put on the facility.

The $1.3 million structure, expected to be officially opened in March, features a canteen, change rooms, administration areas, a first aid room, umpires’ area and a covered awning.

“It’s previous [club] committees that have done all the work and got all the grant money, I’m just the lucky person who has come in on the end of this,” she said.

“It’s a beautiful building. It’s a great complex, not just for netball, but for the community. It’s going to bring us up into the current century. 

“There are lots of opportunities for functions and training.

“I believe that the facilities will help our association to thrive in the community and well into the future.”

Council’s community and recreation services manager Lynn Morton said netball was a popular sport in Maitland.

“It is important that council supports and helps to grow the sport through delivering modern top-quality facilities,” she said. 

“Working closely with the Maitland District Netball Association, we have designed and constructed a building that we believe will be the envy of many netball communities throughout our region.”

Council funded the new facility at Maitland Park, with a significant contribution from Maitland District Netball Association, as part of its 2013-17 delivery program.