As part of the works, about 200 timber piles will be driven into the ground to support the concrete slab and the structures above, which include the grandstand, amenities and multipurpose building.

Maitland mayor Loretta Baker said it was a milestone for the project, which will be of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) standards.

"It's an important milestone, and we are starting to see how it's going to look. It's very exciting. It's an international standard athletics centre," Cr Baker said.

"For our young athletes, this is going to be amazing.

"Once complete, this athletics facility will be a welcome addition to the high quality sporting options already available in the city.

"Once the whole precinct is complete, we are going to have an amazing facility which is sure to attract much interest from all over NSW and further afield."

The Athletics Centre Project is stage two of the broader three stage Maitland Regional Sportsground Precinct, which will include further infrastructure such as new fencing, a fitness track and equipment, amphitheatre seating, new LED scoreboard and lighting upgrade for No.1 Sportsground.

Until now, significant below ground works have been completed with the pavement foundation for the track to be installed in the next few months.

Council's projects and building manager Graeme Matthews said this next stage marked an important milestone for the facility, and people will start to see the project develop.

"Until this stage, we have all civil works such as drainage and leveling," he said.

"This is the start of the actual building work. It's absolutely a milestone."

The $10.5 million Athletics Centre Project is jointly funded by Maitland Council and the NSW Government under the Restart NSW Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund.

It is expected the Athletics Centre project will wrap up about June next year.