An ambitious AS$30m (£14.9m, US$21.5m, €19.3m) netball facility is being designed in Queensland, Australia, which is expected to benefit thousands of elite, grassroots and school players in the region.

Curtis Pitt, Queensland’s minister for sport, revealed that local architects BVN will design the State Netball Centre based in Brisbane, Queensland’s capital city.

The eight-court facility will also come with a training centre and administration offices for Netball Queensland, the regional governing body. On-site work is expected to commence later this year, with an expected opening date in late 2017.

“This is a sound investment for the future of netball in our state because it will deliver a much-needed home base for netball, create around 100 jobs during construction as well as ongoing work for events staff when it opens, and deliver a facility that will help netball players and teams at all levels,” said Pitt.

Netball Queensland chief executive Catherine Clark said the facility would “provide us with an amazing opportunity to be able to grow and expand the sport at all levels”.

“For our community to be able to have a place to call home and for young fans and players to be able to train and participate alongside their Queensland Firebirds (the local elite franchise) heroes will be a very proud and memorable day in the history of our sport,” she added.

Franchises asked to bid for Netball Superleague place

England Netball launches walking version to boost accessibility