The proposed $1.7 million hockey turf at King's High School in Dunedin would be ready for action by next season if the project was to go ahead, the Dunedin City Council says.
The council supported spending an unbudgeted $500,000 on the multipurpose facility during its annual plan deliberations last week.
The rest of the money for the project would come from the school and Otago Hockey, with each party paying a third of the cost.
The council's recreation planning and facilities manager, Jendi Paterson, said it was hoped work would begin soon on the development, provided it was signed off.
"My understanding and discussions with hockey indicate if the council resolutions are met, and $500,000 is invested in the project, third-party funding would be sorted with the project to be under way early in 2017 ready for some, if not all, of the winter codes season.''
The all-weather facility, which would be complete with lights and stands, would be backed by the council, including $10,000 in annual upkeep for 10 years, provided certain conditions were met.
Those conditions included council debt was lower than the forecast $220 million, appropriate terms and conditions for public use were met and the Ministry of Education formally agreed on the location.
The council also wanted to ensure a way to fund the ongoing maintenance was found and infrastructure in the area could support future demand.
The hockey turf would be the second major sporting facility built at the school recently, after an indoor cricket net complex was constructed earlier this year.
