THE new multi-purpose courts at Bonnells Bay were officially opened on Sunday, and Morisset Netball Club players simply couldn't wait for the formalities.
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Excited young netballers arrived early in their parents' cars and ran directly to the courts to enjoy the new facilities.
There would be no waiting for the scheduled 10am opening ceremony, nor the guest speakers, nor ribbon cutting - the club had waited long enough.
About 20 years, in fact.
"Less-dedicated people would surely have given up," member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper's senior electoral officer, Dianne Sykes, said of the long but committed lobbying campaign.
One of those campaigners, Morisset Netball Club life member Madeline Allen, said the long wait would ensure the courts were appreciated and well used.
"Morisset Netball Club started in 1950 and in 1968 started playing on three grass courts at Bernie Goodwin Oval," Ms Allen said.
Since the demise of those courts, the club has used courts in local schools as a training base.
Club president Fiona Knight said the new facilities at Bonnells Bay Youth and Community Centre would have a huge impact on the club.
"We've trained on sub-standard school courts for so many years," she said.
"To now have this new facility is absolutely amazing."
About 130 young players from the club's 14 teams would use the courts, she said.
The courts feature goal posts which, at the turn of a key, can swivel to present a netball hoop or a basketball hoop.
The courts, which can also be used for sports such as futsal, occupy the space that formerly housed the skate park.
As part of the project, the skate park was transplanted to a new location at the centre, and updated - much to the delight of local youths.
The project was funded through $373,000 of developer contributions levied by Lake Macquarie City Council, and an $85,000 grant acquired in 2011 by Bonnells Bay Progress Association from the state government's community partnership program.
Association president Col Roach commended Mr Piper for his support and thanked council officers for developing a plan for the site that incorporates the addition of cricket practice nets, a playground, a soccer kick wall and another smaller community centre.
