LOCALS will soon be free to croquet all day as work begins on a $3.2 million centre at Glendale.
Lake Macquarie City Council hopes the project at Bill Bower Oval will attract elite players from across the country to compete in the city.
The new facility boasts six croquet courts built to national competition standards, an amenity building, field lighting and parking spaces - allowing the sport to be played on weekends.
Toronto Croquet Club vice president and chair of the relocation committee Allan Graham said he hopes the centre will usher in a new era for the sport.
"It means a lot to us, specifically for the fact we can play seven days a week and evening croquet with lighting systems on some of the courts," he said.
"Croquet is popular and it's a relatively cheap sport, it can be as serious as you want to make it.
"We believe that because we'll be able to offer seven day a week play that we will attract a younger population who can play of a weekend - it's a non-contact sport, it's physically easy because you're generally walking but it's a bit like snooker in that there's some mind work involved as well."
Members range in age from school children to one of their more vintage members who turned 97 this week and is still playing.
He said the new centre will be the only one in the state with six lawns.
The club first approached the council about 12 years ago asking for a standalone croquet centre.
At the moment, the Toronto Croquet Club plays at Ron Hill Oval and feeds into the cricket season.
"The old premises was made on the surrounds of the cricket oval and it wasn't properly drained, it was quite irregular and difficult to get flat surfaces - it was a struggle," Mr Graham said.
"We're anxiously waiting for these lawns to be finished, when it opens next year we're planning to have some come and try days that will be open to everyone."
The new centre is already set to host the Australian Gateball Championship in 2025.
By giving the croquet club their own centre, the game can be played year-round.
It's set to be completed in January, 2024 and is part of the council's $118.8m capital works program for 2023-24.
A council spokesman said the croquet centre was identified in a development contributions plan in 2015, which was adopted in 2016.
"The Lake Macquarie croquet community has advocated to council for more than 20 years for the provision of a dedicated croquet facility in the area, resulting in the project identified in the Development Contributions Plan," he said.
"It is expected the facility will be used most days of the week, particularly during summer weekends, and the facility will encourage increased participation in the sport."
Three croquet clubs operate across the city, at Toronto, Pelican and West Wallsend. The council recently delivered two croquet lawns and shared sports areas at Aitchison Reserve for the Pelican Croquet Club.
The council spokesman said participation data shows croquet largely appeals to older participants.
"Our population is ageing and it is crucial to provide opportunities in our community for older people to socialise and remain physically active and mentally stimulated," he said.
The project was originally planned for a site on TC Frith Drive at Boolaroo, which turned out to be unsuitable.
According to the council, construction of the centre won't affect the existing sports fields and facilities and there will be no changes to public access to Bill Bower Oval.
Work on the shared pathway connecting the facility has finished.
