The project will introduce district level facilities for the Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills communities.

The community can look forward to, in stage one, the delivery of turf playing fields with flood lighting, the primary access and carpark, accessible playground, one of the multi-use courts, temporary amenities and user group storage, surrounding footpath connections, viewing shelters and landscaping.

The $6 million first stage is funded through developer contributions collected as part of the Rainbow Beach Estate subdivision.

The complex will be located directly behind Lake Cathie Public School.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council says future stages are subject to funding.

The complete facility has been designed to include four soccer fields, two cricket pitches, one AFL field, four multi-use basketball/netball courts, two cricket training nets and an accessible playground.

The start of construction of stage one is listed as an immediate priority project in the council's Recreation Action Plan which gives a framework for the provision of recreational facilities across the area.

The council says the fields will provide the opportunity to draw sporting teams and visitors both locally and from the wider state and relieve demand on existing sporting facilities.