Sporting a helmut and fluoro jacket Mosman Mayor Anne Connon helped start construction on the council’s $3.5 million Drill Hall Sports Centre in Cross St.

The new multi-purpose sporting complex will feature bike and walking paths plus a hall with one indoor court, which would be used for netball, wheelchair basketball, hockey and futsal (indoor soccer).

The project – due for completion in August 2010 – is being supported by a $2 million grant from the Federal Government’s community infrastructure project.

Cr Connon said the new centre had been designed to be “sympathetic” to the heritage-listed 1917 drill hall building.

“This exciting project has a great environmental theme,” she said.

“Not only will much of the material from the site be used at the old Rawson Park netball courts, but it will also form new landscaping creating a link to the neighbouring Sydney Harbour Federation Trust area.” The council will manage the project with help from specialist consultants.