Constructionof Dunstan High School's $2.3 million gymnasium is starting and the facility is due to open in September.
School principal Dave Smyth said the Ministry of Education provided funding for it through two grants, after planning started two years ago.
Mr Smyth said the multipurpose facility would include a top-of-the-line sporting floor, training room, versatile indoor area, changing rooms, and two classrooms able to be converted into one larger learning space.
On its completion, the school will give back two pre-fabricated classrooms to the ministry, as part of its funding agreement.
The 1300sq m complex will be primarily used by the school, although community sports teams and groups, as well as the general public, will be able to utilise all it has to offer.
Mr Smyth said many of the area's sport teams had no base, and faced difficulty when hosting teams from outside the district during tournaments.
"We've never had a facility where we can properly host teams. Being able to provide a space where they can train, get changed and eat, will be a huge benefit," he said.
The Molyneux Park stadium had been used, although its facilities were limited, and the high school's gym was to eventually complement a planned upgrade of the community recreation grounds.
After school hours, and in conjunction with use by sporting teams, the gym will be available for public use, such as yoga or pilates classes.
Dunstan High School's head of physical education, health, and outdoor education, John Mawhinney, said in the five to 10 years it would take for Molyneux's upgrade, planners would be able to ascertain demand for sporting and recreation services in the town by analysing Dunstan's gym use.
"It will be a good opportunity for the Vincent Community Board to see how the community uses our school gym, and determine demand for the future," he said.
Mr Smyth said although some concerns had been raised by the community about the school's gym duplicating a planned upgrade of Molyneux Park, both facilities would be needed.
"I don't think the lights will ever go off in this place, because I can see huge demand and future growth," he said.
Local contractors have been employed to develop the gym complex, which will back on to Enterprise St.
Mr Smyth said neighbouring residents had supported the development, which would also include a bus bay, keeping the street free of waiting school buses in the future.
