Darwin will finally get a dedicated rugby league stadium, after the Northern Territory Government brought forward plans for the $25 million sports facility.

Key points: Work on new rugby league and netball complex to begin in 2017/18

Work on new rugby league and netball complex to begin in 2017/18 Rugby league stadium to cost $25m, with $10 for netball facility

Rugby league stadium to cost $25m, with $10 for netball facility Decision to house complex at Warren Park a change from previous CLP government plan.

The move announced today by NT Tourism and Culture Minister Lauren Moss will bring forward the project by four years and should see work on the stadium begin in the 2017/18 financial year.

An additional $10 million was also announced today to go towards a new indoor netball stadium at the same complex.

Under the plans the two stadiums will be built at Warren Park in Marrara, across the road from Marrara Stadium, the longtime home of AFL in Darwin.

Ms Moss said the development would help boost the economy and also provide a "top class facility for our community".

"We know that we need to be providing local projects and local jobs for local people, as well as providing fantastic facilities for Territorians," he said.

But Ms Moss was not able to give any details on what the expected capacity of the new rugby league stadium would be, or how parking and public transport problems around the Marrara spots precinct would be resolved.

'It seems to have come out of the blue'

The Parramatta Eels have also been playing one game per season at TIO Stadium, but Ms Moss was unable to commit to bringing that game to the new "home of rugby league".

NRL NT general manager Nigel Roy said he was "very happy" the Government had decided to invest in a stadium at Marrara.

"There's been a general consultation process that not only the league has gone through but the Government has gone through, and we're very happy they're going to invest in Marrara." he said.

But the president of the Nightcliff Dragons, Stem Edwards, said that was not the case.

"To me it seems to have come out of the blue. I'm the president of Nightcliff rugby league and as far as I know the other presidents are in the dark too," Mr Edwards said.

"They've got to start from scratch, I don't know how far $25 million will go.

"And it's not going to be a rugby league ground, it's going to be a rugby union [ground] and whatever else goes with it."

Finally a home for rugby league in the NT

The announcement of the development of Warren Park as Darwin's home of rugby league may to bring an end to a long running saga over the development of a new stadium for rugby league.

The former CLP Government promised $20 million to redevelop Darwin's historic home of rugby league — Richardson Park — then reversed that decision.

Ms Moss said she was confident the $25 million allocated would be enough, but said the ground would be "progressively developed".

"I think we can get a really great home for NRL NT under this project," she said.

Hopes netball stadium will attract national team

Mr Edwards said he and a group of local businessmen were in the process of trying to redevelop Richardson Park as the home ground of both Nightcliff and Brother rugby league clubs.

Netball NT executive officer Shelley Haynes welcomed the announcement of a new indoor stadium for her sport, saying she hoped it would attract the national team to the Top End.

"That's part of the business case, we want to attract the Diamonds and have other international games," she said.