The government and the Christchurch City Council have agreed to shake hands over funding for the city's metro sports anchor project.

The fate of the facility has been up in the air, with plans in a holding pattern due to uncertainty around costs.

The Crown has now agreed to fork out more than 70-million dollars to get it up and running.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Bronwlee is pleased the project can finally go ahead.

"What happens from here is that we can go ahead with preparations that will lead to a contract being let with early groundworks hopefully starting in 2016."

The council's contribution will stay at $147 million with the facility due to open in 2019.

Christchurch netballers are relieved to finally have some certainty.

Netball Mainland's Brigit Hearn says since the earthquakes, players have had no choice, but to train at undesirable locations.

"We've got some parts of the community that are playing their netball on grass courts. There's a complete lack of indoor facilities."