BFL chief executive officer Rod Ward said a prolonged redevelopment of a court at AUSTAR Arena was just the tip of the problem.

"I think it's symbolic of netball in Ballarat at the moment," Mr Ward said.

"Redan still don't even have a court while Sebastopol's has been unsafe to play on all season."

North City Football Netball Club has been waiting for a new court at AUSTAR Arena since rejoining the BFL in September.

Initial plans were to build a court behind the gym in the main stadium.

North Ballarat Football Club chief executive officer Mark Patterson said that location could hinder long-term master planning of the precinct and, also budget-wise, it was best to rebuild a court on its existing location.

Mr Patterson said the club wanted to make sure the $40,000 project was done right the first time, despite the frustration of North City netballers.

The project is expected to be complete in time to host the Lexton Plains Football League grand finals in early September.

A netball court at City Oval for Redan netballers has been in the pipeline since 1992.

Mr Ward said a renewed appeal this season for a court at one of the league's marquee precincts was still waiting for a planning permit from the City of Ballarat.

Redan netballers have been playing on courts at nearby Ballarat & Clarendon College junior school in Mair St.

Sebastopol reached a stalemate over the summer with Ballarat City Council with the unsafe playing surface at its Marty Busch Reserve base for the 2008 season.

The court is located on council land and the club pays user fees to play there.

A new surface, fencing and shelters are required in what the Sebastopol Football Netball Club estimated was a $40,000 project.

Sebastopol netball director Georgina Bryant was told council had no funds to upgrade the court in the short-term and has been forced to find innovative sources of funding.

"We didn't realise it was going to be such a long-term thing and we're at a real stand still," Ms Bryant said.

Sebastopol netballers have secured the use of St James Primary School for the season, but Ms Bryant said the club missed out on gate and canteen revenue.

A meeting between the club, the council and the BFL will re-address the issue next week.

City of Ballarat sustainability director Ian Rossiter said the council was conscious of ensuring football and netball remained inclusive and recreation remained a priority.

Mr Rossiter said the city was hit hard with funding requests from bowls, soccer, football and cricket clubs struggling with dry, hard grounds.

He encouraged netball clubs to approach the State Government's Department of Planning and Community Development Country Football and Netball Program.

Mr Rossiter said the city would continue to work in partnership with the league and clubs on issues.