Council had been hoping to construct fields for soccer and hockey as well as a pavilion as part of the Gippsland Regional Sports Complex at the corner of Gibsons and Cobains Rds, Sale, but these works required about $2.5 million from the State Government.

Council chief executive Lyndon Webb said this week that funding, on top of the $500,000 already committed by the State, was unlikely at this stage.

The failure to obtain the additional funds won't affect plans for 12 outdoor netball courts and an indoor stadium, featuring four courts for netball and basketball.

The Federal Government has already committed $3.25 million, with more than $3 million budgeted for by council to ensure this stage of the project goes ahead.

Change room facilities, intended for the pavilion, will be incorporated into the stadium design.

"We'll still achieve a fantastic outcome, but a couple of sports will have to wait,'' Mr Webb said.

He said work on the complex would begin soon, adding potential user groups for the complex would be kept informed.

"We've had a six-month delay while sorting out the funding,'' Mr Webb said.

"But people will understand, because they're getting a better facility,'' he said.

The relocation of the East Gippsland Institute of TAFE from West Sale to a site between the South Gippsland Highway and Punt Lane necessitated a new site for the Sale Netball Association, prompting plans for the new sports complex.

The complex will also allow for the Sale-Maffra Badminton Association, which is already located on the site, to host bigger events.

Basketball will move from the OA Ruff Stadium to make way for an expansion of Central Gippsland Health Service.

The CGHS expansion could eventually take in Sale Oval, with football and cricket ovals included in future stages of the sports complex.