GLENN Eastwell is upbeat about planning progress so far on re-laying a synthetic hockey surface at Queens Park.

Following the announcement by Sports Minister Phil Reeves of a grant of $481,670 for a new synthetic surface, officers from his department visited Warwick to discuss a written agreement which had been prepared for the project and was conditional on Southern Downs Regional Council carrying out flood mitigation work to alleviate the impact of future flooding events.

Eastwell heads the committee with the responsibility to organise the laying of a new synthetic surface and the construction of new fencing and dug outs.

He said the committee was looking strongly at signing up for the same surface which would be used for the 2012 Olympics in London.

"We may lay a blue coloured surface, dubbed London blue, which has been updated from the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and Youth Olympics in Singapore," Eastwell said.

He said the company which supplied the blue field totally glued its surfaces to the underlay.

"The current one (rolled up by the flood) was held by the weight of the sand," Eastwell said.

"The proposed new surface will only use one third of the water of the current one and only need water at the start of play each day."

He is happy with the co-operation of Southern Downs Regional Council and all councillors in relation to the flood levy.

"They have helped us out in every way possible," Eastwell said.

Department of Communities officials who travelled to Warwick to meet hockey officials were Sport and Recreation Services Infrastructure Development Unit manager Pamela Greet and senior development officer Geno Costin.

Last night, the committee was holding its weekly meeting as it hopes to fast track construction of the new surface so it is ready for the 2012 season and next year's junior state championships.