WHILE engineers and councillors of the Southern Downs Regional Council continue to debate the best design for Warwick Hockey's flood levee bank, the Hockey Association is working hard for the return of the sport for 2012.

The summer floods tore through the Warwick Association Queens Park base, destroying fences, washing away team dug outs and rolling up the Olympic-standard playing surface like paper.

Hope was restored a fortnight ago, thanks to a grant from the Queensland Government. State Sports Minister Phil Reeves presented the association with a cheque for $481, 670 to replace the playing surface and other infrastructure. However, that money relies on the Southern Downs Regional Council building a levee back to protect the playing surface.

Although the uncertainty about the future of the flood levee bank hangs over their heads, the flood committee - made up of Peter Pickering, Sam Farrell, Bernie Trapp, Glenn Eastwell and Sheryl Windle - has pushed ahead planning the 2012 season.

Warwick is set to host the Queensland state under-13 boy's championships in June 2012, with more than 50 teams converging on Warwick.

That means not only squads, managers and coaches but also their families.

"This will pump some much-needed funds into the club and into the Warwick community," Mr Eastwell said.

"Motels will be booked out, plus food outlets will be busy feeding the boys and families.

"Not to mention the retail outlets, with the mums visiting the shops in the CBD. All up, we estimate this week-long carnival will bring the Warwick community upwards of $300,000."

Hockey Queensland is also close to announcing the Veterans State Championships, which Warwick Hockey is hoping to host. It is expected to attract upwards of 40 teams, plus family members.

"If we host these championships we can expect the local pubs to also get a generous cut of the money brought into the town," he said.

With no synthetic playing surface, Warwick hockey was put on hold this year with those wishing to play hockey on synthetic turf trekking to Toowoomba.

Four teams entered the competition - Warwick vets, Warwick A2 men, Warwick A3 Ladies and seven women who competed in a Toowoomba A2 team, Past High.

The result was one mid-season cup, two minor premierships, three grand finals and a premiership win - an amazing result for the four teams that were unable to train together as a team in Warwick.

"This shows the strength in Warwick Hockey and proves the talent that has been developed and brought through our junior and senior competitions," Mrs Windle said.

"We have a long and rich history with Australian players as well as two Olympic medallists who grew up with Warwick hockey.

"The last thing we wanted to do was walk away."

The Warwick Hockey Association was formed in 1929 and joined with the Warwick and District Women's Hockey Association in 1991.

With the help of the then Warwick Council, the first synthetic turf was laid in 1998, and replaced 18 months ago with a newer surface.

The committee admits it was depressing seeing the concrete slab where the turf once was, but 2011 has not been a complete loss to Warwick hockey.

"The positives have been the support we have received from Bunnings Warwick, the Condamine Sports Club, Commonwealth Bank Metricon, Australian Men's Masters, Queensland Hockey and other individuals who have all helped us so much," she said.

"As well as the Southern Downs Regional Council and Lawrence Springborg, who have done so much for the association.

"Hockey members and individuals not involved in hockey at all have also contributed a lot of volunteer labour. In particular with the major clean-up after the floods and ongoing repair work. These people did this with the view in mind that hockey would be able to continue in the future."

Warwick Hockey was not the only club looking forward to new turf being laid.

"Kanga Cricket uses the synthetic turf as they play under lights," Mr Eastwell said. "It is not just Warwick hockey that uses the playing surface."

"There is also Assumption College and Warwick State High School that play competitive hockey against other schools and Scots play in our weekly competition."

With the promise of a new turf, retired players are pulling out the hockey sticks from the back of the cupboard to play in the 2012 season.

"Before the floods we had 120 juniors signed up as well as 130 or more seniors."

"We would love to see old faces as well as new faces signed up and support Warwick Hockey once the new turf is laid."