The petition, an initiative of the Gisborne Indoor Stadium steering committee, will be tabled at the council meeting in Kyneton on Wednesday.

It will be presented with more than 30 letters of support from community groups.

The committee, made up of volunteers from sporting and community groups, was formed early this year.

Committee spokesman David Williamson said the response to the petition had been overwhelming. "The amount of support that has been received is fantastic. Feedback from the community is that a stadium in Gisborne will be well received."

He said the committee had gained support for the stadium from a number of potential user groups involved in netball, basketball, cricket, soccer, martial arts, yoga and football as well as primary schools, playgroups, child-care centres and kindergartens.

Mr Williamson said the idea of the indoor sports stadium had been discussed for at least two years.

"It's always been talked about but never taken to this point to get somewhere with it. Public awareness is the priority. From the community point of view we want to show there's support in the community."

He said a town the size of Gisborne was suffering because of the lack of sports facilities.

"You look at the climate and the population. Every sports club's membership is going out of control. Some can't recruit new kids because they can't play them and have nowhere to train them."

Mr Williamson said keeping children active and healthy was a priority.

"The community needs the support of council now to go to the next stage and push for funding. We had a dream of 3000 signatures and we've smashed our dream with support right through the community."

Mayor John Letchford agreed an indoor sports stadium in Gisborne would cater for multiple user groups from Gisborne and surrounding communities.

He said Buffalo Stadium in Woodend was currently at capacity and usage of the new $9.4million Kyneton Sports and Aquatic Centre, expected to be finished mid-next year, was growing.