But ACT chief minister Andrew Barr says the controversial multi-purpose Lyneham Beach Sports Facility, which was officially opened on Wednesday, will be a valuable addition to the area's growing sports precinct.

The total cost of the project has blown out to $1.063 million after it was initially set to have a price tag of $750,000 when announced in February last year.

The ACT government contributed $500,000 consisting of two grants of $250,000, while Volleyball ACT chipped in the other quarter of a million dollars.

Up to $200,000 will be spent on lighting and up to $80,000 for the construction of stormwater improvements.

These additions were included in the development application lodged in April last year.

While only 600 people currently play beach volleyball in the ACT, the biggest selling point of the facility was its ability to be used by other sports.

Netball, soccer, rugby union, touch football, tennis, hockey and ultimate frisbee have all registered their interest to use the venue.

Barr was confident there would be enough users of the facility to justify the investment.

"The business case stacked up in that context," Barr said.

"Volleyball ACT have taken a risk here, too, in terms of their own capital.

"But the demonstration and the support from the other sports, the fact there is a need for a facility of this kind in this region, I think has clearly been demonstrated."

The facility features six full-size beach volleyball courts across an area of 2700 square metres situated behind the Lyneham Netball Centre.

Volleyball ACT chief executive Andrew Crozier admits the facility will be quiet during the colder winter months.

"That's why we worked with a business model where we cash in on the eight summer months and the four winter months will be a more difficult and challenging time," Crozier said.

"Our busiest times will be from September through to the end of April.

"May, June, July and August are pretty much the months where we will find it hard to engage, especially during the night.

"We've now got quality facilities people can actually use and we can engage with other sports."

ACT Shadow Minister for Sport, Steve Doszpot, said he would have preferred to see the money spent on indoor volleyball, which he said had around 3000 players in Canberra, or little athletics.

"I was getting representations from a lot of Little Athletics associations saying they need $50,000 to upgrade or refurbish their grounds because most, if not all, the little athletics grounds are below the accepted standard," Doszpot said.

"Volleyball hasn't got a centre of its own and they are operating out of the hockey centre.

"It's the prioritisation and looking at where the community needs the money.

"My understanding is beach volleyball has 150, if that many, active or registered players.

"I didn't see the need for a new beach volleyball facility based on the numbers they had planned."

Peter Chamberlain, who is the chairman of the Canberra Brave ice hockey team, hopes the funding for beach volleyball spills over into other niche sports.

"I actually think it's a fantastic outcome for a minority, non-mainstream sport to get such wonderful funding from the government," Chamberlain said.

"And I cannot wait for the government to come forward with funds for other non-mainstream sports such as ice hockey, figure skating and broomball."

The facility will have its first test this weekend when more than 1200 beach volleyball players from across the country on Canberra for the 50th Good Neighbour Volleyball Tournament.