Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

City of Newcastle Council submissions attached.

It is clear the existing stadium is not fit for purpose and is terribly outdated. I have been attending the stadium for many years with my children and we have actually been rained out many times as the roof leaks. Also, on warmer days the floors become very slippery due to rising damp.

Over the years my family has travelled away to other towns and cities, in NSW and beyond, for representative sports and have experienced many fantastic facilities. What we have in Newcastle is embarrassingly bad for a city of this size. My family have spent thousands and thousands of dollars at sporting events in other places because they have facilities good enough to attract large events. How wonderful if Newcastle had this opportunity. Newcastle has an enormous amount of greenspace. And we want to keep this. Building this facility, in Lambton, will not result in a net loss of greenspace in Newcastle. It is well-researched that upstream approaches to public health are most effective for promoting populations that are healthy physically, mentally and socially. What a wonderful way to do this by providing an Indoor Sports Centre for our Community! Particularly those with a disability who need hard floors in order to mobilise independently and to participate in their sports. I work with people with disabilities and this is so important to them.

I have been to many of the community presentations and have heard how the Newcastle Basketball team have been so open and honest in answering questions and listening to concerns from all groups. The way they have accommodated these groups is a credit to them. We very much need this new Indoor Sports Centre at Lambton.

Please find following my submission explaining why I am opposed to the proposed plan to establish a very large basketball and indoor sports centre on Wallarah No 1 and 2 ovals and Blackley oval on Turton Road, New Lambton.

Beside the obvious concerns of traffic and parking, one of our major concerns is the potential for flooding of the surrounding residential homes.

The 3 ovals site has long been recognised as a flood zone. But observations in Appendic CC Flood Impact and Risk Assessment are focussed solely on the flood risk and impact on the proposed stadium.

The 3 ovals are bordered to the south by a path that a creek once took which is now named Ker-rai Creek, there is also a natural spring running into the stormwater drain from Arthur Edden oval.
The green space of the 3 ovals act as a sponge in times of heavy rain to reduce the runoff into the stormwater drain. Nature acting at its best.

To cover these ovals with concrete would have very serious impacts on the neighbourhood !!

The EIS outlines the flood management measures to protect the players and spectators in the event of a major flood event. Very little consideration has been given to control the impact on surrounding residential homes.

Bollards are to be installed on the southern side of the stadium to prevent vehicles washing into the stormwater drain. The mezzanine floor will be used as a flood refuge and is capable of holding 2000 players and patrons who have to be evacuated from the ground floor.
Rain water runoff from the roof will be collected in tanks installed on the western wall, with overflow directed to Ker-Rai Creek.
This will result in a rapid rise in the level of water in the stormwater drain and consequently in a period of extended rainfall will mean that surrounding residents homes will be inundated with flood water.

To install these radical measures of evacuation plans to the mezzanine floor and installation of car park bollards must be seen as acceptance by the planners that the very large roof area of the new stadium will overflow the collection tanks and inundate the homes in the surrounding streets .

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Our second major concern is the lack of any meaningful engagement and consultation by Newcastle Basketball with the affected residents.
When the proposal was first announced in March 2023, we the residents were completely blindsided. Since this time there has been no attempt by Newcastle Basketball to engage in any manner with me and my fellow neighbours as concerned residents of the area affected. This is very disappointing and I would have welcomed the chance for us both to interact to share our very real concerns.

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I acknowledge the need for Newcastle Basketball to replace their current stadium.
But they need to find a much more appropriate site. They should search for a site that will allow them to provide appropriate parking and room to expand as their numbers of players increase.

They also need to address the major shortfall in funding to complete the stadium as they have planned. At this time they will only have sufficient finances to build Stage 1, comprising 6 courts and a small carpark. To destroy the 3 ovals and not be able to complete the entire project would be unthinkable !!!

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The 3 ovals, namely Wallarah Nos 1 and 2 and Blackley oval, are simply the wrong site for their planned stadium for so many reasons.

We must preserve the green space of these 3 ovals for all the physical and mental benefits for future generations. For the residents, for the 1200 Lambton High School students, for the potential thousands of new families in the proposed housing in the Broadmeadow Concept plan and for the very young and the elderly citizens of the area.

Thank you for considering my submission, this is so important and we only have one chance to get it right.
Once the green space is gone it will be gone forever.






I have live

My objections fall into four categories: TRAFFIC - I live two blocks from the Wallarah and Blackley Ovals. Many of the houses, including mine have no off-street parking. Those that do often have cars parked out the front of their house as well. The houses directly across from me have off-street parking and rear lane access from a lane behind their homes. Nevertheless, they (or members of their family) routinely park on the street. The neighbour to my right at No. 16 has no off-street parking and he and his girlfriend park on the street. My neighbour to my right (20A) has off street parking and uses her garage but her neighbour (20B), also has a garage but the two of them park two cars on the street. From the top of Durham Road, near Young Road, all the way down the length, this is a typical situation. When my girlfiend visits, she commonly has trouble finding a place to park inside the block. When it is bin night, the parking situation becomes diabolical as residents attempt to fit bins between cars parked along the street. My experience of events at the nearby football stadium leads me to question the wisdom of locating an indoor sports stadium at Wallarah/Blackley ovals. Admittedly, the proposed indoor sports stadium will attract smaller crowds than the football stadium, however, what the residents in the area surrounding the proposed development experience is a) traffic jams at odd times (eg 10pm at night, after a football game as the crowd exits) and b) an inability to access their homes when an event is on. This does two things: a) it reduces the opportunities for residents, such as inviting a number of people to a birthday party and b) it increases the risks for local residents involved in emergencies. Access by emergency vehicles would be severely limited at the time of any event at the proposed Indoor Sports Stadium. LOSS OF GREEN SPACE - The loss of green open space would be detrimental to the local community who use the ovals for a) Lambton High sports, b) soccer and c) cricket. The changes underway in the Broadmeadow are mean the population will rise dramatically over the next decade or two. It is highly likely Lambton High will have to expand to accommodate extra children. FLOODING - The area around the proposed development often floods and indeed has a canal running alongside of the development site. Raising the ground level at the proposed site (and attendant run-off from the rooves) will increase the amound of water attempting to enter the canal and at present, when there is excess water in the canal, it flows into nearby streets and the Ovals. Newcastle is built on a river delta. The water coming through this canal starts as far away as Kotara and Cardiff. The proposed development does not deal with increased flows. Water flows to the lowest point. In any development, every effort will be made to ensure the courts aren't flooded. This will mean in reality, instead of the ovals acting as sinks, the water will flow into Lambton High and nearby houses, to the south around Monash Road. This will be a double whammy. When an event is on, there will be traffic chaos and when there is rain, there will be flooding. LACK OF COMMUNITY CONSULTATION - I attended the consultation meeting at Lambton High . This was the only meeting outside the (friendly crowd) drop in consultations at the Basketball Stadium. This meeting was not open to everyone, as it had been organised through the LHS P&C. The reception was nevertheless, hostile. There were no more meetings involving open sessions with locals after this. One of the aspects of discussions at the LHS meeting, was the height of the Indoor Sports Staduim. I recall the proponents saying at the LHS meeting, the show court would have a roof 6 stories high. The size of this development has been seriously understated by the proponent. A 6 story building adjacent to Lambton High will forever change (for the worse) the amenity of the school.

I’m writing a submission to object to the proposed project of the Hunter Indoor Sporting Centre. I am feeling distressed and concerned about the loss of green space and the effects the development will have on current sporting clubs that utilise the space. Over many years my own family have used this space for cricket and soccer and I am sure the loss of this space would be devastating for those clubs. This development also will have major implications for the Lambton High School . Lambton High School have access to 2 undercover basketball courts, 2 half basketball courts and a fully indoor court in their multi purpose centre. They do not need access to more basketball courts. What they do need is open green space to fulfil their curriculum of sports including: touch football, oz tag, grid iron, AFL, cricket, javelin, t-ball, softball - all the sports that are played on grass.
There is mention that there are other ovals locally but if students need to leave the school to walk out of grounds this then becomes an excursion. 2 teachers will be required. This will reduce the amount of time they participate in their PHHPE lesson and may result in them not fulfilling the hours required to meet curriculum.
The students also use the ovals at lunch time to play informal sport or just sit out in nature with their friends. Green space is important to the mental health of young people " especially in terms of reduced stress, positive mood, less depressive symptoms, better emotional well-being, improved mental health and behaviour, and lower psychological distress. All these are points are of high importance especially in terms of students today not engaging in outdoor activities. Not only effecting students but a flow on effect to the teachers creating more stress and pressure for teachers who already have an overwhelming amount of pressure.
The High School also uses the space as its emergency evacuation area.
Traffic chaos: I live in close proximity and as resident I have a good understanding of the local road network and how congested the area becomes when the Knights, Jets, hockey, concerts are on. Even on a standard evening between 4-7 the roads are particularly busy as children are ferried around to sports and people return home from work. The left turn in and out of Turton rd is a logistical nightmare. The cars coming from the North, East and West will be unable to turn directly into the stadium so will need to navigate the narrow residential streets nearby in order to access the car park. When car parking is full they will then park on the residential streets and walk into the stadium thus creating even more congestion and chaos for local residents. Basketball are suggesting at peak times - weekdays 4-8pm there will be 500 people per hour accessing the stadium yet 220 car parks and people not leaving on the hour every hour
Entry will be left turn in off't urton rd with exit also left turn out on turton road so one way cars will be heading in the wrong direction. What will the impact be on Turton rd of all these extra cars? The traffic report says the extra cars will be minimal yet basketball says 500 per hour. Because cars will either be unable to access it on way in (coming from North, East or West) and unable to return home on exit - the local streets will be used as a rat run - Young, Womboin, Wallarah, Monash and all the surrounding streets. These were not looked at in the traffic study
There was no ongoing engagement with the local residents - no surveys, community meetings.

• Flooding
The green space is in a known flood zone - houses went under in 2007
Pasher bulker storm, it may be difficult to get insurance. Ovals currently soak up a lot of the water, where will this go when it rains heavily. The drain fills quickly and the only mitigation measures in the flood report are rain tanks for run off. Flood mentions that the car park may flood so if worried to park in residential streets instead.
I understand that the basketball stadium is outdated and community should have a state of the art facility but the location of Wallarah and Blakey ovals is definitely not a suitable for the proposed development.
Lake Macquarie Council rejected the proposal yet Newcastle Council has been considering the development in an area that is already congested with McDonald Jones Stadium and The Hockey Fields.
Please consider local residents and how this development will impact their home life. With relentless street congestion becoming intolerable . Increased risks of flooding. Also the impact of the actual construction and heavy trucks and street closures. These residents already tolerate heavy congestion and inconvenience with current sporting events and this would be the worst outcome for them creating daily unrelenting chaos and stress. The stadium will have
2 x outdoor half courts and an outdoor gym on Monash rd not accounted for in noise, safety, lighting reports - sometimes referred to as for the community other times referred to as warm up courts. Outdoor seating and gathering areas also on bike path opposite houses for teams to catch up, debrief - impact of this noise on nearby residents especially shift workers
I am in favour of a development on the current site of the basketball stadium as it is in close proximity to public transport and there is ample space to accommodate the building and have minimal impact on surrounding residents.
Another option in my view would be to develop the Entertainment Centre into the Basketball Complex as this allows for ample parking and is also close to public transport . The Entertainment Centre previously has hosted basketball games so this would not be a foreign option

As a dedicated parent of basketball-playing children and a former player myself, I fully support the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre. This facility is not just an addition to our community; it is a much-needed investment that will benefit families, athletes, schools, and the wider community for generations to come. The approval and construction of this indoor sports center will provide our children and youth with a safe, high-quality venue where they can practice, compete, and develop their skills while promoting physical health, social interaction, and a sense of community.

1. A Central Hub for Youth Development and Sporting Excellence

The proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre will offer more than just basketball courts. It promises a state-of-the-art environment that will foster youth development and promote sporting excellence across multiple disciplines. With modern facilities, young athletes will have access to the tools and environment they need to hone their skills. Many of these children have dreams of pursuing sports to higher levels—whether at local, state, or even national levels. An indoor sports center will allow for uninterrupted, year-round training, shielding athletes from weather disruptions and providing a consistent venue for improvement.

Moreover, the facility will cater to multiple sports, which encourages children to explore different activities, reducing burnout and promoting physical literacy. This versatility is crucial, as it opens doors for many kids who may otherwise lack access to professional-grade facilities.

2. Health and Wellness Benefits for Our Community

The construction of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre will have a far-reaching impact on the health and wellness of our community. Physical activity is a crucial component of healthy child development, fostering both physical and mental well-being. By providing a venue that encourages regular exercise, this facility can play a significant role in combating the growing issue of childhood obesity and sedentary lifestyles. In addition, research shows that physical activity has positive effects on mental health, reducing stress and anxiety—a benefit that will extend to children, teens, and adults alike.

In a community-driven space like the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre, people of all ages will find opportunities to engage in physical activities. The ripple effect is profound: families that play and train together create stronger bonds, and individuals who participate in group activities feel a stronger sense of belonging. These positive health and wellness benefits will enhance our community’s quality of life for many years to come.

3. Economic Benefits and Job Creation

The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre is an investment in our region’s economy. Its construction will create numerous job opportunities, from the initial building phase to ongoing operational roles within the facility. By providing employment to local residents, the sports center will contribute to the economic stability of our area, making it a vital project from a financial perspective as well.

Moreover, once completed, this facility will attract sports events, tournaments, and visitors from surrounding areas. These events will generate revenue for local businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and retail stores, creating a positive economic ripple effect across the community. In addition, the center could serve as a venue for schools, community events, and sports camps, further boosting its role as an economic driver and community resource.

4. A Safe and Inclusive Space for All Ages and Abilities

One of the greatest strengths of an indoor sports facility is its inclusivity. The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre will be an environment where people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities are welcome. Whether it’s young children learning fundamental skills, teens refining their techniques, adults engaging in recreational leagues, or seniors participating in low-impact activities, this center can serve a wide demographic. Importantly, it will provide a safe and welcoming space where families can come together, fostering community pride and social cohesion.

Additionally, the center will provide an accessible space for individuals with disabilities to engage in sports, creating an inclusive environment that celebrates and supports diversity. In a community that values equality, the creation of such a space is both timely and essential.

5. Supporting Lifelong Healthy Habits and Community Spirit

Facilities like the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre play a pivotal role in establishing lifelong habits for physical fitness and well-being. By instilling these values at a young age, we are setting our children up for healthier, more active futures. For children, access to a quality facility will allow them to develop a passion for sports, building discipline, teamwork, and resilience—qualities that go beyond the court and positively impact every area of their lives.

For former players like myself, as well as other parents and older adults, this center offers a valuable opportunity to stay active and engaged in sports we love. It allows us to share our experiences with the next generation and encourages a strong community spirit. The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre will not only develop skilled athletes; it will nurture a supportive, vibrant community connected through shared interests and goals.

Conclusion

In closing, I want to reiterate my unequivocal support for the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre. As a parent and former player, I am passionate about the positive impact this facility will bring to our community. It will be a place where families gather, children thrive, and athletes are nurtured. This sports center will provide a high-quality, inclusive, and safe space for recreational and competitive sports, promoting physical and mental health for all. It is an investment in our youth, our economy, and our community’s future, making it a vital project that deserves full support.

I urge decision-makers to approve the construction of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre. It is a facility that will bring value to our community for generations to come, inspiring a legacy of health, fitness, and community connection that we can all be proud of.

I have concerns regarding the building of the Basketball Stadium on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals for multiple reasons.

1. The complex is being built in a flood area. I am extremely concerned this will have detrimental effects on surrounding residents, businesses, Lambton High School and sporting clubs. To my understanding no studies have been conducted to understand the impact the basketball stadium once created will have on these bodies. Increased flooding issues will also increase the costs of insurances premiums.
2. Currently these fields are used by multiple sporting bodies:
a). cricket
b). soccer
c). Hornets touch football training
d). students at Lambton High School
e). medieval groups
f). general public sprint training, walking animals etc
I am unsure how assigning this area soley to the basketball stadium is reasonable to the above mentioned groups. Taking away facilities forces these mentioned parties to hopefully relocate to a new location. Local sports are no longer 'local' as athletes will need to travel out of home suburbs to train and play matches. Convenience and accessibility is lost and can lead to fewer people participating in sport. For mental health reasons and health benefits we need to encourage people to participate in sport. I can not locate a survey which identifies the risk of people dropping out of sport due to Wallarah and Blackey Oval being overtaken by basketball.
Where will the students of Lambton High School train for sport and PE which is reasonable distance? Walking to a location 5 minutes away reduces the lesson time at least 10 minutes. This time does not calculate lost time waiting for traffic to cross a road and other possible delays. Lost time per period over a year is minimum 1200 minutes. Is this lost time acceptable by NSW Education?
For basketball and pickleball to soley use these facilities is forcing other sports and users from this location whose preference is to stay.
3. Parking. The number of parking spaces is greatly short of the expected visitor/player count expected by Newcastle Basketball. Providing insufficient infrastructure (parking spaces) will lead to visitors parking in the surrounding streets. This will put an incredible negative strain on the surrounding residents and businesses. In some streets such as Hitchcock Avenue which is a narrow street, parking on both sides of the street will create an issue for health services (fire, ambulance and police) to safely travel along the street if required by residents. In the case of an emergency I am greatly concerned health services could not access dwellings along the street and put the residents in high risk of health services available. Health care should be available to all residents at all time of the day/night.
4. Traffic. The impact increased of traffic will be heightened along an already busy road being Turton Road. Increased traffic created by the expected number of people attending basketball scheduled for 7 days a week will be significant. Turton Road is already very busy and increasing the number of cars travelling this 2 lane road will create a congested area. surrounding streets will also be impacted as motorists look for alternative paths to get to their destination. As mentioned in point 3, many roads are equipped to handle increase traffic flow.
This area is already heavily populated by children from the high school and the increased in traffic is of great concern to the young adults coming and going to Lambton High School. Users of the bike track will also be impacted by the increase in people coming/going from the stadium.
5. Newcastle Basketball do not have finance to complete the build. I am concerned the lack of finance will create an unfinished project and overtime the project will not be completed and sit idle. This will be an unattractive addition to the area and an irritation where the land could be utilised by the groups mentioned in point 2.

I do not disagree that Newcastle Basketball require a new stadium. I disagree Wallarah and Blackey Oval, New Lambton is a location suitable for this build. This increased strain it will create on surrounding residents, businesses, Lambton High School and sporting associations is of great concern. Taking away precious green space which is heavily used by many parties at all times of the weekday and weekend both morning, afternoon and night is neglectful to New Lambton community. We need to preserve our precious green spaces to help limit our footprint. Many other locations can be found in the local area. (Gasworks, old BHP site, Glendale to name three alternate locations). Building on an alternative location which is not currently used will provide an outcome to Newcastle Basketball and New Lambton and surrounding community which is favourable. Whilst trying to convince the audience this location will work, once the traffic strain and parking limitations are realised and the flood issues caused by the construction of this centre I am concerned solutions will not exist.

I currently run a Personal Fitness Training business in the local New Lambton area. I have used Blackley and Wallarah Ovals since the Covid pandemic. The Greenspace and Pavilion are ideal for the local fitness enthusiasts and my clients over the years have valued the opportunity to exercise in a beautiful environment. With the rise in Mental Health illnesses in the community I want to strongly advocate for the retaining of these Ovals for the purposes of outdoor leisure activities and the local sporting organisations, not to mention the Lambton High School. With the rise in technology in the classroom and the amount of screen time pupils must keep, I feel it is important we all fight to keep the Ovals for the students use in their Physical Education sessions. Also let's remember with the increasing in the density of population around the area especially so close to the Broadmeadow Sporting Precinct ithis open space will be highly valued in the generations to come. No one denies that the region needs a new Basketball/Indoor Sports Facility, but to lose these Ovals for this purpose I believe is utter madness.
Thank you,
James Wilkinson BSc (University of Sydney)

I am writing to express my strong support for the Hunter Indoor Stadium project as a parent of a junior basketball player. This facility represents a crucial investment in our community and in the development of local sports, especially for young athletes in the Hunter region.

As a parent, coach, and former player, I have witnessed firsthand the tremendous benefits that sports like basketball provide to young people. Beyond physical health, participation in organised sports promotes discipline, teamwork, and resilience, qualities that are essential to a young person’s development.

The current facilities in our region are struggling to keep up with the growing interest in basketball. The courts are prone to flooding during thunderstorms, the stadium is worn and falling apart, and the facilities subpar. In addition, there aren’t enough courts. They are often overbooked with limited opportunities for training and tournaments, all of which restricts our young athletes’ ability to thrive and advance in the sport.

The Hunter Indoor Stadium would provide much-needed additional space for training and competition. It would enable more children and teens to play basketball in a well-equipped, modern facility close to home. With expanded facilities, our region would also be able to host larger tournaments and attract teams from across the state, providing further opportunities for local players to gain exposure and experience at higher levels of competition.

Investing in this stadium is an investment in our community’s youth and in the future of local sports. I urge the NSW government to support the development of the Hunter Indoor Stadium. This project promises to strengthen our community, improve our children’s well-being, and inspire a new generation of athletes.

Thank you for considering this important initiative.

Sincerely,

Please see attached submission.

I strongly object to this project for reasons stated in the attached document.

Our children have grown up on this street and have used the ovals a lot. The green space provides us and other community members with a place to come together for picnics, a place to exercise our dogs, spontaneous place to play ball games. It is well utilised and would be horrific to lose.
Lambton High school, where our daughter attends use the grounds throughout the day. When I drive past on a school day there are always students using the grounds.
Traffic chaos ensues when there are football games on I can’t image how bad it would be with an indoor sports centre. It willl not have enough car parks for those who use it. Let alone if there are other games on at the same time at the stadium.
The green space is a large water catchment when it rains. I’m worried homes will be affected again in future floods. Which will only be exasperated by climate change.
With an uncertain future affected by climate change it really seems counter intuitive to build giant concrete structures when we should be preserving green space for our children’s future.
There are plenty of more appropriate places to build that monstrosity.
Leave our green spaces open and green and with an ability to be accessed by all

Please see attached submission.

I do not consider this to be an appropriate location for the proposed development. In order for the development to go ahead at this location, a significant piece of parks and green space would be lost to the community. It is difficult to understand why a sporting complex such as this would be located outside, albeit on the edge, of the proposed Newcastle sporting precinct in the Lambton/Broadmeadow area. This location already has two major sporting complexes on this road, the Hockey complex and the McDonald Jones stadium. Traffic and congestion when both of these centres have events is already significant. For anyone to suggest in either an environmental or traffic impact sense that this would not be further exacerbated by the building of this complex is naïve and logically inaccurate. Additionally the loss of the green space, will no doubt impact the ability of the general area to absorb excess rainfall when significant rain and storm events occur. This parkland area is used on a daily basis by the local community and the adjacent high school. I appreciate that the current location of the basketball stadium is highly sort after for new housing developments, but also consider that with the proposed increase of medium to high density housing complexes near by, high quality, well-used and located open green space and parklands is very important. I believe that the loss of these parks to the broader community for the possible benefit of one sport appears to display an arrogance and disrespect to the community at large. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider these views.

The project will provide desperately needed indoor sporting infrastructure to better suit a city the size of Newcastle. The sporting, social and community opportunities from the project will benefit the direct users and Newcastle residents alike. The lack of suitable facilities diminishes the status of the city and negatively impacts local users who have to inexplicably travel to smaller regional centres to access suitable indoor sporting infrastructure for events depriving the community of financial opportunities and local extended family units of engaging in exciting family moments.

Out-dated and no longer fit for purpose facility
The current facility used by Newcastle Basketball and other indoor sports is over 55 years old and outdated, with ongoing issues like water damage and slippery floors due to a leaking roof. This not only poses safety risks but also disrupts events and limits the capacity to support sports like Badminton, Futsal, and Netball, which lack adequate indoor spaces in the region. Years of under-investment have left local sports groups without proper facilities. The indoor sports of the Newcastle region have suffered from significant under-investment for decades, and now is the time to correct that imbalance.

New facility will increase accessibility to more diverse range of groups
The proposed High-Performance Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) will provide inclusive, accessible spaces for people with disabilities and those from multicultural backgrounds to engage in indoor sports. Without such a facility, participation rates for these groups are about 50% lower than their potential. The new facility will help address physical inactivity, particularly in underrepresented communities, and support healthier lifestyles. With projected population growth in the region, the HISC is a timely investment to meet future demand and promote greater community engagement and well-being.

The economic benefits of the new facility will be lost to the region if it isn’t constructed
The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) is expected to attract 35,000 visitors annually for special events, boosting the local economy, particularly within the Newcastle LGA. One-third of visitors will come from outside the area, spending an average of $144 each. The project will create 260 construction jobs (115 direct) and 91 operational jobs (52 direct). Additionally, relocating Newcastle Basketball will free up the current facility site for redevelopment, supporting the Broadmeadow Place Strategy.

Social Benefits to the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre
The proposed facility will offer greater access to indoor sports in a safe, welcoming environment, including opportunities for older adults to stay active. It will foster stronger social networks and community cohesion among participants, volunteers, and supporters. The HISC will improve the health and well-being of over 600,000 local and regional visitors, including children, families, diverse cultural groups, seniors, and people with disabilities, while promoting social engagement and inclusivity.

I have 2 children that attend lambton high school. I object on the basis that it will have a detrimental effect on the students at lambton high school who utilize the fields on a daily basis at recess and lunch time and for sport.

The proposed site for the sports centre can not be a sustainable viable option. Why? 1. It’s in a flood zone. 2. It’s wedged in behind Lambton High, a storm water drain that regularly fills up, stadium across the road and many many residences. 3. A major road to hospital runs parallel to it.
How will flow of traffic cope?
Where is the space for parking?
The oval can not be replaced.
The oval is utilised daily by locals, high school and sports teams.
It is a popular, convenient, valuable asset to our community.
It should not go ahead.

I object to the project development of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals.

As a resident of New Lambton this green space can be used by everyone in the local community or abroad, no matter their age or residency.

With the current proposal DA, only members will be able to use the built facility. This will discriminate against all community personnel and the public.

Additionally, the current green space ovals are homes to our local fauna. If the development is approved where do these animals live. Humans must not damage the environment for self greed or monetary benefit but enhance it. We need to protect the environment. The birds, possums, bats etc, forage for food on the ovals, the birds dig for worms and crickets. They aerate the soil for free.

Families have picnic on these fields, Sports are played on them. There is so much talk about obesity these days, yet your wanting to take away ovals that the public can use for exercise.

Finally, I object to the development of the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre at Wallabadah and Blackley Ovals.

Three points: (1) Permanent Loss of Greenspace: There is already limited greenspace in the Newcastle LGA, and the proposal is entirely based on taking away existing sporting fields and replacing the grass with indoor basketball courts. Playing on grass in the open air - for free! - is consistent with healthy living. (2) Historical Background: The handful of housing streets between the stormwater drain and Hobart Road used to be known as Hobart Park. This was a soccer field and grandstand which hosted International games. The land (greenspace) was resumed and sold off. Those houses flood very, very easily. Taking away the greenspace to the north of the stormwater drain simply makes the situation worse, because greenspace in the form of playing fields acts as a floodwater retention facility. (3) Flooding: TV reporting on last week's devastating floods in Spain had one expert making the comment, "With global warming, flooding will only get worse. That's a fact now. It will never NOT get worse!" The site of this proposed HISC is already a floodplain, and it simply is NOT a smart decision to ever build on a floodplain.

I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed development of a new basketball stadium or Hunter Indoor Sports Centre at Wallarah Oval in New Lambton. While I acknowledge the potential benefits of improved sporting facilities for the community, I believe that the drawbacks of this project specifically the loss of valuable green space, parking shortages, and traffic congestion, pose significant concerns for local residents.
1 Loss of Green Space
As someone who utilises 
Wallarah Oval multiple times a week, I see this area is a cherished open space that provides the community with much needed recreational and environmental benefits. It serves as heavily utilized green area in an increasingly urbanised city, offering local residents a place to exercise, relax, and enjoy the outdoors. Given the importance of maintaining green spaces for environmental health, biodiversity and community well-being, the loss of this area would be a major setback for the local residents and the community who rely on it for their quality of life. We know that once green space is gone it is not replaced. While I appreciate sport and the need for a new basketball stadium, I do not believe it should come at the cost of valued, utilised green space.
2 Parking Shortages

As someone who regularly attends local soccer games at Wallarah Oval, and Newcastle Jets and Knights games I am aware that existing parking infrastructure around Wallarah Oval is already insufficient to meet the needs of the local community on any of these game days . Even when attending local soccer games, it is typical to have to park in the already very narrow residential side streets quite a distance away. With the construction of a basketball stadium, there will be an increased demand for parking spaces, exacerbating the current shortage. Local residents, already dealing with limited street parking, will face additional challenges finding parking near their own homes. Visitors to the stadium will also end up parking in the street as the parking measures, put forward in, the proposal are hardly sufficient. This will not only result in additional inconvenience for residents and lead to more illegal or dangerous parking in surrounding areas, further degrading the safety and accessibility of the neighborhood.
3 Traffic Concerns

The proposed basketball stadium would inevitably generate significant traffic, particularly on weekends and during peak hours. The increased traffic volumes will lead to congestion on local roads, especially on Turton Road. I travel on this road most days and find this road insufficient to manage the congestion that occurs between the hours of 3 to 6pm or prior to or after any events at McDonald Jones Stadium. It is not just longer travel times for residents but the increase in the risk of accidents in an area that is already busy. There is a real concern that the infrastructure in place is not adequately equipped to handle the additional traffic load a centre of this size would bring, potentially leading to a significant decline in road safety and local convenience.
Given these concerns, I respectfully urge the planning authorities to reconsider this development at Wallarah Oval. I believe that the loss of green space, combined with the lack of sufficient parking and the anticipated traffic problems, outweigh any potential benefits of the new stadium. There may be alternative locations for the proposed development that would better serve the community without compromising the livability, safety and environmental integrity this area.
I appreciate your consideration of this submission and look forward to a response that addresses these concerns.