Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

We CAN NOT lose any more green space.. with all the new housing going up around Broadmeadow in the next 5/10 years, green space is really important. Our kids spend way too much time indoors, they need grass to play/run around on. The sports centre will NOT be useful to all. I personally will not have any use for it but I currently use the green space now. Once it's gone, it's gone.. please don't take it away.

I am very worried as my children will be attending Lambton High School in the next 12 months and they will be exposed to the construction noise for much of their secondary schooling. The noise mitigation measures are not sufficient. The only way the students will not be impacted is if the construction occurs outside of school hours.
The ovals are not just used for PE but informal play at lunchtimes and recess. I doubt the centre will be open to allowing the kids to play informally as this would require a high level of supervision in each court. Currently the ovals allow various different games with one or two teachers being able to oversee a large area. I live close to Lambton pool and currently when a knights game is on, our street gets parked out and we are also unable to use Young Rd as it is blocked off. The proposed stadium will place even more parking pressure in surrounding streets. In addition, the car park is left turn only so will result in vehicles wanting to go south, cutting through residential streets. There doesn’t seem to be any modelling of this in the traffic information. Finally, I don’t understand why the facility is proposed outside the designated Broadmeadow sports precinct. This would seem to be the obvious location. Why have a strategic planning framework for a sporting precinct and then ignore it. Loss of public green space presents a dangerous precedent and I have no doubt that if approved will be used as the justification for ongoing loss of green space in future development applications.

Gaza has better basketball facilities than what we do in Newcastle

I strongly object to the above project as it will take away a much used green space that over 1000 students at Lambton High School access. As a parent of a current student and a student who will commence year 7 in 2025 I am deeply concerned and disappointed that the idea of an indoor sports centre was even proposed for this area. My main concern is that students will no longer have access to an open, outdoor learning and play area that currently supports their health, learning, development and well-being. You must also consider the impact on learning as construction begins in terms of noise and air pollution as well as additional time and costs for the school and families arranging alternative venues for the students. Please listen to the community. We don't want it.

Just don't build it at Wallarah and Blackey ovals. You know it's not the right place for a complex like this. The students, school and local residents will all suffer from this green space being taken away.

I am writing to express my strong objection to the proposed location for the development of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre. I believe this development in this location will negatively impact our community as a whole:

1. Loss of Green Space: The proposed site is currently a valuable green space that serves as a vital part of our local environment. Its destruction would not only diminish the beauty of our area but also take away a space that residents and families rely on. Green spaces contribute to community health, well-being, and the quality of life for all of us, and once they are lost, they cannot be replaced.

2. Impact on Local Schools and Students: The proposed development threatens the essential recreational spaces at Lambton High School. These fields are relied upon by over 1,200 students for physical education, outdoor sports, and as safe, open areas for daily breaks. Losing these facilities would not only impact student well-being and safety but also create a ripple effect that reduces the quality of life for the broader community. Schools are foundational to the health of a community, and taking away these spaces would be a disservice to the future of our young people. I am also aware Lambton High School use these ovals as their emergency evacuation mustering space. There is nowhere else the 1200 students and teachers could gather that wouldn’t require them to cross a road. As the school has a special needs unit and an Autism class I worry about the extra stress this would add to these vulnerable students, as well as the whole school population.

3. Traffic and Parking Issues: The surrounding area already faces significant traffic and parking challenges, especially during large events. The reliance on McDonald Jones Stadium parking for this project is problematic, particularly given the current use of the facility for the John Hunter shuttle bus. See pictures of the parking at 6am due to workers travelling to the John Hunter site. The increased traffic in our residential streets would further disrupt our peaceful neighborhoods, making it difficult for local families to safely navigate and access their homes. With a bike path located so close to the proposed site it would only be a matter of time before someone would be seriously injured.

4. Lack of consultation: I live 1.3 km from the 3 ovals and I did not receive any information about this development other than what I learnt from joining the Save our Lambton ovals group and the local media. I would have expected there to be some sort of consultation such as an information night, a survey to fill in or some way of letting local residents know about a State significant development being proposed in the local community.

The proposed site is simply not the right fit for such a significant project. I urge you to reconsider this development and to look for alternative locations that would better serve the community—protecting our green spaces, ensuring sufficient infrastructure, and prioritising our children’s access to safe and sustainable learning environments.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my concerns.
Sincerely,
Halina

Newcastle Basketball is a huge association. The current stadium is outdated, leaks, does not withhold enough space and it is time for a new one.

Whilst being one of the largest associations in NSW, our stadium does not reflect that. We have a high number of participants and it is continuing to grow.

Not only does it support basketball being played, but also other sports such as the #1 growing sport pickleball, and volleyball. These sports are using the stadium every day.

Kids are being turned away from the sport due to court space. It is more than just a basketball stadium, it’s a need for a better sports facility to grow all sports in Hunter region.

The community of Newcastle deserve a new sporting facility to encourage youth of today to increase activity and decrease time spent on devices, loitering and excess idle time.

Facility is sorely needed, the existing premises in the second largest city in NSW is woeful. Leaking roofs and broken floors and not enough space to support the community. Children and families are missing out on critical infrastructure, this is an amazing opportunity to invest in the region.

It is a great concern that the vocal minority are being heard on this proposal. This facility will support thousands of people from day 1.

The stadium needs to be built.

The HISC will be an incredible addition to the city of Newcastle. The rapidly growing interest in basketball in the last few years has made the current Hunter basketball stadium almost burst at its seams. The HISC will enrich the economy of Newcastle, provide adequate facilities for the basketball players (and other indoor sport goers) and can finally accommodate for the growing interest. The current facility (Hunter Basketball Stadium) is hanging on by a thread and everyone that goes there, knows how much a new facility is needed. All in all, the HISC will be an enhancement to the community of Newcastle.

The attached document outlines my objection to this project.

See attached document with my objections to this project.

Objection to proposed site for basketball stadium (HISC)

Hunter Indoor Sports Centre ( HISC)
App.No. SSD 65595459

Dear Mr.Navdeep Singh Shergill
Please accept my formal objection to the proposed site for a Sports Stadium.

* The size and scale of the build is completely inappropriate for the residential suburb. To lose two parks and the sporting facilities in order for a sports stadium to be cemented on the grounds is untenable.
* Lack / absence of parking. There has already been a demonstrated issue of Emergency Vehicles eg. fire brigade & ambulance; unable to gain entry to the narrow streets south of Monash Rd. The reason is, parking is already very limited. Sports patrons park in all those streets. The issue and problems associated with lack of, or no parking will only worsen if this build is approved.
* Effect on traffic in Turton Rd will result in hundreds of vehicle movements in & out of the complex during peak periods.
* More than 1200 high school students currently have views out of classrooms onto green space. The effect of green space is positive-fresh air, grass to walk and play upon, and abundant trees. These students will lose access to all this if they lose their schools ovals. If this build is permitted, their outlook and views will be onto 10-15M high walls and concrete.
* Displaced sporting groups are being relocated over 20 minutes away to Tarro & Beresfield. This will result in students dropping out of sport.
* Currently, local & young people, walk or cycle to the ovals. Having to rely on parents getting leave from work early each week may be a hurdle many cannot manage. Additional cost & time of commuting to Tarro & Beresfield during peak hour afternoon traffic - travel time could extend to 40 mins outbound.
To expand on the High School student issue:
More than 1200 high school
students will loose access to ‘the schools ovals’ rented from council for fifty years.
The effect green space has upon young persons mental health is usually. positive:
* recent data from a UNSW study amongst 6,000 young people in Newcastle and the Hunter, found links between hot weather and an increase in suicidal thoughts and behaviours ‘among those aged between 12-24’
This build would contribute to a heat bowl, ie a worsening climate change detrimental to the school children, the community, and the suburbs.
It seems the build would contribute to worsening mental health issues amongst the school children.
What is important?
Sport stadium; or the protected nurturing environment of trees, grass and open spaces for school children?

I am a fan of sport, but Not at the expense of losing green parks, trees and open public spaces.
I’ve lived long enough to
realise that once these beautiful valuable places are taken and cemented over, they are never returned.
Yours sincerely
Catherine Whelan

I object to the project as proposed. I support a new basketball stadium though think it should be relocated on other Crown land such as the Newcastle Showground. The Showground is in close proximity to the precinct of the existing sporting areas and is land not utilised to its full potential all year. There could be a basketball venue there that could also be designed as a multipurpose centre such as the excellent design at the Callaghan Senior College, Jesmond by the NSW Dept of Education. These days when land is at a premium it would be valuable to have that flexibility of some parts of the basketball stadium, internal or external to be used in some circumstances. Please consider my proposal.
I oppose the new courts being built on the fields behind the High School as they are used by the school. There is also insufficient space from the school if the grounds were to become a building site to provide safe work and health environment for the growing students and staff at the school. Noise pollution alone would impact on the teaching environment for the school children.
The grounds currently are an important piece of the green corridor connected along the bike path and other sporting fields. We do cricket practise along there currently and it is a special space to have that corridor dedicated for external recreational use and lovely to ride bikes or walk past. When Covid was on the council decided that Newcastle needed more corridors connecting external space not less space.
I can not see that a huge basketball building would be placed on other existing sporting fields such as at North Hamilton or Union Street fields. It is going to be a squeeze in the proposed parks behind the high school and the waterways.
The courts would be in an area renowned for flooding and the green space plays an important park of the water management during flood times by absorbing much of the water. The basketball building there would add pressure to the already vulnerable private and public buildings in the region.
These existing buildings would also be faced with parking pressure that already exists from the stadium and hockey centre on certain occasions.
Please listen to the passionate reluctance of the community to have this space changed when there are other alternatives available. I believe the Turf Club would be a possible site too. I also hear there is a huge shortfall in funding this building as planned as well.
Thank you.

Myself and my family absolutely object to this proposal.
My objections are that the amount of traffic and parking issues this will bring to an already busy precinct. When NRL and Soccer is on the area is already way too busy and there is not enough parking and people park in residential areas. Let alone the hockey that is on nearly every night of the week until late at night.
The noise this centre will create will be ridiculous. The constant whistle blowing in basketball games will be excessive and will be able to heard from a long distance. We can already here everything on the hockey fields as it is.
The loss of open space and sports field is unacceptable.

I am writing to you as a resident who lives one street away from the proposed development of
Wallarah and Blackly Ovals.
Please accept this letter as a strong objection to this development.
I am dismayed at the chosen sites location.
I believe this proposed sporting development should not sandwich itself into this residential area, taking away
highly utilised green space in the process. Utilised and enjoyed by many sports groups, residents, visitors, stadium patrons and of course the high school who shares its boundary with the ovals. All of these individuals, groups and students will be in a displaced situation for the benefit of one sporting group.
I would ask you to consider an alternative location.
-Loss of green space.
These fields give the suburb some 'breathing' room which will be increasingly needed as our city becomes more densely populated over time...
-Inducing major traffic congestion
Especially in light of rezoning and re-development due to the 'Broardmeadow Place Strategy' and subsequent proposals announced by the council in the neighbouring suburbs.
-Risk of flooding in ' flood affected area'
We as residents have recently had to decide whether we can afford an exorbitant increase in
premiums for flood insurance due to poor stormwater infrastructure. As of 2022 some insurance companies simply will not insure for flooding in this area.
-Neighbourhood affected by stadium events.
The ovals are used by foot traffic of people attending events at the stadium. Being a resident we
are acutely aware of traffic congestion during major events with people parking and commuting
by foot all over the suburb.. This green space acts as a safe corridor for these people, it is
something to behold when over 20,000 people enter and leave the stadium with only western
gates (directly opposite these ovals) to handle the crowds.
-Traffic and parking congestion is a major concern too.
Being a resident we have witnessed quite often impatient, frustrated drivers zooming the streets looking for a close park on game days with lots of foot traffic in and around parked cars, this situation alone is an accident waiting to happen. Adding to this a collection of basketball stadiums the additional traffic will be felt throughout the greater area.
I'd like to note here the traffic study undertaken should be analysed for events, time of year and weather during the data collection; i believe the data collected does not represent the average activity in and around the area as the weather was very wet and windy.
-Rubbish.
Rubbish left behind from stadium goers is a constant reminder that this will surely
become a bigger issue for residents to live with if the projected volume of people use these proposed facilities.
-Acoustics.
Acoustics of these stadiums in this residential area is of concern. Not only will the hum of the
stadiums as they are in use until late evening become a pollution issue but the parasitic acoustics attached
to them in terms of people coming and going and increase in traffic will permeate the surrounds
well after the last booking.
Basically, I cant see how the location of this development will support the community moving
forward. There will be so many more people whether they are members of a sporting club,
students of a high school or individuals affected by this location I cant see a net gain by
approving this.

As a resident and unit owner directly adjacent to the proposed stadium site, I am strongly opposed to this development due to its significant impact on our community’s quality of life, mental health, safety, and the preservation of green space. I purchased my unit specifically because of the serene, open green space outside my door—a critical aspect of my decision, given my high anxiety. The disruption and loss of this green space would severely affect my mental well-being and contradict the peaceful living environment I sought here.

Lack of Proper Consultation with Residents:

The consultation process for this project has been severely lacking. Although our building is in close proximity to the site and we are shown on the “area of affection” map (Community Engagement Report, page 24), no residents here report receiving any official flyer or notification about the drop-in information sessions hosted by Newcastle Basketball. The only reason some residents knew about these sessions was because fellow residents, in an effort to advocate for our community, stood in the rain handing out flyers to raise awareness of the project’s potential effects. Photos from these sessions show the lengths we had to go to just to be heard—a clear indication that the developer has not engaged with our community responsibly.

Negative Impact on Mental Health Due to Noise and Construction:

The multi-stage construction required for this development poses a serious risk to my mental health. The noise, dust, and disruption caused by years of construction will have a prolonged and cumulative impact. As someone who experiences high anxiety, the constant disturbance, along with the irreversible loss of the surrounding natural space, could have a detrimental effect on my mental well-being. This project dismisses the needs of those living closest to the site, prioritising the interests of external users over the well-being of local residents.

Inadequate Visual Impact Assessment:

The Visual Impact Statement (Appendix M) does not account for the view from our units, where the current vista includes beautiful green trees and open fields. This green space will be replaced by overflow water tanks, a road, and a car park (Architects Report, page 59). The report downplays the impact on residents, focusing instead on the view from passing vehicles (Architects Report, page 4). For those of us who live here, this visual change is significant and should have been fully assessed with recommendations to minimise this adverse impact.

Traffic and Safety Concerns:

The stadium’s driveway will be less than 50 meters from our building’s driveway, with a set of traffic lights just to the north. Given the anticipated increase in traffic, particularly during peak stadium usage, it is highly likely that residents will face serious difficulty accessing their homes due to traffic congestion and queuing vehicles. This is a safety issue as well, as quick access to and from our homes will be compromised by vehicles entering and exiting the stadium car park.

Loss of Green Space and Negative Impact on the Community, School, and Wildlife:

One of the most concerning aspects of this proposal is the unfairness of sacrificing such a well-used, multi-purpose green space for a single organisation and sporting discipline. As someone who can easily see this area from my lounge, I know how frequently it is used by a wide range of community members. Lambton High School students regularly rely on this open space for sports, physical education, and informal gatherings, while families use it to enjoy picnics, play games, or simply spend time together outdoors. Sporting groups from across the area come to train and exercise, and it’s a place where people of all ages bring their dogs, socialize, or unwind in nature.

This green space offers a unique communal area that accommodates multiple forms of recreation and connection. Its loss would be deeply felt by the entire community. Local wildlife, including birds that inhabit the trees, will be displaced, and residents will lose a valuable open area that provides health and social benefits for a diverse group of people. Replacing this communal area with a large, single-purpose indoor stadium ignores the shared needs of residents, students, and local sports groups.

Concerns About Sustainability and Long-term Impact:

The proposed stadium represents a high-cost, high-impact project that sacrifices a rare green area in an increasingly urbanised setting. The lack of funding certainty, compounded by the high cost of the project, raises legitimate concerns about the feasibility and completion of the stadium. This could leave our community with a half-finished structure and a permanent loss of valuable green space.

In summary, the proposed stadium disregards the significant and lasting impacts on residents, particularly those closest to the site who depend on this green space for their mental health and quality of life. The lack of proper consultation, the anticipated construction noise, visual disruption, and traffic concerns collectively make this project unsuitable for the area. It is simply unfair to sacrifice a space that serves so many community members for the benefit of a single organisation. I urge you to reconsider or relocate this development to a site that does not compromise our well-being and environment.











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HUNTER Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)
Dear Government Representative,
I object to this project, please see below.
The taking away of sporting facility from one group of citizens who are long-term users and giving it to another. This looks unjust to me. And at considerable expense to the state tax payers as well. As well as the loss of open space.

Where is the football playing children supposed to go. Do all the teams have to disband or line up at different ovals and times.
Lambton High which is already over crowded would loose the adjacent oval, space that it cannot afford to lose.

Large build-up of domestic dwellings in the area will need open space and play areas, there will probably be a need for more schools or the expansion of existing schools.

High traffic every day in an already high traffic area with very little parking. The local streets are already over crowded with cars as many homes have two or more cars which can’t fit onto the properties.

A low-lying area that will flood during heavy rain. Sealing the area with tar and cement will cause fast run off and accelerate local flooding.
Regards John Graham.

I am objecting strongly to the the development as a local resident, parent to two children who utilise the green space for school activities, and an individual who enjoys the use of the space for numerous activities.
As a resident I am very concerned with the extreme traffic problems that WILL occur as far as parking on local streets and constant through traffic which is already at an extreme level. There will be times where 3 large number sporting events will be occurring at exactly the same time. Basketball,hockey and knights games will cause catastrophic conditions for residents and vistors.
Flooding will become an even more extreme problem in an area that is already very susceptible to flash flooding issues.
As a father to daughters at Lambton High I’m very disappointed that the schools lone green space will be taken away with a slither of field left for over 1000 students. Kids use that space every school day and the thought that promotion of healthy kids will be limited is disappointing.
The actual space is utilised by many individuals and community groups including many sporting clubs all day every day. In a city that doesn’t have enough space to supply the community as is seems crazy that this is the best option. As a basketball fan and have a daughter who has played basketball I truly understand that the sport needs a new facility but this is not the answer and never was.