Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

I have been involved with Newcastle basketball for over 20 years now as both a parent supporting their children in their chosen sport and as a volunteer as a technical official on home match days for nearly 10 years now.
I have seen a huge growth in basketball participation in that time and have seen this growth out grow the current stadium.
Newcastle basketball has developed players up to a NBA level as well as players in the domestic NBL and WNBL competitions.
There are now quite a few local juniors who have gone onto the college System in United States.
The facilities at Broadmeadow have reached their use by date and a new facility is needed.
Please look at the current proposal favourably and expedite quickly

I support the construction of the new basketball stadium because it will provide a modern, state-of-the-art venue that enhances the fan experience, boosts the local economy through jobs and tourism, and creates a vibrant hub for community events. Beyond professional sports, the stadium will offer valuable opportunities for local teams, youth leagues, and schools, providing them with access to world-class facilities for training and competitions. It will foster community engagement, promote healthy lifestyles, and inspire the next generation of athletes. Additionally, a new stadium often spurs investment in surrounding areas, contributing to the overall growth and development of the region.

I have several concerns about this development. I am the owner of one of the 20 units that are right on the ovals. I am 76 years old and feel stressed and anxious about this development. I believe those of us in the units are the most affected by this proposal. Please see attachment below of photo of the units.
Lack of consultation: I did not receive a flyer about a consultation at the basketball stadium. The first I learnt about this proposal was from a neighbour about 2 months ago. This is not good enough
Loss of the green space: Every day I enjoy sitting outside my unit watching the birds, watching the kids play their sports and the school kids playing on the oval. I am devastated to think of looking at a carpark and brick wall instead. This will greatly affect my quality of life.
Concerns about flooding: During the Pasha Bulker flood of 2007 my unit was flooded, and I was out for a period of time while they fixed the carpets etc. I am worried this development will increase the risk of future flooding.
Visual impact: I am very worried about the impact this build will have on my unit. I notice in the visual impact state there is no mention of the units. I currently look at a beautiful green space and my view will change to a car park. I am concerned about the impact this will have on units value. I am almost 80 years old and will be looking to sell my unit in the next few years. I believe it will drop significantly in value.
Impact on traffic: I am very concerned about the impact on traffic with the left in/left out driveway which will be located about 10 meters from my driveway. I am worried about my safety trying to turn out of my driveway which is already challenging on most days.
Impact of parking: When there are events on at the stadium people park in our private car park. Being located right next to the proposed development could result in this happening daily since it is open from 6am-11pm x 7 days a week.
Noise impacts: I am worried about the noise that will occur with cars coming and going between 6am-11pm x 7 days a week. My window will be about 20m from the driveway and I worry about noise and lights regularly disturbing my sleep.
The impact on the residents of the 20 units have not been considered in most of these reports. This is a major oversite of this development. I object for all the reasons above

This is a very overdue project. Basketball in Newcastle is behind when it comes to an up to date sport centre. To be able to develop the sport, we need an updated facility. The one being used is outdated, hot in the summer, leaks when it rains & is too small to cater for the growing sports, students & athletes that use it throughout the year.

1.When Lambton High was built on a primary school site, the adjacent ovals was used as a justification. The ovals are an integral part of the High Schools operations. Sporting and green space should continue to be part of the environs.
2. Political Gamesmanship: This mess is purely about the former Newcastle Lord Mayor and/or her Deputy wishing to win ALP pre-selection for the seat of Wallsend and take it off Sonia Horney. The greater the crises they create the more friction they cause in the party. It has backfired in the recent Ward 3 and Lord Mayoral elections. The future impact on the school and local residents should not be tolerated as the result of these political games.
3. It floods. I have been there when the houses were flooded trying to rescue furniture. Nothing has been done and little can be done to alleviate a recurrence. To make things worse by this development is just bloody minded.
4. Parking. The residents put up with enough on football and other major events days. But to have the local residential streets full of parkers for 50 weeks a year is really putting the boot in.
5. Alternatives. Yes there are some good ones. The old gas works site and in the showground.
6. The Basketball Association has been misled or they are naive. Whatever it is, it is not a reason to have this proposal approved. Back to point 2. It is a political problem, which must be resolved in that forum. From a planning perspective it is an inappropriate site.

I strongly support this proposal for a new basketball location and in this location. Newcastle and the area urgently needs new facilities. Our children have played basketball for multiple years, and its challenging to have your child registered in a team with allocations being exhausted generally within 24hrs. This clearly demonstrates the popularity of the sport. Visit the stadium on a rainy or windy day and you quickly see how outdated the current venue is with leaks and insulation falling from the roof. The proposed location is centrally located to other sporting facilities with good transport and parking. The proposed design makes good use of an existing ground which is flood impacted and often not suitable for use in poor weather. It would be great for Newcastle to have a first class venue, suitable for the thousands of members and open the opportunity for Newcastle to reenter the national competition. The application has provided thorough documentation confirming the site is suitable for the proposed use and we look forward to a favorable determination so Newcastle basketball can continue to grow. Strongly support this application.

I believe that our region desperately needs a new indoor sports facility like the one proposed, not just for Basketball, but for all of our community to enjoy for many generations to come.

Thanks for your consideration,
Nolan Press

Cessnock Basketball Association
105 Mount View Road
Cessnock, NSW 2325
5/11/2024

NSW State Significant Development Assessment Panel

RE: Letter of Support for Newcastle Basketball’s Hunter Indoor Sports Centre Application

Dear Panel Members,

On behalf of the Cessnock Basketball Association, I am writing to express our strong support for Newcastle Basketball’s proposal to construct the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre, a 12-court facility that will be essential for the Newcastle region. As the endorsed Basketball NSW provider for the Cessnock area, we recognize the critical need for purpose-built facilities to support the increasing demand across all ages and skill levels in our sport.

The current facilities in the Hunter region are already beyond capacity. Newcastle Basketball Stadium is outdated and scheduled for demolition, while Cessnock’s aging two-court facility is barely fit for purpose and likewise struggles to meet our community’s growing needs. Even Maitland’s more modern stadium does not have sufficient courts to meet demand. If the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre is not developed, the region will be left with only six courts, four at Maitland and two at Cessnock, severely limiting opportunities for players and jeopardizing the future of basketball in the Hunter.

The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre would be a vital investment, providing much-needed space for players to train and compete locally, while creating a venue capable of hosting large-scale events. This would alleviate the financial burden on players and families who currently must travel extensively for competitions.

This pressing need should have been addressed long ago. It reflects a lack of support across local, state, and federal levels that our communities now face such severe limitations. To ensure sustainable growth and opportunity in the Hunter, we must not only build the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre but also secure future upgrades for facilities in both Maitland and Cessnock. And there needs to be a commitment from the state and federal governments to fully fund these projects.

Our members, who frequently compete with Newcastle Basketball, know well the challenges of the aging Broadmeadow stadium. The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre would be a transformative upgrade for the entire region, providing a modern, spacious, and safe environment that fosters community engagement and active lifestyles.

Importantly, the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre also represents a significant step toward Newcastle and the Hunter regaining their rightful place in the National Basketball League. It is disappointing that Newcastle, the birthplace of the NBL, no longer has a team competing in the national league. A facility of this caliber would help position the region for a return to the national stage.

In closing, the Cessnock Basketball Association fully supports this project as a critical investment in the future of basketball and other indoor sports in New South Wales. The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre will provide the infrastructure needed to support growth in our region and nurture the next generation of athletes.

Thank you for considering this essential project.

Sincerely,
Matthew Drayton
Chairman
Cessnock Basketball Association

I am a Knights supporter and parking is already a problem. This development will impact on the parking in the area due to the increase in cars.
These ovals are also important community greenspace and should not be developed. Inner city greenspace is important for everyone.
Lambton High School needs these ovals for their students to play during breaks and it is their emergency evacuation point.
When my grandchildren attend this school in the future I would like their playground to be still available to them.
I would like the stadium to be built in a different location that will not affect so many people the community.

I’d like to voice my objection to the proposed development location for the HISC.
I’m not opposed to the development just the location that was chosen by Newcastle council and Newcastle basketball.
Reasons for my objection are as follows

1. Complete lack of community engagement or involvement. (Noting the following)
The very first stage of Newcastle council selecting the ovals and no community engagement.
The lack of engagement of the wider community by Newcastle Basketball. Inadequate area covered to include enough residents, plus the notification flyer was hand delivered and included with other junk mail so I’d suggest many people missed them. I did a door knock and delivered 200 flyers to the streets around the ovals and spoke to many people who never received the basketball flyer and only heard about the development from my interaction and my flyer.
2. Increased traffic and parking at peak times in the afternoons and into the late hours of the evening with the centre closing at 2300hrs!! And along with the increase of weekend traffic from centre opening to close (all weekend both days).
I note the report details the traffic data collection from Turton road and wasn’t collected or assessed in enough of the side streets. I live on Wallarah road and already get impacted by traffic taking a short cut through the back streets of New Lambton to avoid traffic congestion on days when there are sporting events on at McDonald jones stadium or the hocky centre. Add to this the same route taken by general day to day use of the centre the extra traffic past my house will have a negative impact on my generally quiet street.
The additional traffic will also increase the safety risk and concern to cars exiting side streets onto major roads that where never designed for the volume of cars.
3. Loss of Green space now and for future generations, Once it’s gone you never get it back!!
I note that the loss of the three ovals will have a major negative impact on the social and environment aspect of the area of Lambton and New Lambton. Considering local resident, sporting groups, the Lambton High School and wide and varying fauna.
The future development of the Broadmeadow precincts should also be assessed when removing these ovals and green space as the additional housing and development would increase the number of patrons that would utilize it now and into the future.
4. Increased flooding risk from the loss of the ovals and a “Sponge” and retention area for storm water.
I’ve already an increase to my house and content insurance due to increased flood risk in the New Lambton and the development would only increase this risk and this would impact my ability to afford this insurance.
5. Event management and additional parking
Adding another major sporting facility to this area will have a major impact to parking and patrons getting to and from the centre. I’m already impacted when major sporting events are scheduled at the McDonald Jones Stadium. Cars and patrons park wherever they like, across my driveway, taking available parking spots usually for residents. I can’t leave my house on a game day to go to the shops as I will never find a park again, or can't have visitors over at this time as they can’t park within any reasonable distance to my house.
There is also lots of additional disturbances late into the night when the patrons leave the venues, with generally lots of excitement and noise after games etc.
Regards Craig Leman

I am 86 years old and have a partial driver's license. Wallarah and Blackley Ovals are within the area I am allowed to drive. My grandson plays both soccer and cricket on these ovals.
If this development is allowed, my grandson's sport will move to Tarro. I am not allowed to drive there. There is no adequate public transport for me to get there - 2 trains and a lengthy walk is beyond my capabilities. I will miss his games and time with my family. This will increase my social isolation. There will be other grandparents who are in the same situation.
Family is important. Spending time with our grandchildren is important.
Please stop this development in this location and find another place for the basketball stadium.
Thank you.

The land on which the project is proposed to be built is already used by the adjacent high school (which my children have attended) as well as various sports clubs. The loss of which would be a significant loss to the school, particularly as this is there evacuation area.
The extra traffic which this development would attract will be a huge hassle to the neighborhood where the roads are already choked up for every Knights or Jets match. If the development of the site is busy during school starting and finishing times this will present a real safety hazard to the children having to cross roads. Turton road is already busy during peak hours and additional traffic coming and going from the proposed development would have wider impacts than just the adjacent roads.
During periods of heavy rain the open drains adjacent to the current playing field fill right up (I have seen this myself on many occasions). Having additional runoff from a large paved area would exasperate this situation potentially leading to flooding.

I am a student at Lambton High School and I have a number of concerns about the development of a basketball stadium on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals.

Firstly, this is our playground. The school was built here with the provision that the ovals would be available to the school and the school pays Newcastle Council for their use. Without them, we only have concrete and a small patch of grass at the side of the school for 1200 students. It will be woefully inadequate to accommodate the needs of the students during recess and lunch, resulting in less play and potentially more conflict.
Secondly, my school uses the ovals for PE and Sport activities as part of the curriculum. Losing the ovals means we will have to walk to ovals further up the road, meaning an increased workload for the teachers, more risk to the students and a loss of learning time which will decrease our educational outcomes. We also have students with mobility issues who will have difficulty getting to ovals further away. The loss of the ovals will result in a reduction in the free sport options for students that the school can provide.

Thirdly, we use the ovals (because they are our playground) for special events like cross country, fundraisers like colour runs and to host other schools for sports such as cricket, soccer and league events. The loss of the ovals will impact other schools who attend interschool sports and our ability to run our events within our grounds. This results in the events being an excursion - so more work for teachers.
Addtionally, the increase in traffic surrounding our school is also a concern. It is already busy. We already have road closures due to Knights and Jets games out the front of our school meaning school buses have difficulty parking and transporting us home. The EIS says that buses that bring students to the basketball for school events will park outside our school in Young Rd because there are only 2 bus parking spots. So where do our school buses drop us off and pick us up? The place is a mad house in the afternoon and already dangerous.

Lastly, I will be sitting my HSC when construction begins. I am deeply concerned about the disruption to my exams during the construction phase of this development.

I do not want this stadium built on these ovals. They are so important to the students and teachers in our community. I would like another place to be found for the development.

I object to the “Hunter Sports Centre” being constructed on Wallarah & Blackley ovals at Lambton. These fields are well utilised – not only by sporting teams & the local residents but are essential for Lambton High School Students. This Public High School was built in this location with a formal agreement that it has access to these fields for teaching, sport & play. The school pays a fee to Newcastle City Council to do this. It is not fair to take the fields away from the students & leave them with no green space!

There will definitely be less activity for Lambton High students if the Basketball Stadium is built next door to them as there will need to be at least 2 teachers & parental consent required to take the children off school grounds to a grass field. They will also have less time for that activity as they will have to take travelling time into consideration. Lambton High School already has its own indoor basketball courts- it does not need to utilise the proposed courts at “Hunter Sports Centre”. Taking away the fields will also require more parents to pay for school sports as there will be less free options. These fields are currently utilised for free sporting activities & some families will not be able to afford the extra expense for excursions.

The students not only use the fields for sports but also access them for recess & lunch times. If the fields are no longer accessible the children will be crammed into a smaller space with no grass to run around to burn off energy, likely resulting in more fights. They will also have less access to vit D which will affect their health & way of life. Obesity is becoming a big issue in our society & taking away the children’s sporting fields is not a step in the right direction. The fields are also the school’s emergency evacuation area- where will the new location for this be?! It will also be a nightmare getting children to & from school with all the trade vehicle & trucks taking over the streets.

There has been talk that the children may be able to use the nearby Arthur Edden oval however I do not believe this is the case. It is a well maintained NPL soccer field, not accessible to the students. Also, nearby Ford oval is a turf cricket pitch meaning for 6 months of the year it is fenced off & unavailable- the students are not allowed to cross the road to get there anyway.

My daughter starts year 7 at Lambton High next year in 2025. We were greatly looking forward to the commencement of High School but this proposal has created stress in thinking how this is going to affect my children’s high schooling years. My greatest concern is the construction noise that will be created by the erection of this building. The works will mainly be taking place while students are in class! How are they meant to focus with all the construction noise right next door to them?

Not all the classrooms at Lambton High have air-conditioning. How are they going to have the windows open for breeze in the classroom with all the constriction noise, not to mention concrete dust & fumes. I noticed in the EIS Appendix U Acoustic Assessment “RAPT Consulting” section 3.1, they have suggested times that the community may be less sensitive to noise, such as mid-morning or mid- afternoon for “noise affected level is exceeded” works to be conducted. I assume this is because they expect the majority of homeowners to be at work or out, but what about the students?! Mid-morning & mid-afternoon are their main times for learning in the classrooms & that is when they are proposing to make the most noise! The Acoustic assessment also discusses vibration which “at levels high enough, has the potential to cause damage to structures and disrupt human comfort”. It also states “High noise generating activities such as jack hammering should only be carried out in continuous blocks, not exceeding 3 hours each”! I can’t imagine my child being able to concentrate in class while there is jack hammering for 3 hours straight!

It also states in the Acoustic assessment that “affected Neighbours to the construction works would be advised in advance of the proposed construction period at least 1 week prior to the commencement of works”. What if the school has exams/assessments/presentations planned during this period- they would have been organised alot longer than 1 week in advance- are they expected to sit exams with Constuction noise going on?

Lambton High Public School has 1200 students making it one of the 45 largest schools in NSW. It will likely get larger with the proposed Broadmeadow housing developments. It is just ridiculous to take away land from the students that they utilise daily, leaving them with very little open space. Instead of looking out of the window & seeing lovely green fields, the children will in the future be staring at a construction site (with its own distractions) & the eventually a concrete wall- likely blocking sunlight/vit D also.
Please keep our greenspace the way it is & find a more suitable location for the “Hunter Sports Centre”. This does not have to be located in Newcastle & was initially planned for Lake Macquarie! Preferably choose a location that has room for expansion & more car parking!

I am strongly opposed to the development of a basketball stadium on this site, for three reasons.
1. Loss of green space.
2. Significant negative impacts on traffic and parking.
3. Unfairness to existing users of the site.

Loss of Green Space
Green space in an urban environment is precious. Once taken away, it is gone forever. A process of continually chipping away at green space, will gradually turn a pleasant locality into a concrete jungle. With the Broadmeadow Place Strategy planning to house an additional 40,000 residents, this area will need more sporting fields and open space, not less. It is extremely short-term thinking to remove actively used green space. We need to be making decisions today that are mindful of the impact on future generations.

Traffic and Parking
Under present conditions, when there is a capacity crowd for a Knights game at Hunter Stadium, parking spots fill up in surrounding streets as far away as Lambton Park. When street parking is filled to capacity, the narrow roads in East Lambton get clogged by traffic circling around looking for non-existent parking spots, leading to many instances of illegal and unsafe parking. If there were to be a major event at the proposed basketball stadium at the same time as a major event at Hunter Stadium, this situation would be significantly worse and have a major negative impact on local residents.

Unfairness
The NSW State Government has provided land for the Newcastle Basketball stadium for the past 55 years. Now the Government is essentially evicting the basketball association, depriving them of land, telling them to go and appropriate other land, depriving other sporting users of their facilities. It’s a clear case of kicking the unfortunate beneath you. The result is that at the top end the state government makes millions of dollars selling land to property developers, while at the bottom end mums and dads and kids lose their local sporting fields and have to drive miles to use alternative facilities.
If the State Government is to evict Newcastle Basketball from their current location, they should do the honourable thing and provide an alternative location (for instance use part of the 70ha of the former proposed site for the T4 coal loader, which is up for sale at the moment) that does not deprive innocent third parties of their amenities.

I am writing to express my strong objection to the proposed construction of the Hunter Indoor Sports Center. While I understand the value of providing recreational facilities, I believe this project is misguided, especially in light of the critical need to preserve green spaces in our rapidly growing city. The loss of such natural areas, which contribute significantly to the well-being of our community, is not a trade-off we should be willing to make.

Rather than allocating millions of dollars to build a sports facility that will only benefit a select group, I urge city officials to redirect these funds toward more pressing needs—specifically, the improvement and expansion of public transportation infrastructure. As our population grows, so too does the strain on our roads and transit systems. Investing in transportation will not only enhance the quality of life for all residents but also ensure that our city is prepared for the future.

The prioritization of a sports complex over vital urban planning projects such as transportation is short-sighted. I strongly advocate for the city to focus on sustainable growth that meets the needs of all residents, rather than catering to short-term interests.

The proposed site for the new sports stadium will only add more chaos to an already congested area in Newcastle. Currently there is the McDonald Jones stadium now also used for mega concerts as well as sporting events , the hockey centre, and Harker Oval. The residents cope with all the noise, road closures, cars parking everywhere both legally and illegally, often trapping them in their own homes . To add to this is really unfair and disregards their rights to enjoy their homes and the area where they chose to live. The open green space is used by many different groups and families for all kinds of activities. It’s also provides a relief from all the chaos that surrounds it. The residents homes will be devalued with the addition of another facility that brings in thousands of people, cars, buses and noise. Their welfare and well being should be a priority. There are other areas in Newcastle that are close to transport that could be investigated for suitability . I am all for a new basketball/ sports stadium , but not at this space. It is grossly unfair that these residents have this extra burden.

I object to the project on the basis that it is a significant overdevelopment of the site and that the proposed mitigation strategies to meet planning controls are inadequate and poorly considered. Specifically:-
- The EIS should consider the range of alternate options considered. The EIS does not do this and instead discusses options within the actual proposed development. This is a clear misunderstanding of the purpose of this section of the EIS. Instead I would expect to see the following options considered and well documented: 1. A new HISC is not built. 2. A full description and listing of alternate sites considered. Why was each of these sites considered unsuitable. In particular, this should cover the previous site at Hillsborough and attempts to be located within the designated Broadmeadow sports precinct 3. Alternate proposals - why does the ISC need to all be located at one site. Why would a main centre with satellite centres not suffice.

The mitigation measures proposed are poorly considered.
1. There is no mitigation proposed for the requirement to enable naturalisation of the adjoining drainage channel. Naturalisation would require the near vertical channels of the drainage line to be converted to a sloped embankment. The proposal makes no allowance for this.
2. The EIS states that flood mitigation measures are parking in suburban streets when there are weather warnings and the use of the carpark for flood detention. The EIS should document the frequency of heavy rain weather warnings in the past 3-4 years. It should also consider that with climate change, the severity and frequency of storms will increase. This will then provide a more transparent picture of the frequency with which the centre's carpark is unusable. I would also suggest if it is unsafe to use the carpark in wet weather, then it would also be unsafe to access the carpark on foot. Further I see nothing in the carpark design or landscape plans that would enable the carpark to act as a flood detention facility. Overall, I would request a review of the flood modelling in detail. I am not an engineer but the underlying assumptions do not seem correct. There will be a significant increase in impervious surface and it seems improbable that this would not increase flood risk in the local area. The drainage channel adjoining the existing ovals frequently comes close to overtopping in periods of intense rain. Hence the modelling seems incorrect and fails to represent what is a flashy catchment in a location with a history of flooding, particularly during east coast lows.
3. The EIS fails to address the scale of the development in a residential area. It is also disappointing that at no time has the previous determination for the facility (when proposed at Hillsborough) been transparently documented within the EIS. The Lake Macquarie City Council Development Application Tracker tool provides access to the previous determination. The Hunter Regional Planning Panel refused the development on the basis of it being an over-development of the site in a residential area. Yet the new proposal is even larger and once again within a residential area. No mitigation measures have been proposed. If the key reason for developing an indoor sports centre is for development of sport and to facilitate broader access to basketball, then why build a single huge facility at one site. Access to the sport would be better enabled by 2 satellite sites located at Lake Macquarie and perhaps port Stephens. The Newcastle site would then not need to be of such a large scale, which would open up a range of more appropriate development sites, that would have much less impact on the local community and more likely to be supported.

Finally, I would like to make comment on the overall planning process for this development. The development of a new basketball centre should be a reason to celebrate and bring together the sporting community. Instead, it has been a process by which the sporting and local community has become divided. I do not understand the reasons this has occurred. I am disappointed that the basketball community has had to experience backlash and spent significant funds on multiple applications. It is rare that fault for this sits with one authority or organisation.I would hope that something can be learned from this and the appropriate changes made in future. Thank you for considering my submission.

These parks are used by the high school next to the parks, soccer teams and cricket players as well as the general public.

Hunter Indoor Sports Centre
Application No: SSD-65595459
Submission to support the development of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre
I make this submission in support of the development of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre. I make this submission based on the significance, importance, community health, community involvement and benefit to local and regional communities this development will promote.
Significance
The opportunities for participation in sporting activities in indoor settings is declining in the Newcastle local council wards.
Within the Newcastle inner suburbs (Broadmeadow, Lambton and New Lambton) there are significant sporting venues that are decaying and or becoming inadequate for purpose.
The Newcastle Entertainment Centre located in Broadmeadow, once provided a basketball venue for a professional team. This team and the use of this centre for basketball has now disappeared. There is no evidence of this centre providing indoor sports opportunities.
The Newcastle Basketball Center located in Broadmeadow is a significant indoor sports centre. This facility is inadequate for the number of participants seeking to use its resources. Additionally, this centre must vacate the premises in 2028. Ownership of this facility will pass to another agency in 2028 forcing the Basketball Association to vacate.
In the Lambton,/New Lambton area there exists open sporting areas that could accommodate an indoor sports centre. The significance of this area is its centrality to other significant sporting and transport infrastructure.
The Lambton/New Lambton area has a connected area of sporting spaces that is extensive. It is around transport links. Major roads traverse the area, there are several bus routes and a train station is located close to the identified areas.
Close to the identified area is a major sporting venue that accommodates up to 30,000 spectators. Such infrastructure allows for the development of transport both public and private. There exists plans for a multi storied car park that could also support the proposed indoor sports Centre.
Close to the proposed site is a major Field Hockey Centre. This centre provides off street parking, hockey fields and buildings. This site is of a high standard and reflects the appropriateness of the location for a major indoor sporting centre. The existence of this site together with the adjacent sporting arena provides evidence of the appropriateness of the location of this indoor sports centre.
There exist plans to redevelop the Broadmeadow area as a sporting hub and green space. The significance of placing the indoor sporting centre in this location will be further enhanced with this redevelopment project.
Newcastle is recognized as the birthplace of the National Basketball League. The Newcastle Falcons in 1979 are credited as the inaugural team in the first NBL competition. Basketball has a significant place in the development of indoor sport in the Newcastle area.
Importance
Large numbers of participants, male and female, young and old are observed using the exisiting indoor sporting arena in Broadmeadow. This facility must shut down in 2028. There is a pressing need to have an indoor facility to meet this growing need. The current plan to establish an indoor sporting centre in the identified location will address this need.
There is a need to act promptly to address the growing need. The lack of movement and commitment from State politicians and agencies hinders the community to grow and develop healthy responses to physical development.
An indoor sporting centre will not be centered on one only sporting endeavor it will promote opportunities for other physical endeavors. Wheelchairs users and people with disabilities will benefit greatly from an indoor centre. Such a centre would reflect latest development in assistive and inclusive technology. Junior and senior members of the community will benefit from being able to participate in a variety of activities protected from weather events that could results in cancellation or abandonment of physical activities.
A secure, safe indoor venue will enhance physical opportunities for the vulnerable in our communities.
To reach out to the community it is important to recognise the access to and from the identified area is very important. Access to the identified location is enhanced by existing bus routes. There is currently a shuttle bus service to the John Hunter Hospital that operates daily and a major train station is located nearby. It is essential that the transport access is considered when stressing the importance of the current development application.
Community Health
Exercise and physical activity is always identified in medical literature as being important to physical and mental health.
Individual health while being significant, opportunities for the community to join together to promote physical activity is also a strong contributor to community health. Sporting team, group activities, cultural activities e.g. dance and drama, racquet and ball games, are some of the activities that contribute to community health and which could be accommodated in the planned indoor sports centre.
The indoor sports centre as planned would be a place for physical and mental health professionals to meet, plan and deliver activities to the less affluent and disadvantaged members of our community. It would be a place where healthy community building could occur. It could be a centre to develop activities and information that developed health themes within the community. It could become a place where members of the community could seek assistance and information for particular strategies to bolster their own health and participation in the community.
Community Involvement
It is noticeable from a casual observation of the number of citizens who currently use the Broadmeadow Basketball stadium that significant community involvement is a part of the operation of the current site.
It is apparent that the significant involvement of the community will transfer to the development of the proposed new site. It is hypothesized that given the expanding opportunities afforded by a new Indoor Sports Centre on the proposed site community involvement will be increased.
Given the opportunity for the development of other indoor sports in the proposed new centre it can be assumed the increased community participation will ensure this Indoor Sports Centre will be well patronized. It is assumed that the demand as observed from one sporting group, ( Basketball) the demand will be such that the centre will operate over the entire week.
The proposed Indoor Sports Centre will be of such significance that to delay its development is to hinder the development of parts of the community. The effect of delay will be felt within the young, middle aged and old. It will be felt by family groups and individuals. It will be felt by those with a disability. It will be felt by the less financially able within our communities and it will be felt by the vulnerable who need a space to develop now.
Benefit to local and regional communities
The benefit for the local and regional communities can be found in the community and health developments and in the development of particular sporting abilities.
The local community is changing with older residents who are being replaced by a more diverse community. The changes in the community reflect changing aspirations, expectations and how the local community resources are used.
The provision of an Indoor Sporting Centre will enhance the changing diversity in the local community.
The establishment of an indoor sporting centre will contribute to the economic development of the local community. The influx of participants to this centre will stimulate local mercantile outcomes and secondary support services e.g. therapist, trainers, coaches and allied agents who work for the benefit of others.
The area identified in the proposed centre is currently used by a variety of other sports. Arrangements are in place for the accommodation of other sports and these sports can operate in other outdoor locations.
There does exist some resistance from what appears older members of the local community who do not wish to see any open space used for an indoor sporting centre. However, there still exists significant open space in the identified area that should address the needs of the opposing local community.
The regional community will benefit significantly with the establishment of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre. It will promote community physical and mental health. This promotion will be enhanced by neighboring areas in the Hunter being able to access a central point.
The evidence for the benefit to neighbouring communities is provided by an observation of the usage pattern of the existing basketball stadium in Broadmeadow. The development of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre in the identified location will see the neighbouring areas being advantaged without significant cost to these local areas. The provision of the proposed centre in the identified location is an effective economic decision that promotes the best outcomes for the greatest number of people. It is a significant asset for the regional community.
Summary
The development of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre will be a significant advantage to Local and Regional communities. The advantage can be found in the Community health and development of the Local and Regional communities that will have access to this site.
The opposition to the development of this site appears to be focused on protecting green space. The identified space while being an open space, does no have any tree growth and has casual usage rates. It seems an inequitable use of this site to maintain its current status when there is a significant need for an indoor sports centre that will have consistent usage and higher patronage than the existing structure. Even with the addition of this centre the