Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

This application should be supported given it will not result in significant environmental or social impact and is in the public interest.
The sport of basketball is quickly growing in popularity and the current facilities for Newcastle Basketball are inadequate to cater for the growth in the sport. The current facility has long been in disrepair, with a leaking roof and is potentially structurally unstable, risking the safety of the community. It is the only indoor sporting venue where games are called off due to rain or heat.
It is acknowledged that the proposed location is not supported by a section of the community, however the proposed site is seen as a last resort, with other suitable locations and development applications previously being rejected due to similar community concerns.
Newcastle Basketball are being forced out of their current facility. It would make sense to knock down and re-build on the current site however this is not possible given land use conflict with the proposed Broadmeadow Place Strategy. As I understand, the organisation only has four more years in which to vacate the premises, at which time if another facility is not built, there will be a serious blow to the future of the sport in Newcastle.
A state significant development application can take years to prepare and the construction of the facility could be another 1-2 years. It is therefore not feasible to withdraw the application and find an alternative site as this would not meet the timing restrictions for the current facility and the sport would have no home.
Newcastle Basketball are currently turning away hundreds of children and young adults who wish to engage in the sport because they simply do not have the facilities to accommodate the demand. We should always promote children wanting to exercise and obtain social interaction through sport.
The facility is also an embarrassment to the city of Newcastle with professional NBL1 games televised across the country. The Newcastle facility is decrepit in comparison to other basketball organisations in Maitland, Central Coast and Sydney. As NSW' second largest city we deserve a state of the art facility as soon as possible.
Despite some degree of localised community objection for this site, for the greater public interest the development should be approved for the benefit of citizens of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie local government areas.

This is taking away more than it is providing. The area this space is planning to take up is used by Lambton High students who have no other field space available to them. There is other space much more suitable for this project. This will harm the community more than it will benefit.

These are my objections to the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre are as follows.
An abundance of bird life using this green space on a constant and daily basis. There has been a lot of clearing of trees in the nearby suburb of Jesmond, New Lambton Heights, due to major road works and since the clearing the bird life has increased substantially here. Corellas, cockatoos, kookaburras, swallows, native pigeons, rosellas, lorikeets, tawny frogmouths, herons, magpies, crows, peewees, are amongst the birds using this area, all will be displaced with of the building of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre.
In the last few days it has come to my notice that an outdoor gym is planned for directly across the road from my house, as this area has an Ausgrid light illuminating the footbridge across the stormwater drain it will be available 24/7. As our bedrooms are at the front of the house, I am concerned this area will be utilized by late night and perhaps intoxicated people leaving the nearby West League Club venue. This equipment will also retain flood debris in the event of heavy rainstorm. The area at the back of the proposed stadium was originally stated as being reserved for Lambton High School sports, now has these plans changed two 2 half courts for basketball removing Lambton High completely from this space. Other concerns are flooding, from drain and surrounding area, and traffic chaos within the precinct and on surrounding streets.

I object to this project in New Lambton

I object to this project

Please refer to attached PDF for my objection to this project

I object to this development as per the attached document.

The current location is used on a very regular basis by the adjoining school as well as various soccer clubs and other sports groups. It is well set up to cater for large training sessions, is central, and is free for users. The proposed development would eliminate this option for far more young people and people that play sport than those that would benefit from it. The proposed development should be targeted for a brown fields location that will be not take away from an existing facility. The facility should be located further away from the Newcastle CBD to spread the economic and social benefits of a development such as this one.

Anyone in the sporting community can see we need a new facility , the current stadium is on its last leg, and can deliver the needs to the thousands of Newcastle Basketball players, spectators and members.

This project will dramatically impact on the local community in a negatice way by removing well-used green space, and by creating congestion with traffic and parking for events. Nearby schools, sports clubbs and the general public use this land for recreational activities. Birds and animals that live in the green space will lose their habitat. The traffic and parking in this area are already disrupted by sporting events at the nearby sports stadium. Another development like this would worsen an already congested area. The area has been known to flood in extreme weather events and the building of this size will worsen this by reducing areas for run off and reduce absoprtion of excess water. Weather events of this nature have been shown to be increasing. I also understand that there is an Aborignal land claim associated with this site that should be respected.

The location where they intend to put this Sports Centre is absolutely wrong. There is no parking there at the moment even without the football/soccer/hockey/concert/event on across the road. Property in the area will decrease immensely in value. It is used by the local soccer and cricket clubs. It is used by Lambton High school which is adjacent to the proposed venue. There is aways something on at the ovals. It is used in the school holidays for day camps of all different sports. And it FLOODS, where will all the water go if it is one big concrete slab, the adjacent drain will not cope at all, where will the water go? Into the surrounding area which is next to a major road and a residential area. I feel that this proposed development should NOT go ahead in the proposed current location. There are lots of other places where it could go, what about where the current one is, it is a large enough area, what is going to go there??? There is land over at the old Gas works in Clyde Street which has been remediated and is just sitting there. So please we ask that this proposal NOT go ahead and another site that would be more appropriate should be chosen. Hoping that this proposal be declined. Also hoping that the people that make this decision actually visit the proposed site. Thank you.

The cons of this development far outweigh the benefits for the Newcastle community.
LESSONS NOT LEARNED: All of the issues identified in their previous location in Lake Macquarie (which was knocked back) are also present at the current location (Wallarah/Blackley Ovals). It does not appear that Newcastle Basketball took on board the feedback from that prior refusal when choosing a new location.

NO CONSULTATION: No community consultation has occurred. On page 63 of the EIS, the local community are not listed as a stakeholder that they have engaged with, as they have not made any real attempt to engage with the local community despite this being a mandatory requirement of a State Significant Development. Newcastle Basketball’s attitude towards the residents who will be the most impacted by this development has been one of contempt. My understanding from talking with many other locals is that everyone is very supportive of a new basketball stadium, as long as it is in an appropriate location, which this is not.

STEALING LAND FROM OTHER SPORTS: Newcastle Basketball have been placed in a tricky position because they have been given a relatively small and very inadequate amount of funds to build a new stadium on the condition that they do not use any of the funds to purchase land for the it to be built on. This has forced them to ‘steal’ land away from other sports and the local community. Nearby ovals are already overused, and with other sporting teams being forced to share the ovals with additional users, additional wear and tear will occur on those other ovals. In addition, all other sports are forced to share facilities, while still allowing the general public free access to their spaces, but basketball gets a gigantic piece of land all to themselves that they will charge the general public to access.

LOSS OF CROWN LAND TO BUILD HIGH RISE – GOVT BENEFITS FINANCIALLY BUT THE COMMUNITY LOSES OUT: The State Government have stated that they will be selling the land that the current stadium is on to developers for high rise housing. By refusing to use the financial windfall from that sale to purchase land elsewhere for a new basketball stadium, the result is a net financial gain to the government (who do not appear to have advised what they will actually use the funds for) and a simultaneous net loss of valuable green space for the community. Essentially, the Govt is selling off Crown Land by moving the basketball stadium from one location to another and keeping the funds from selling the first location. If the proposed stadium was rebuilt on its current location, and the government stated they would be building high rise apartments on Wallarah & Blackley ovals, I very much doubt that would be allowed to go ahead due to the very obvious negative outcome for the community, but this is essentially what they are doing, by swapping the locations around.

TAKING AWAY A GREEN SPACE THAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY HAS FREE ACCESS TO: The ovals that will be lost forever if this development is approved are currently home to multiple other sporting groups including soccer and cricket & are used daily by dog walkers & families. The entire community currently has access to this valuable green space for free, however only paying members of the basketball community will be allowed to access the stadium if this proposal goes ahead, emphasized by the planned large fence around the perimeter. So the community loses access to a valuable free, green community asset and receives nothing in return, unless they are a part of the relatively small basketball community and pay to access the building.

HIGH SCHOOL: The Govt has earmarked the ‘Broadmeadow Place’ precinct nearby for at least 20,000 new dwellings in the near future. The local high school (Lambton High School), which is located directly adjacent to the proposed Basketball Stadium location, will presumably be expected to cater to a large number of these new residents, as the Broadmeadow Place concept plan does not include any new schools. Lambton High School currently uses Wallarah & Blackley ovals as its green space playground, however if this proposal is approved, that access to green space will be taken away at the very time when the school will need to start catering to many more students. It seems inconceivable to me that taking away a massive amount of green space from the local school, which is attended by many socially disadvantaged children, is considered less important than building a gigantic concrete building that will only be accessible to those who are able to pay to use it. This is especially devastating when considering that the school is unable to relocate, but there are many alternative locations available to Newcastle Basketball which would not have such a devastating effect on student’s wellbeing and health.

BROADMEADOW PRECINCT SPORTING PRECINCT: The nearby Broadmeadow Place precinct was sold to the local Newcastle community as a ‘sporting precinct’. It makes sense therefore, that the Basketball Stadium (recently renamed to “Indoor Sports Stadium”, but it essentially remains a basketball facility) should be housed within the precent. The State Government have so far refused to explain, despite many requests including from Newcastle Council, why they have stated that it will be impossible to place the basketball stadium within the Broadmeadow Place sporting area. The reasoning for this is important and should be made available to the local community. If large NRL teams can continue on playing at the highest level of sport while having their own stadium rebuilt on it’s existing location (as evidenced recently by the Wests Tigers), there is no reason that Newcastle Basketball couldn’t do the same. If the stadium is rebuilt on its current location, for example, Newcastle Basketball could make use oif the many, many basketball courts at schools and parks during the build, and high rise apartments could then be built on top of the new stadium, as has happened with many shopping centres including Rockdale Shopping Centre in Sydney and Marketown shopping centre in Newcastle. Both basketball and housing could be catered for, without imposing a net loss of green space on the community at a time when the local population is expected to sky rocket. This is just one example of the many alternative options available to Newcastle Basketball. The answer to why the stadium cannot be built on its current location or at an alternative location within the proposed sporting precinct is an important one and should be answered in detail prior to any proposed development on Crown Land being approved.

FLOOD ZONE: Wallarah and Backley ovals are located within a well known flood zone. In the 2007 pasha bulka storm, which remains strong in local’s memories for the devastation it caused, especially in the residential area adjacent to the ovals, 9 people lost their lives, including one death directly related to the storm water drain that runs alongside the proposed location. My elderly neighbour remembers that prior to the ovals, it was “swamp land”. Many of the nearby homes struggle to find insurance, or are charged excessively high insurance premiums, due to the very high flood risk. Many of those same people were displaced from their homes for many months after the 2007 floods. Wallarah & Backley ovals act as a giant sponge in the area, soaking up rain. The adjacent drains fill up very quickly during rain and do not appear to have much capacity left during heavy rainfall. When a gigantic concrete building is built on those sponges, where does all the water go, if not causing the drains to overflow more regularly and then flow on into resident’s homes. The flood mitigation in the proposal does not appear adequate when considering the development will be on top of a well known flood zone that was previously swamp.

PARKING: The parking provided for in this application is woefully inadequate. I invite anyone who is assessing this proposal to attend the location at a time when McDonald Jones Stadium is in use and see for yourselves the atrocious parking situation in the adjacent residential streets. Those streets are narrower than your average street, meaning that it is already difficult to drive down those streets when there are vehicles parked on either side. There is inadequate access for emergency vehicles. Newcastle Basketball have stated that the relatively small number of proposed car parking spaces will be ticketed parking, so this will encourage parking in local streets instead for free.

FUNDING: Newcastle Basketball have publicly stated that they do not have the funds to build this development. They have had many, many years to raise funds to build a new stadium and have not been able to do so. They have given no indication of how they intend to raise the additional $60 million plus that they will require to complete the development as proposed. The local community should not be expected to accept the many negative impacts that this development will bring based on a vague proposition that Newcastle Basketball are hoping that they might be able to build it as planned. As it currently stands, the community will be losing very valuable green spaces on the basis that only a small proportion of the proposed stadium will be able to be built.

Major traffic congestion on Turton road leading into side streets
Generalised flooding
Sewer problems on Turton road with blockage in main sewer, leading to problems in young road. Hunter water required regularly needing to clear blockage in wet weather
Impact on privacy
Limited parking available on narrow side streets causing obstructions

I support this project and the location it has been proposed.

I am against this project and object to the submission for many reasons-loss of parkland used by Lambton High School and many sporting teams. The parking is a great concern particularly when the Knights Football team play and twelve stadium concerts have been approved for 2025. Local residents will pay the penalty for this as Young Road and Turton are regularly closed to traffic. We cannot afford loss of this lovely green space-please reconsider this site as there are many more suitable options eg the old gasworks site Thank you

I object to the project for the following reasons:
*The loss of green space in a city suburb, having a significantly detrimental effect to the local population. Of particular concern is the loss of sporting fields for Lambton High School students as well as the visual and environmental impacts to school students. Not only do students use the space for sport activities, the proposed development will have a significant visual impact to students as well as blocking breezes through the school. The school is already a hot concrete jungle. The open fields give teenagers much needed space to run around but also to feel space around them. The open space allows southerly breezes to enter the school and provides visual wide open spaces to all students. Blocking this view and space with a huge building will have an enormous negative impact on the emotional and physical well being of all students into the future.
*The area is also much used by local residents and sporting clubs. Open green spaces are crucial for well-being and we should be carefully preserving what we have. The local area has already lost a significant amount of recreational bushland with the construction of the Charlestown bypass through Jesmond bushland. This has been a big blow for the local community. Taking this additional area away from the community will add to this loss.
*I have concerns about the impact of flooding in the area. Floodplains are an important part of flood mitigation. The proposed development will block the floodplain and therefore cause additional flooding in neighbouring areas. Building on the floodplain is bad floodplain management. Floodplains are ideal places for open sporting fields as is currently the case.
*I have been a Lambton resident for 16 years. The parking around the football stadium has caused grief for the local residents this entire time. Council has not addressed the current parking issues and is now proposing to add to them.

Unsuitable location for multiple reasons, primarily including loss of green and open space for sport and recreation (including the high school), and traffic and parking congestion for the entire area, particularly when the Stadium has an event on.

This is a much needed sporting facility for the hunter region and one that is long overdue.

Loss of green space, playing and recreational area which is highly valued by the local residents and school community.
Inadequate parking and transport options will result in patrons parking throughout the adjacent streets and lead to heavy traffic flows at the end of games etc. causing noise, pollution and inability for local residents to safely move about their neighbourhood. The effects of this is already seen for events at the existing football stadium e.g. concerts

We need to keep the park land for local sporting clubs, school sports & general outdoor green space for families. Traffic congestion will be horrendous for locals. Put this massive stadium somewhere else.