Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

Should not be taking open space that is used by many different sporting groups.

Area is used for various sports and for school activities. This project will eliminate this. Also the project will effect traffic along Turton road

The roads and infrastructure surrounding this area does not support another major sporting structure in the same area. This weekend alone 19/10/2024 has a double Jets Game and Newcastle Pride Game on at the same time whereby their will be absolutely no parking made available for the Hockey Centre. How do you expect to support a Basketball stadium on top of an already built up area with inadequate parking infrastructure in place. Users of the Hockey Centre have to add an hour onto their travel time whenever events already occur at McDonald Jones Stadium with no guarantee of a Carpark.

It is going to take away valuable open spaces for the community
Cricket struggle to find grounds for juniors to use already and now you are wanting to take away even more grounds.
It will become even more of a traffic bottleneck with zero parking and limited public transport especially for those travelling

There has been little or no consultation with residents regarding traffic concerns, parking concerns and noise and crowd impacts on nearby residents.
The project would be best suited being incorporated with the Hunter Sports Centre at Glendale, which has sufficient infrastructure and distance from residences to alleviate the disturbance to traffic and residents of the Lambton area.

Loss of open green space and public recreation area: The proposal would result in the loss of existing playing fields (Blackley Oval and Wallarah Oval) that are currently used by local sporting clubs and the community for recreation. This reduces public open space in the area.
Traffic and parking impacts: The development is likely to significantly increase traffic in the surrounding residential areas, especially during events. The proposed 240 parking spaces may be insufficient for major events with up to 2,500 spectators.
Environmental impacts: Construction and increased usage of the site could negatively impact the nearby Lambton Ker-rai Creek. The development also requires removal of some existing trees.
Visual impacts: The large-scale building (up to 15.82m high) may be visually intrusive in what is currently an open space area, impacting views and the local character.
Noise impacts: Increased activity, traffic and events at the site could create noise disturbances for nearby residents, especially in evening hours.
Flood risks: While flood mitigation measures are proposed, developing on this flood-prone site may still pose risks and alter local flood patterns.
Alternative locations: Other potential sites for this facility may have been more suitable and had less impact on existing open space and residential areas.
Scale of development: The size and intensity of use may be excessive for this particular location and could overwhelm the local area.
Impacts during construction: The multi-year construction process will cause prolonged disruption to the local community.
Cumulative impacts: When considered alongside other developments in the area like the Hunter Park precinct, this project contributes to overdevelopment of the broader area.

I fully support the proposed Basketball Stadium in the proposed location. As the father of a 16 year old avid basketball player, who attends Lambton High School, this is a fantastic, central location for basketball to continue to grow and thrive in Newcastle. I support the NSW Government’s plans to use the existing site for much needed new housing supply. We are in dire need of a new basketball stadium and this location is central and easily accessible.

Keep Newcastle green spaces green… do not sell them off to private enterprise…
We will never get these spaces close to town back.
The sports stadium can go further out of town
Parking for the proposed 2500 seat stadium is unsustainable in this space

I grew up in Lambton, went to Lambton High School, that space is not only important to the community but the High School as well.
That location/zone is already over used and on occasions with the events being held, between soccer, footy, harness racing, hockey, school events, entertainment events, show ground events, general local traffic, it can get grid locked as is.
There is not enough infrastructure to manage this proposed centre. I am proposing another location be looked at for this facility.

Absolutely wrong location for this development.
1. Building on limited green space in this location will affect Lambton High School, local cricket, soccer and Rugby league organisations.
2. Bike path to Jesmond will have to be re routed onto local roads
3. Traffic Management plan will create a nightmare for local residents in surrounding streets every day

The project is in the wrong location. I agree the amenities are well overdue for an update however using this particular parcel of land will make the traffic even worse in that area not to mention the flooding and the loss of more green space and parkland.

On game day for the football and other major events, it is impossible to drive anywhere near there. It causes gridlock everywhere. This project is across the road so it will exacerbate the problems. I doubt they will all get together and co ordinate their events.

How do people who live there, work near there and need to drive through there, get about their business?

What if there’s another flood emergency that saw a man die in that exact location? Has anyone even thought how inconsiderate that is to his family? Did that not teach them anything? It’s a high flood area.

We have a lot of natural disasters in Newcastle (Sydney siders don’t know we exist) and we have to manage them ourselves. Why create a definite future issue? The proposal is very short sighted.

There are many parcels of land in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the broader Hunter area. They are not even trying to find one. The council did a dodgy job and this needs to go back to the drawing board as it doesn’t even meet the future needs of the basketball association. It will never be able to expand. There is not enough parking and it is going to be a disaster.

Please refuse the application at this location and get them to find a new location.

I am against the development of the Regional Basketball Stadium/Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals because :-
1. Already have bi-annual flooding in drain and surrounding open field area of Wallarah & Blackley Ovals, the building up of this area will make flooding worse, (image 3) and the proposed tanks will only make the drainage worse. As well as reduce parking.
2. Flooding on Turton, then Monash Rd, will create a bottleneck on Monash for traffic unable to turn onto Turton Rd.
3. Nowhere near enough parking on proposed HISC site so surrounding area, (Image 1) especially Monash Rd, and side streets, with projected problems, from 7a to 10pm 7 days, with drop-offs, especially at footbridge, chaotic.
4. If HISC parking becomes paid on site, as it is at McDonald Jones Stadium, then patrons will be using Monash Rd for parking, chaotic.
5. Monash Rd, with nose in parking on one side, parallel parking on other side, will be reduced to less than 2 lanes in most instances, and less than 1 lane in surrounding streets, chaotic.
6. Monash Rd continues to be used, down the center, as a multi Bus stand for the Turton Rd games day, regardless of how many cars are parked in, chaotic.
7. Feeding traffic from north, around several blocks, left turn onto Turton from Monash Rd, to enter HISC site chaotic!
8. Wallarah & Blackley Oval has three different New Lambton addresses, 2 Monash Rd, 24 Wallarah Rd, 321 Turton Rd. Why?
9. With multiple events, the MacDonald Jones Stadium, Hockey Centre, Trotting Track, Arthur Edden Oval, Harker Oval, Wests Leagues Club, Entertainment Centre, Newcastle Show Ground, Lambton High School, (Image 1) NO parking, roadway, off road, paid, unpaid, within at least two kilometers of this area, let alone moving in and out of the area, by car foot, bus, truck, motorcycle, wheelchair, chaotic!
10. Major alterations to Turton Rd due to traffic realignment, eg, relocation pedestrian/cycleway lights, multiple opening or closing center strip, and associated lane alterations, not notified as proposed, but probably necessary.
11. Where is the evidence of coordinated planning between, Hunter Indoor Sports Centre proposal, Wallarah and Blackley Oral, and the Draft Broadmeadow Place Strategy, in particular, roads, parking, transport and flooding, none which we can see???
12. Extremely concerned about dislocation of children, from existing Lambton High, Football and training, Cricket and training.
13. Existing street lighting woefully inadequate, upgrade Monash Rd streetlighting for safety of children walking, to/from vehicles, on Monash Rd after twilight & dark, advised by NCC completion 12 months, unfulfilled, now 4 years and counting, with one new spotlight on pedestrian bridge in that 4 years.
14. Increased traffic on Cycleway, especially motorized scooters, and unregistered motorcycles, to the reduced safety of pedestrians, due to surrounding road congestion.
15. No paved footpath on either side of Monash Rd.
16. Ramp wheelchair suitable at Turton Rd only, none on Monash Rd & side streets, forcing wheelchairs on already crowded road.
17. Westpac Rescue Helicopter uses this existing, open field area of Wallarah and Blackley and other Ovals, as a safer overflight route from John Hunter Hospital to Maintenance Base Broadmeadow.
18. Still only route 27 bus running hourly past HISC site
19. Wallarah & Blackley Ovals are an easily, convenient, assembly point for the 1200 high school children in emergency, and out of way of those emergency vehicles attending from Young & Womboin Rd’s
20. With increased use of “Nose In” beside Lambton Ker-rai Creek will result in more cars ending up in drain. At this stage, no stop car bollards or even extension of tar, in place or proposed.
21. Everyone who parks on a corner, even over a faint Yellow line may be issue with an infringement notice, in this area!
22. MacDonald Jones stadium has reduced or NO parking on site for some events. Therefore, parking will be at a premium at other sites, eg surrounding streets, Hockey Centre, Trotting Track, HISC.
23. Potential increase in crime, obtaining stats for existing HISC.
24. Planning, State, Local Government, Basketball input, as far as I can see has no mention of adverse effects on surrounding residents, particularly Monash Rd.
25. Spurious remarks Q&A Lambton High School 12th March 2024, and other meetings attended, strong support not evident!
26. Private exercise groups, both single and multi-person, in all weathers, using existing facilities.
27. Dog walker’s both in single and groups, again using existing facilities.
28. Very strange that the location of the HISC is officially shown at 24 Wallarah Rd and 2 Monash Rd New Lambton, and not actual Turton Rd, better be updated for emergency services.
29. Drainage Dam/Tank inside boundary of HISC should be mosquito proof.
30. Intelligent and considered one way drop off zone at Monash Rd pedestrian footbridge, due to extreme traffic.
31. Major impact of mental health, from building works, traffic movements, devaluation of property values of residents.
32. General consensus is that the HISC should be at Glendale, or Broadmeadow in place of Aquatic Centre.
33. The oval is the assembly point for 1200 Lambton High School students and staff.
34. Oval also activities area for surrounding preschools.
35. Mandated co-ordination of events so no parking clashes!
36. Turton Rd traffic heading north, turns left onto Monash Rd, creating a further bottleneck, due we believe to Monash being slightly higher than Turton, when flooded.
37. The streets behind Monash Rd south, with cars parked on both sides, will NOT be accessible for “General Fire Appliances”. https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/gallery/files/pdf/guidelines/vehicle_access.pdf 7.1
38. Streets behind Monash Rd heading south, with cars/trucks parked on both sides, will NOT be accessible for Red/Green/Yellow bin pickup, from prior to 7am and will not be free until after 10pm by HISC parking overflow.
39. Lambton High School, parking, Young/Wallarah/Monash Rd’s, pick-up and drop-off, out of hours events eg, parent/teacher, social, church, Federal, State, Local elections.
40. Stressed by lack of street parking in Monash Rd when single, let alone multiple events planned.
41. Stressed by stopping and/or parking over my, and other rate payer’s driveways.
42. Stressed by trades men unable find parking when we request attendance.
43. Stressed when family and/or friends unable find parking.
44. Stressed due to overnight caravan parking (Image 2) due to hockey events.
45. Stressed due reduced value of home due to above.
46. Stressed when CoN put in residents only parking and make a motsa every day from parking fines.
47. Paved area resulting from HISC will increase the runoff from the site, instead of it soaking into the field resulting in increased flooding in surrounding areas.
48. Local green spaces required for use of local senior citizens, walking area, to reduce the incidence of Alzheimer’s and other degenerative ailments.
49. Aboriginal land claim ongoing!
50. Fresh water spring somewhere on field, displaced by High School? will make it difficult to build, even when located.
51. Dislocate multiple birdlife, eg Herons Corollas Ibis Magpie Crows Pee Wees Swallows Doves Ducks other’s unidentified.
52. Security and flood lights will reduce the livability of nearby residents, with light pollution, already on Hockey Centre, MacDonald Jones Stadium, Oval’s (interim measure, CN will install a floodlight on the pole), Arthur Edden Oval, already have over 200 degrees of light pollution, & over 304 floodlights plus numerous other lights, from Hockey Centre to Arthur Edden Oval, within 500m radius.
53. Mine subsidence, none indicated, but not all mines are located, as underground mining has been active for over 150+ years in this area.
54. Native animals/birds will be disturbed by light pollution.
55. Require local state and federal indemnity residents, against losses due to foreseen and unforeseen problems in planning and works.
56. Monash Rd used as a rat race, for vehicles avoiding Gully Line lights.
57. Knight’s, Jet’s, and opposing teams, use this oval for game day warmups.
58. Premier Minns stated in Sydney news report 4/7/24, No building on flood Plains??

I strongly object to the proposal on a number of grounds.Having lived in the area for over 20 years I know the grounds are a well used public asset.In summer it is used for both junior and senior cricket,playing and training.In winter for soccer training and playing,it is used daily by the high school adjoining the ovals .This is a well used public space and should not be taken over by a single use organisation.The traffic in the area is bad enough when the Knights play and this will only be worse with this proposal. I have nothing against basketball,it’s just that this isn’t the right place for this development.The grounds are for public use and part of a well established green corridor.

As a close by resident to the proposed site, I would like to show why I oppose this proposal.
The proposed site is opposite McDonald Jones Stadium which is home to the Newcastle Knights during winter and the Newcastle Jets in summer. Both football codes draw big crowds on game day and parking in the surrounding area is a nightmare.
Lambton High School use both Wallarah and Blakley Ovals every day of the week for school sport, and, of a weekend, both ovals are used for junior cricket and junior soccer on both Saturdays and Sundays.
The parking and traffic will be horrific in the area if the stadium goes ahead as there is basically 1 road in and 1 road out and most traffic will exit onto Turton Rd which is a major thoroughfare any time of day and night and outgoing traffic will have to give way to oncoming traffic on Turton Rd.
In 2007,when the Pasha Bulker storm hit, a lot of houses in the surrounding area were affected by flooding, and our house was one of those. I maintain that if the stadium goes ahead, all rainfall in the stadium's concrete precinct, will have nowhere to go but into the storm water drain which forms Kerai Creek, and if the water level is already high, will exacerbate the problem.
As far as household insurance if concerned, the area has been classified as "floodplains" and insurance premiums are very high.
On the night in question, both Wallarah and Blackley Oval probably saved more homes from going under as it held a lot of rainfall water which did not flow back into the flooded area and adjacent stormwater drain. If the stadium goes ahead the residents will lose this back up feature. Message
As a close by resident to the proposed site, I would like to show why I oppose this proposal.
The proposed site is opposite McDonald Jones Stadium which is home to the Newcastle Knights during winter and the Newcastle Jets in summer. Both football codes draw big crowds on game day and parking in the surrounding area is a nightmare.
Lambton High School use both Wallarah and Blakley Ovals every day of the week for school sport, and, of a weekend, both ovals are used for junior cricket and junior soccer on both Saturdays and Sundays.
The parking and traffic will be horrific in the area if the stadium goes ahead as there is basically 1 road in and 1 road out and most traffic will exit onto Turton Rd which is a major thoroughfare any time of day and night and outgoing traffic will have to give way to oncoming traffic on Turton Rd.
In 2007,when the Pasha Bulker storm hit, a lot of houses in the surrounding area were affected by flooding, and our house was one of those. I maintain that if the stadium goes ahead, all rainfall in the stadium's concrete precinct, will have nowhere to go but into the storm water drain which forms Kerai Creek, and if the water level is already high, will exacerbate the problem.
As far as household insurance if concerned, the area has been classified as "floodplains" and insurance premiums are very high.
On the night in question, both Wallarah and Blackley Oval probably saved more homes from going under as it held a lot of rainfall water which did not flow back into the flooded area and adjacent stormwater drain. If the stadium goes ahead the residents will lose this back up feature.
I ask that this project be relocated to a more appropriate area.
Thanks
Rob Downie.

I am the carer of a basketball player. From everything that I’ve read, the only concern about traffic is on Turton Road as it will have the only entry and exits to the basketball stadium. A major point that has not been considered is the fact that Turton Road has a fenced medium strip dividing it. So if you’re coming from my direction (South-East, which a large part of the basketball community do) we can’t turn right to head home. We will all be exiting left via Turton, greeted instantly by traffic lights that are always changing, so I can only imagine how long it will take to navigate a busy road as well as lights just to exit the carpark. We will then be using Young Road, Womboin Road, Wallarah Road and then try and get back onto (an already busy) Lambton Road. Now, if you’re travelling from the North-West, you won’t be able to enter from Turton Road directly due to the fenced medium strip. Your entry will be via Young Road, Womboin Road, Monash Road then back onto (an already very busy) Turton Road. All these steps will need to be repeated if the carpark is full (which I anticipate will be often). Now add a Knights or Jets game into the mix and it will be complete madness.

Subject: Objection to Development Application for Proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre adjacent to Lambton High School

Dear Council,

I am writing to formally lodge my concerns regarding the Development Application (DA) for the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre adjacent to Lambton High School. After reviewing the publicly available plans, I have identified several issues that I believe require serious attention and could potentially render the project unfeasible from both an engineering and community impact standpoint.

Firstly, the site appears to have significant drainage and infrastructure challenges that have not been adequately addressed in the plan. There are two trunk sewer mains and a drainage easement running through the middle of the proposed building footprint. This is highly problematic from an engineering perspective, as building over essential infrastructure such as sewer mains poses both long-term maintenance issues and potential structural risks. Relocating or rerouting these services would likely result in substantial additional costs and could delay the project.

Furthermore, the land in question is classified as flood-prone. This raises concerns about the feasibility of constructing a large indoor facility without proper flood mitigation measures in place. I see no clear evidence in the DA that sufficient space has been allocated for on-site detention of stormwater, which is essential to manage runoff and prevent downstream flooding. In an area already prone to flooding, adding impervious surfaces without adequate stormwater management will only exacerbate the risk.

In addition to the technical concerns, it is important to highlight the impact this project will have on Lambton High School and its students. The school currently uses the fields where the proposed stadium is to be built. This open space is crucial for physical education, sporting activities, and recreational use. Reducing access to outdoor spaces will limit opportunities for students and could negatively affect the school’s ability to deliver a well-rounded educational experience.

Given the significant engineering, environmental, and community-related concerns, I strongly urge the Council to reconsider the approval of this DA or, at the very least, request a thorough reassessment of the project’s feasibility, addressing these critical issues.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,
Kasumi Mitchell
0401631059

I object to the proposed due to poor site location, traffic flow, flooding concerns, a reduction of green space. This proposed area is important to multiple sports, Lambton High School and countless children in the area.

I encourage the department to look into the numbers of participants that proponent has suggested will use the facility, as these numbers are known to be largely over exaggerated by all sports.


There are better sites in Newcastle. Other sports, rate payers and locals should not have to suffer so a minority sport can have a facility they already have in Broadmeadow.

I do not believe the location for the new Hunder Indoor Sports Centre is suitable due to the following reasons:
1/ Currently the location is being utilised by both Junior Soccer, Junior and Adult Cricket and the students of New Lambton High School. Where will these participants and students go to access healthy lifestyle options, sporting activities and required school activities? They are being punished for insufficient planning.
2/ These open playing fields and recreational area are utilised by residents for their own healthy lifestyle options.
3/ When the Newcastle Knights are playing the local streets are overloaded with cars due to limited parking. If the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre is approved I am concerned about the extra vehicles requiring parking in the area ( the proposal states one show court with a retractable grandstand seating 2500 people).
4/ When the Newcastle Knights and Lambton Jaffas are playing at the same time, parking issues are worse - this would only be compounded with the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre.
5/ McDonald Jones Stadium has started hosting major events - international music stars. Again with the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre wanting to locate at this site - parking would be worse than with point 4.
6/ The previous proposal was refused by the Joint Regional Planning Panel on the grounds of adverse traffic impacts on local residents. To avoid any such concerns, the proposed basketball stadium will feature a lane exiting Turton Road to avoid any disruption to existing traffic, and to ensure vehicles are away from Lambton High School. I do not believe this will help us (the local residents and Lambton High School). With the number of extra vehciles travelling on this busy road and surrounding roads everyday, the extra stopping of traffic due to traffic lights, I believe would create bottle necks in traffic. Therefore, creating unsafe conditions for both drivers, pedestrians, students and cyclists. It also then ripples through and affects not just local residents but other users of the roads, pathways and local cycleways.
7/ The open green space should not be impacted by massive cement buildings and a parking lot.
8/ The area is known as a flood-prone area and I have concerns with the amount of green space being taken away and the massive cement buildings and parking lot causing issues with water runoff and contributing to excess stormwater runoff, and the possibility of increasing flooding.
9/ The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre has already been rejected in areas and I believe this was a hasty decision.
10/ The Hunter Park Project/Plan is being developed to house state-of-the-art sporting facilities, green space and entertainment facilities - why hasnt' area been considered as the location for the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre.
11/ More consideration needs to be given to the location of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre. I do agree a new and improved Basketball Stadium is required but the location on both Blackey and Wallarah Ovals is NOT the location.

The project as proposed is in the wrong location. It is taking green space from a New Lambton community that needs more green spaces. It is taking green space from Lambton High School. Newcastle has other locations including Steel River which would be much more suitable. Terrible idea for the location with Parking issues

I'm a local resident who plays in a Newcastle Basketball league and I am in support of the project to enable greater participation in basketball in the region. It is noted in the report that participation in the sport is almost half that of equivalent LGAs - almost certainly because of a lack of adequate facilities.
The concerns around loss of green space in my view are alleviated by the fact that directly adjacent there exist multiple ovals for outdoor sports including Ford Oval, Kentish Oval, Harker Oval, Arthur Edden Oval, not to mention the dozens of other fantastic outdoor sports facilities in the LGA. There are a much smaller number of available indoor court facilities for basketball and other indoor court sports and this development will rectify this issue.
I am also a father of two young boys who will be able to start playing basketball in the next few years and I would love for them (and myself) to be able to have sufficient courts to play on within Newcastle and a world-class facility at that as the proposed plans indicate. I have heard from other parents of older children that some have not been able to sign up their children to basketball due to a lack of available courts. This development addresses that critical need.
Another factor that commends this development for approval is that it frees up the location of the existing Broadmeadow basketball centre for medium density housing development - at a time when housing affordability is at an all time low, increasing housing stock and creating a more diverse mix of housing stock in the region is so important to allow Novocastrians to more easily own their own home.