Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

I support this submission as it will be a great hub for the community.

This project will benefit all Novocastrians and elevate the Hunter Region’s sport facility profile greatly. Basketball is becoming more and more popular and provides an alternative activity to those who don’t enjoy field sports.

I am a student at Lambton High School and would like to oppose the development of Wallarah and Blakey Ovals for the following reasons:
1. Without the ovals our playground is really small. There will be no space for ball games .
2. The rear of my school will be dark and dreary. The building is very high and will stop natural light making our learning spaces feel enclosed and dark.
3.Traffic is always bad around Young Rd and Turton Rd. More cars will add to the congestion, especially at busy times like school pick up.
4.Construction noise, traffic and dust will impact our learning environment for many years. Because there is not enough money to build the stadium they are saying they will extend the current lease for another 10 years while they get money to finish it. So we will have to endure construction for 10 years? Students will start and end their high school education with constant and continuous noise and disruption.
5. We have no where for sport and pe for field games like cricket, softball, soccer etc. our school has always been competitive in sports but with no access to ovals how can we play and practice.

I really hope that we are able to save the ovals and build the basketball stadium on another site. Please reject this proposal on this site.
Thank you

The current facilities do not meet the needs of the community, they are outdated and are not big enough to support the number of people wanting to play basketball.

I wish to express my full support for the Newcastle Basketball HISC SSDA development, which I believe will be a transformative investment for our community. As a parent and active member of the Newcastle community, I have witnessed firsthand the growing demand for quality indoor sports facilities. Our current basketball stadium is outdated, and its limitations are increasingly evident. With unpredictable weather and limited availability, our children and families are often left unable to participate in sports year-round. A modern facility like the proposed HISC would provide a much-needed solution, allowing our young athletes to practice, compete, and develop their skills regardless of the seasons.

The new HISC will not only serve basketball but will become a hub for a range of indoor sports, such as futsal, pickleball, volleyball, netball, and tennis. This multi-sport focus is crucial for fostering a diverse sporting culture in Newcastle and ensuring that more children and families have access to a wide variety of activities. With the expanded court capacity, no longer will our kids be turned away from participation due to a lack of available space. This increased availability is especially important in a city as vibrant and active as ours.

Beyond the practical benefits of improved facilities, the new HISC will serve as a cornerstone for community engagement. It will provide a space where people of all ages can gather, socialize, and be active. The impact on community health cannot be overstated. By offering a safe, inclusive, and accessible environment, the development will help promote lifelong health and well-being for everyone, from children to seniors. It will also create an invaluable opportunity for youth engagement, providing a platform for young athletes to follow talent pathways, and potentially discover their passion for sports.

Furthermore, the development of this facility is about more than just sport—it is about strengthening the social fabric of our community. It will foster inclusion, providing equal opportunities for all, regardless of background, and allow families to come together in a positive environment. These benefits will not only enrich the lives of participants but also create stronger social connections throughout Newcastle.

This is such a wonderful and exciting and deeply needed piece of infrastructure. As the parent of a keen primary school aged basketballer, I am aware of how the sport has been rapidly growing in popularity. This new infrastructure is critical to fostering this wonderful sport and affording opportunities to so many young people. It will not only house basketball, but a range of other sports like volleyball, netball, pickleball and more. We need this new facility so desperately and it should be located in the precinct with all the other sports. The plan is well thought out , adaptive and will support community cohesion and development into the future.

Newcastle Basketball association strongly require the building and development of thr new hunter indoor sports centre to provide a sporting facility for the large volume of community sporting members.

I am writing as a local parent and proud member of the Newcastle community to express my strong support for the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) development. As someone who has seen firsthand the positive impact that sport has on our children, families, and broader community, I believe this project is not only necessary but long overdue.
Our current basketball stadium, while it has served us well over the years, is simply no longer fit for purpose. It is outdated, too small for the growing demand, and offers little protection against the weather — meaning cancelled games and training sessions are all too common. This not only affects the development of our young athletes but also limits opportunities for families to stay active and connected throughout the year.
The new HISC promises to be a true community hub, offering state-of-the-art facilities for a wide range of indoor sports including basketball, futsal, volleyball, pickleball, netball, and indoor tennis. This kind of multi-sport venue is exactly what Newcastle needs — a modern, inclusive, and accessible space where people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can come together, be active, and thrive.
Perhaps most importantly, the additional court capacity will mean no more turning children away due to a lack of space. As a parent, it's heartbreaking to see kids miss out on the chance to play simply because there aren’t enough facilities. This development ensures that more children can participate, learn teamwork, build confidence, and enjoy the lifelong benefits of sport.
Beyond the sporting benefits, the HISC will contribute significantly to community health, youth engagement, and social inclusion. It provides a positive outlet for young people, supports talent development pathways, and fosters stronger connections within our diverse community.
This project is about more than just bricks and mortar — it’s about investing in the wellbeing, future, and unity of Newcastle. I wholeheartedly support the HISC and urge decision-makers to approve the SSDA and help bring this vital community asset to life.

I object to the Hunter Indoor Sport Centre for the following reasons:
It is not suitable to put a large building on Community Green Space.
Traffic congestion, disruptions to residential streets through increase traffic in streets not design to take large amounts of traffic. Parking issues. The Re design of Traffic to divert onto Turton Road from an one way puzzle is a disaster for residents of Lambton, New Lambton and other suburbs near by. Why are residents being subject to this. Increase height of the building. This Hunter Indoor Sport Centre needs to be relocated to a more suitable area. Please see the attached submission.

I would like to object to the proposed development.
My grandchildren play cricket and soccer on the ovals. They will be displaced making it difficult for me to go and watch them play because I can’t drive very far.
I am worried about how the development will impact my grandchildren’s school. They won’t have a playground.
I hope the stadium can be moved to a more appropriate location.

Positively used by many friends and family members. Great contribution to the community.

As a young player in Newcastle, I want to express my strong support for the new Hunter Indoor Sports Centre. Our current stadium is old and overcrowded, and too many kids miss out on teams or games because there just aren’t enough courts.

The new HISC would give players like me a chance to train and play year-round, no matter the weather. It won’t just help basketball—it will also open doors for other sports like futsal, pickleball, volleyball, and netball.

More courts mean more opportunities for young people to stay active, develop skills, and be part of something positive. It also means a healthier and more connected community, where everyone has the chance to play and belong.

This project is about giving young people the opportunities we deserve. I fully support the HISC development and hope it goes ahead

This project is a great idea - the basketball community has been waiting too long for facilities!!

Newcastle Basketball do need a new complex.

However, the current proposed site of Wallarah Oval and Blackley Oval in Turton Road, Wallarah Road and Monash Road is not a suitable site.

There are a great number of issues with this site. Below are the issues I believe, should be sufficient reason to find an alternate site elsewhere in the Hunter Region.
Loss of Green Space:
• The loss of valuable and irreplaceable green space. The removal of green space will never be returned to the community. These ovals are more than just a sports oval, they are a place a great many people utilise just to enjoy being outdoors, away from concrete structures. With the increase in residential apartments planned for the area, this green space is even more valuable with the increased population in high rise apartments.
• There are many current users of the green space range from sports clubs to Lambton High school students, to parents with their children, to individuals seeking some space, grass and sun to relax. We pass, travel through or use these ovals ourselves regularly, and we are always sharing the green space with others who find this space vital to their daily lives.
• The loss of the green space, somewhere to exercise will have a negative impact on all users mental health when replaced by concrete. Being in and/or around nature helps with mental health issues. The reduction of this green space will have a negative impact on those living in the immediate area to this development.
Impact on other users of the current ovals:
• Lambton High School will lose their play and sports areas as well as their evacuation locations.
• Currently our neighbours’ small children often play in our back lane. However, when they are old enough to cross the busy main road, they will be looking to use the ovals for play instead.
• The older children in our area are seen frequently walking or riding their bikes to the oval for sport and sport practice. Many parents currently take their children to the ovals for sports practice regularly.
• Other sports clubs already utilising the current ovals will be forced to relocate or worse, cease altogether due to a lack of other suitable, available facilities in the area.
Flooding and Drainage:
• The stormwater drainage around the ovals is regularly impacted by wet weather. The area has been declared a flood prone area. The grassed ovals currently assist with the water flow through some absorption however with this natural area being removed will increase the flooding to the neighbouring streets even further.
• I have attached some photos of the flooding that has occurred in the immediate area during heavy rain. With the construction of more buildings and the loss of natural drainage, this flooding will increase in severity.
Traffic and Parking Impacts:
• Currently when there is an event at McDonald Jones Stadium there is major traffic congestion in the streets immediately around the stadium. This will increase significantly with the introduction of the basketball stadium as there will be less parking available due to the basketball centre using the limited parking already available.
• Traffic congestion will significantly increase when there are multiple events at both the basketball centre, McDonald Jones stadium and the Hockey Centre.
• There are a great many issues with people attending the events to park their cars across and in private driveways. I expect that this will increase further with the basketball patrons utilising the already limited parking available in the area. Residents will not be able to park at or near their homes.
• Pedestrian movements in surrounding streets will increase. This will likely increase the volume of littering and trespass on private property. This already occurs frequently with the events at McDonald Jones Stadium.
• Any additional traffic, and people will increase the noise levels to the area. This increase in noise will impact residents from early in the morning to late evenings most nights of the week. Shift workers, elderly and the ill will be more negatively impacted by this change.

Basketball is a popular sport that deserves good facilities, however prioritising one sport over the reduction or elimination of at least 2 other sports is not the best outcome for this community.

Alternate Locations:
• Near the Glendale Bunnings and Costco sites - Munibung Road and Main Road Boolaroo
• The newly proposed Sports Precinct at Maryland
• The old BHP site at Mayfield
• Bower Oval behind the Hunter Sports Centre at Glendale

Newcastle Basketball do need a new complex.

However, the current proposed site of Wallarah Oval and Blackley Oval in Turton Road, Wallarah Road and Monash Road is not a suitable site.

There are a great number of issues with this site. Below are the issues I believe, should be sufficient reason to find an alternate site elsewhere in the Hunter Region.
Loss of Green Space:
• The loss of valuable and irreplaceable green space. The removal of green space will never be returned to the community. These ovals are more than just a sports oval, they are a place a great many people utilise just to enjoy being outdoors, away from concrete structures. With the increase in residential apartments planned for the area, this green space is even more valuable with the increased population in high rise apartments.
• There are many current users of the green space range from sports clubs to Lambton High school students, to parents with their children, to individuals seeking some space, grass and sun to relax. We pass, travel through or use these ovals ourselves regularly, and we are always sharing the green space with others who find this space vital to their daily lives.
• The loss of the green space, somewhere to exercise will have a negative impact on all users mental health when replaced by concrete. Being in and/or around nature helps with mental health issues. The reduction of this green space will have a negative impact on those living in the immediate area to this development.
Impact on other users of the current ovals:
• Lambton High School will lose their play and sports areas as well as their evacuation locations.
• Currently our neighbours’ small children often play in our back lane. However, when they are old enough to cross the busy main road, they will be looking to use the ovals for play instead.
• The older children in our area are seen frequently walking or riding their bikes to the oval for sport and sport practice. Many parents currently take their children to the ovals for sports practice regularly.
• Other sports clubs already utilising the current ovals will be forced to relocate or worse, cease altogether due to a lack of other suitable, available facilities in the area.
Flooding and Drainage:
• The stormwater drainage around the ovals is regularly impacted by wet weather. The area has been declared a flood prone area. The grassed ovals currently assist with the water flow through some absorption however with this natural area being removed will increase the flooding to the neighbouring streets even further.
• I have attached some photos of the flooding that has occurred in the immediate area during heavy rain. With the construction of more buildings and the loss of natural drainage, this flooding will increase in severity.
Traffic and Parking Impacts:
• Currently when there is an event at McDonald Jones Stadium there is major traffic congestion in the streets immediately around the stadium. This will increase significantly with the introduction of the basketball stadium as there will be less parking available due to the basketball centre using the limited parking already available.
• Traffic congestion will significantly increase when there are multiple events at both the basketball centre, McDonald Jones stadium and the Hockey Centre.
• There are a great many issues with people attending the events to park their cars across and in private driveways. I expect that this will increase further with the basketball patrons utilising the already limited parking available in the area. Residents will not be able to park at or near their homes.
• Pedestrian movements in surrounding streets will increase. This will likely increase the volume of littering and trespass on private property. This already occurs frequently with the events at McDonald Jones Stadium.
• Any additional traffic, and people will increase the noise levels to the area. This increase in noise will impact residents from early in the morning to late evenings most nights of the week. Shift workers, elderly and the ill will be more negatively impacted by this change.

Basketball is a popular sport that deserves good facilities, however prioritising one sport over the reduction or elimination of at least 2 other sports is not the best outcome for this community.

Alternate Locations:
• Near the Glendale Bunnings and Costco sites - Munibung Road and Main Road Boolaroo
• The newly proposed Sports Precinct at Maryland
• The old BHP site at Mayfield
• Bower Oval behind the Hunter Sports Centre at Glendale

The location is grossly inappropriate. Construction of the centre in the proposed location will cause a loss of vital green space for students and the local communuity, result in flooding of an already low lying area, increase traffic congestion. The loss of green space is particularly concerning. Access to public green space that can be used by multiple community stakeholders is is of huge importance. It is critical that this is preserved for current and future use, as these spaces will only become more crucial and rare in the future as urban density increases.

I support the project. Its very much needed for the Hunter region.

This submission would benefit the community. It would allow more space and access for young people to engage in sports such as basketball etc. This is absolutely a win for Newcastle.

Our community deserves a state of the art facility - the location and design delivers this.

Our kids bear facilities that don’t flood or leak. It’s such a popular game and Newcastle deserves better than they currently have.