Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

I support the project

Please build the Newcastle basketball stadium. It is a great location selected to build it upon. The current stadium is horrendous and is not able to be used in the rain. The new stadium would be in a great location so traffic is not affected as everyone comes from all different directions, it will be in the sporting precinct. Please build the new stadium asap!

Good for community

With the Hunter region expanding so quickly with pathways for athletes particularly successful pathways for juniors and seniors, in order for the Hunter region to host major tournaments they need the facilities to do so. The facilities reflect on the calibre of events a community can host. The better and more accessible facilities the better the events and those events bring in revenue for local businesses and their sporting communities

Please see my attached document outlining the reasons for my objection to the development of Wallarah and Blackley Ovals by Newcastle Basketball.

I reiterate my objection raised in November 2024 - which I do not believe has been adequately addressed by the revised application.
I am a qualified & practicing Town Planning Consultant of more than 36 years experience. I firmly believe that the development is in the wrong location - for the reasons outlined in my previous objection which I shall attach once more.
Since lodging my previous objection, this area has experienced widespread flooding, from opposite Lambton pool to Turton Rd, adjacent to the proposed development site. In April & May of 2025 there were a number of road closures in Lambton & New Lambton due to flooding, including Turton Rd itself. Further large scale development on open grassland adjacent to Turton Rd & the major stormwater drain will only exacerbate flooding & the risk to both homes & lives.
The details within the National Climate Risk Assessment released yesterday support the need for planning controls to ensure major storm events are not exacerbated by inappropriate developments on open space in flood prone areas - most importantly in urban areas such as Lambton/New Lambton.
The loss of parking at McDonald Jones Stadium & the addition of council parks (for overflow parking in fair weather only) strengthens my former objection in regard to insufficient onsite parking.

When playing volleyball rain goes into your courts when raining

This remains the absolute wrong place for this development. Most importantly the removal of frequently used green space by soccer, cricket and Lambton High School. Parking is already a nightmare with major events and sporting fixtures and this development will only make this so much worse. The area also floods on occasion. I am completely opposed to the development.

There's a lack of suitable indoor sports facilities in the area.
It creates tourism opportunities and economic opportunity as well as enabling health outcomes, wellbeing, social and community inclusion particularly for people with a disability, culturally diverse communities and women and girls.

I am writing this submission to OBJECT the proposal.
This area is not by any means suitable for the development of the indoor basketball stadium.
- this is a very well known flood area. Where will all the rain water go once concrete is built over the green space? Who will cover the cost of repairs and maintenance when flooding occurs due to the water having nowhere to go after this is built?
- traffic on Turton road is already extremely congested, especially during peak hours and during events at McDonald Jones Stadium where roads get closed off.
- where is the pedestrian safety, and safety of Lambton High school students when added traffic, congestion occurs?
- where are Lambton High school students going to evacuate to in an emergency? Because walking 1000 plus students across roads to another field is NOT the answer. Where is the safety of these students considered in this?
-where are Lambton high school students going to play sport?
-what are the mental health impacts and learning inpacts going to be for Lambton high school students with this development?
- where is Newcastle basketball getting the rest of the money needed for this development?
- why is this development being proposed for a site that is already well used by other sports within the community, including Lambton High school? It seems very unfair to displace everyone else for a single sport development.
- what are the impacts to the local wildlife that are regularly in this field?

This development needs to find a better, more suitable location, because this is not it.
The fact is, there IS other land more suitable, in more suitable locations.

I am disgusted that this green space was even considered in the first place.
This proposed development has caused so much stress and concern.
Please don't do this, especially to the students of Lambton High school.
I OBJECT to this proposal.

My daughter plays basketball and will be throughout the next 10 years. My younger daughter is interested in playing as well, so we would like a better spacious stadium for them to play at. The current stadium is old, lacks in parking, and the structure leaks during rainy days.

I object to:
1. the loss of the sports fields used by Lambton High and other sporting clubs. The green space will never be replaced.
2. the increased knock on effect on traffic and parking, especially when events are taking place at the stadium and entertainment centre simultaneously
3. the inevitable flooding

The community needs a new facility.

As a parent living in the Lake Macquarie region, I strongly support the delivery of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC). This facility is urgently needed to address the current gaps in local sporting infrastructure across Lake Mac /Newcastle and the Hunter.
Many of our existing facilities, such as the older basketball facility in Broadmeadow, are becoming no longer fit-for-purpose. Leaks during heavy rain often cause games and training to be cancelled.
My son played soccer for years and we faced constant cancellations due to weather, so we moved to an indoor sport, basketball and then still experienced cancellations due to rain. These disruptions not only limit children’s participation but also discourage families from keeping their kids engaged in sport. My son had a year off sport when he was 14 yrs old and we experience a significant decline in his mental health which led to self-harm, keeping him in engaged is sport really is a life saver.

With more frequent and severe weather events predicted, the need for high-quality indoor facilities has never been greater. HISC would give young people and families reliable access to sport and recreation year-round, regardless of weather. This is about more than sport—it’s about health and wellbeing. The Lake Macquarie–Hunter region sadly records higher-than-average rates of suicide and self-harm (Primary Health Network data), and we know that participation in sport helps improve mental health, build friendships, and strengthen community connection.

By providing flexible, modern spaces that can host basketball, netball, futsal, volleyball and other activities, HISC will ensure our young people, seniors, and families always have a safe place to come together, be active, and stay connected—even when outdoor sports are called off.

This is a vital piece of community infrastructure that will deliver lasting benefits to Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the wider Hunter region.

I think this new sporting facility would be an outstanding addition to the sporting facilities in the Newcastle area. The current stadium is no longer fit for purpose and the limited space means that children who would like to play basketball are not able to due to limited space and therefore numbers. Sport participation is essential to healthy and engaged kids and this centre will not only be great for the health and wellbeing of the people of Newcastle but also open up business opportunities and provide jobs. I strongly support this submission.

Spaces like these are an asset to community

Well overdue much needed for our youth

The green space is important to locals in the area and will be a shame to lose. The area can not afford to lose any more green space.

This is the best News the local sporting community has had in a long time. Our kids and adults have suffered enough on the old air base court. This is the perfect location for this project, Broadmeadow sports precinct!! Get it done!

I play basketball. Would like more space without asbestos and leaky roofs.