Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

This will be a positive step for Basketball in Newcastle and the community.

It is about time Newcastle had a multi-purpose indoor facility as proposed. We are in desperate need of an indoor, up to date facility to keep up with the rest of Australian regional towns. The location is perfectly positioned to be connected with the proposed development of our sport and entertainment district in Newcastle. As a local resident, I'm truly excited about the promise of improved facilities and more opportunities for our children. We hope you are sensible enough to finally approve this development.

At the invitation of Jan Thompson, on behalf of the Save Our Lambton Ovals Facebook Group, I write to comment on the construction and relocation of new basketball courts in New Lambton. I have no family or financial interest in the project except that I am a citizen of Newcastle and take great pride in the affairs of this city of Newcastle, having been a resident for 27 years. It seems to me that such construction is by far an over development on a fragile and much used site which is of great importance to citizens for recreation and physical and mental wellbeing particularly for school students, parents, sporting families and individuals. The area adds much to the quality of life of the city.

I am a Civil Engineer and specialised in flooding before retirement. I worked extensively in water projects, particularly flooding, throughout most of this State. I was employed by the Department of Water Resources (now the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water for all 42 years of my professional life. I have a Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of NSW as well as a Postgraduate degree in Environmental Studies from Macquarie University. I am well qualified and experienced to comment on proposals such as these. As well as the hydraulics of floodplain development I have been Project Manager of an extensive flood development of the Macquarie Marshes in Northwestern NSW. This was an eight year project which involved much liaising with landholders, Local, State and Commonwealth Government bodies as well as a very large array of interested parties. The public were very much involved in the development of this plan.

I visited the Project site on Friday 12 September 2025 and have read much of the considerable quantity of reports and public submissions to the Plans. Because of the time constraints to this Planning process, I can at this stage read neither all the reports nor submissions to the proposed development. However, I can give a considered technical opinion of the merits, the strengths and difficulties of the proposal. This will also include, as it should, some of the societal effects of the proposal. Like the author of the review of the FIRA and FERP, (Steven Molino) and because of the time constraints involved, I have not at this stage reviewed the hydraulic computer model.

It is my opinion that the applicant's submission is deficient and suffers from what is called the error of sub-optimisation where one or many parts of a project is optimised, whereas a more holistic and wider analysis would mean the bigger 'picture' would show the project as a whole would not be as positive. I believe this proposal suffers from such analysis. Surrounding development to this project such as housing, roads, schools, pedestrian access and egress and other forms of infrastructure would be significantly affected. Other more passive but important pursuits such as the simple enjoyment of nature such as birds and animals could also be more limited.

As well as the increased distribution of flooding on the local houses, roads and infrastructure (which could be significant), the wellbeing of the occupants of those surrounding houses should also not be discounted. Factors such as mental and physical health of those who don't play or get involved in basketball should be considered as well as those who just enjoy walking through a park on grass in the fresh air. Paving open permeable grasslands would add to the storm runoff hydrographs, the scale of which can best be interpreted from the hydraulic modelling.

In summary, I consider there are too many negatives such as social, environmental, recreational and hydraulic aspects to the proposal for it to be developed in this location and at this scale.

Hamish McKenzie
Bachelor of Engineering;
Diploma of Environmental Studies

1. I am concerned about the loss of green space. The area is used by members of the community, sporting clubs and school students. It also supports an array of birdlife. As the surrounding suburb is earmarked for future housing development I feel the loss of open, green space would impact on people's mental health and exercise space.
2. Traffic and parking are an issue. As the venue will be used most days of the week and nearby there are hockey and football stadiums and a high school, the local area will be impacted significantly. The surrounding streets are very narrow and do not support such traffic. Access to the venue at Turton Road will also create issues of safety, both for pedestrians and vehicles. There are a number of access roads and drive entries nearby and this will further impact the flow of traffic on what is an already busy road.
3. Flooding is another concern. The area near the football stadium can go under water when there is a lot of rain and the fields get very wet. I am worried that placing a large building on such a site will impact the local area homes and streets.

Newcastle has a lack of quality sporting centres. Most competition take place outside of city and athletes must take a few hours travel to participate in these competitions.
Having higher quality gyms would help improve Newcastle's presence as a sporting location. This will help for hosting competitions and in general raising the standard for our athletes.

Far too many implications to the area/neighbours/high school/ traffic/floodzone. This site is not appropriate for a centre of this scale. I agree when need a new basketball stadium but this is not the place for it.

Very few opportunities are left for a cooler, cleaner city environment.
The open areas; of parks, of bush, of playing fields from the suburb of Wallsend through, Jesmond, Lambton, New Lambton, Broadmeadow and Hamilton are a low lying “Cool Sink” providing cooling to the city in summer.
Building on this precious land, or paving, or car parks is creating more heat, more hardship to people to live in this city.
Look to the west of Sydney for proof of a “heat sink”

To provide a future for young people is to provide a liveable environment.
To build on this precious low lying corridor is destructive.

I object to the construction of a basketball stadium on Wallarah and Blackley ovals on two main grounds. Firstly, the area in question is very low lying, and prior to the construction of the nearby High School - Lambton High - the area was a swamp. Over the years I have witnessed flooding of that whole area including local houses. The construction of the basketball centre there would exacerbate that flooding. Secondly, as a community we MUST protect existing green space. Once it's gone, it's gone for good. Acres and acres of tar and cement ... Surely there is enough vacant land around Newcastle to build a basketball centre without destroying existing green playing fields. Look at Sandgate, or Hexham, or just North of the Hunter River, say Fern Bay. To suggest that the sporting teams currently calling those ovals "home" can go to Tarro or Beresfield is too silly for words.It wouldn't happen. Junior clubs would struggle to survive. There is no reason why a basketball stadium should be built in that place.

I write with deep conviction and strong support for the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre proposal currently before you. This is more than merely a basketball stadium; it is a generational investment in Newcastle’s social fabric, health, equity, urban renewal, and economic future. Approving this facility is not just desirable, it is necessary.

Please find below my concerns and comments associated with this application.
LOSS OF PUBLIC GREEN SPACE
With the approval of the Broadmeadow Strategy and the associated increase in residents, the availability of public green space is even more important.
The 3 ovals are well used by sporting bodies, Lambton High School and residents.
INADEQUATE PARKING
The initial submission falsely proposed to be able to use Macdonald Jones Stadium as overflow parking. With this option being removed, I can't fathom how the loss of this significant parking option will be mitigated. It will simply create more congestion in the surrounding streets. The loss of the MacDonald Jones Parking option has not been adequately addressed.
There is no clear plan provided on how car parking will be managed during event clashes with Hunter Indoor Stadium, Macdonald Jones Stadium and the International Hockey Centre.
The proposed stadium will have greater capacity and activity than the old stadium, yet it has less parking spaces, when including the vacant land between KFC and the existing basketball stadium.
TRAFFIC CONGESTION
There seems to be scant regard of the impact to traffic congestion generally and more significantly during event clashes with Hunter Indoor Stadium, Macdonald Jones Stadium and the International Hockey Centre.
INCREASED FLOOD RISKS
The risk of increased flooding caused by raising the level of the 3 playing fields to “flood proof" the HISC, moves the flooding risk and impact directly to the surrounding residents and Turton Road.
During the June 2007 storm the flood water reached the bearers and joists in my property in Rex Avenue. Any marginal increase in flooding levels will have catastrophic impact to my property.

I am writing to strongly support the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) development for Newcastle Basketball. As a lifelong participant in the sport—having played in the Hunter region for over 35 years, and now actively coaching young children—I have witnessed first-hand both the passion for basketball in our community and the limitations caused by our outdated facilities. The current stadium, while having served its purpose for many decades, no longer meets the needs of a modern, growing city. It is old, undersized, and unable to accommodate the year-round demand for indoor sports, particularly for children and families who deserve safe, accessible, and weather-proof venues.

The proposed HISC is more than just a basketball facility—it will be a community asset of regional significance. With multiple courts and versatile design, it will cater not only to basketball but also futsal, volleyball, netball, pickleball, and tennis. This breadth of usage ensures that the centre will provide opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to participate in healthy, inclusive, and affordable recreation.

A critical benefit of the new facility will be increased court capacity. Currently, children are being turned away due to a simple lack of space. This is not acceptable in a community that values youth engagement and active lifestyles. The new HISC will ensure that every child who wishes to play has the opportunity, no matter the season. Basketball is unique in that it is truly a year-round sport—indoor by nature and weather-independent—providing consistency and stability for players, coaches, and families alike.

Beyond the sport itself, the broader benefits of the HISC are profound. It will strengthen community health, build social connections, and create a safe environment for young people. It will provide clear pathways for talent development, from grassroots participation through to elite competition, keeping young athletes engaged and motivated. Importantly, it will also deliver on accessibility and inclusion, ensuring people of all abilities and backgrounds feel welcome.

Basketball is one of the most inclusive sports in Australia—it is affordable, it is accessible, and it is truly multicultural. I have seen children of all abilities, genders, and cultural backgrounds come together on the court as equals. The HISC development is an investment in that inclusivity and in the positive future of Newcastle.

For these reasons, I fully endorse the HISC SSDA development and urge its approval. This facility will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come and provide our community with the modern infrastructure it both needs and deserves.

Sincerely,
Michael Edwards
Parent, Coach, and Community Member

write to formally object to the proposed development of a new basketball stadium in New Lambton. While community sport facilities are important, this proposal in its current form is unsuitable for the location and has failed to satisfy several key planning requirements under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act), the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021, and relevant local planning instruments such as the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2012 and Newcastle Development Control Plan (DCP) 2012.

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1. Inadequate Public Consultation
• The community consultation process has been insufficient and contrary to the principles of the EP&A Act, which requires transparent, genuine engagement with affected stakeholders.
• Residents report limited notice of the proposal, inadequate opportunities for feedback, and poor dissemination of information. Genuine community participation is a core objective of the planning system (s.1.3(c) EP&A Act).

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2. Traffic and Parking Impacts
• The proposal will significantly exacerbate existing parking shortages in New Lambton, an area already under strain from residential density and nearby sporting facilities.
• The Newcastle DCP requires developments to demonstrate that adequate off-street parking is provided. Based on the scale of the proposed stadium, there appears to be no sufficient provision for the increased demand.
• The Traffic Impact Assessment (if undertaken) does not reflect real conditions during peak times (e.g., school pick-up, concurrent sporting events).

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3. Flood Risk
• The proposed site is within a known flood-prone area. Development in flood-affected land must demonstrate that it will not adversely affect the floodplain or increase risks to life and property (NSW Floodplain Development Manual, 2005; Newcastle DCP flood management provisions).
• Large-scale built form and increased hardstand areas will reduce natural flood storage and exacerbate stormwater runoff, increasing flood risk to surrounding residential areas. This is inconsistent with Clause 5.21 of the Newcastle LEP (Flood Planning) and Section 4.15(1)(b) of the EP&A Act.

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4. Impact on Lambton High School
• Loss of School Open Space: Lambton High School currently relies on the oval space for daily sport, recreation, and physical education. The NSW Department of Education’s School Facilities Standards (formerly “School Facilities Guidelines”) set minimum benchmarks for outdoor play space, recreation areas, and physical activity spaces. Removing these fields means the school cannot meet those standards, compromising curriculum delivery and student wellbeing.
• Emergency Evacuation: The same ovals are the school’s designated emergency evacuation assembly area. Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017, schools must provide safe emergency evacuation routes and assembly points for all students and staff. Without these ovals, Lambton High cannot comply with its mandatory Emergency Management Plan requirements.
• Department of Education Policy Obligations: The Department’s Asset Standards Authority (ASA) requirements and School Safety and Security Policy mandate that schools retain adequate land for emergency evacuation, safe play, and student activity. Removing this land places the school in breach of its obligations under state policy and WHS legislation.
• Student Enrolment Growth: Lambton High is a large comprehensive high school and enrolments are projected to grow in line with Newcastle’s population. Removing access to the ovals undermines the school’s capacity to provide equitable access to outdoor learning and recreation, contrary to the Department’s “Every Student is Known, Valued and Cared For” wellbeing framework.

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5. Scale and Suitability of the Development
• The proposed stadium is inconsistent with the existing character of the area, which is primarily residential with small-scale recreational facilities.
• Section 4.15(1)(c) of the EP&A Act requires consideration of the site’s suitability. Given the location’s flood risks, inadequate parking, residential proximity, and the negative impact on Lambton High School, the site is unsuitable for a facility of this scale.

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6. Potential Non-Compliance with Planning Controls
• Zoning & Permissibility: It is unclear whether the proposal is consistent with the zoning objectives under the Newcastle LEP. The scale and intensity appear to exceed what is contemplated for community facilities within a residential area.
• Failure to Address Environmental and Social Impacts: Section 4.15(1)(b) requires a comprehensive assessment of impacts. The DA fails to consider the cumulative effects on traffic, flood risk, residential amenity, and local schools.
• Inadequate Mitigation Measures: The proposal lacks credible mitigation strategies for traffic management, flood resilience, and impacts on Lambton High School.

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Conclusion

This proposal has not been properly justified under NSW planning law or local planning controls. It poses significant risks to residential amenity, traffic safety, flood management, and the operations and safety of Lambton High School. Furthermore, it appears inconsistent with state education policy, WHS legislation, and Department of Education requirements for safe evacuation and adequate outdoor space for students.

I respectfully request that the consent authority refuse this development application in its current form. At minimum, the proposal should be substantially revised with genuine public input, comprehensive traffic and flood studies, and a demonstrated plan to protect the rights and safety of Lambton High School students

I am writing to formally object to the proposed Hunter Basketball Stadium development for the following reasons:

1. Loss of Green Space and Impacts on Lambton High School
• Loss of playing fields: Lambton High School students will lose access to essential playing fields. Nearby ovals have already been confirmed by the school as unsuitable alternatives due to their distance.
• Mental health impacts: Classrooms will face a large, blank stadium wall rather than greenery. Research consistently shows that access to green space and natural vistas supports mental wellbeing. Replacing these fields with a massive brick structure risks creating a “prison-like” environment for students, with extensive concrete and minimal greenery.

2. Parking and Transport Concerns
• I regularly attend events at McDonald Jones Stadium and have firsthand experience of existing parking pressures. Adding a high-capacity basketball venue next door will significantly worsen congestion when events occur concurrently.
• Public transport and shuttle services from Beresfield and surrounding suburbs are already inadequate for large events, making this a serious access and safety concern.

3. Displacement of Sporting Activity
• The proposal shifts sporting use from Lambton ovals to Beresfield and Tarro without transparent consultation.
• There has been no meaningful communication with local residents about how this affects both formal competitions and informal recreation.
• “Underused” fields are often well utilised for casual activities such as children kicking a ball around, which council capacity estimates fail to recognise. This applies equally to Lambton residents and to Beresfield locals who may lose their own informal access.

4. Financial Viability
• I question whether Newcastle Basketball has the financial resources to complete and maintain this project. There is a genuine risk of an unfinished or abandoned facility, similar to issues seen at the Cedar Mill development in Morisset.

5. Hunter Park and Cumulative Green Space Loss
• The broader Hunter Park plan will bring thousands of new residents to an area already short of open space.
• Preserving every possible piece of green space is critical for community health, recreation, and climate resilience. This stadium does the opposite.

6. Flooding and Environmental Risk
• The site is prone to flooding, and large-scale construction will increase impermeable surfaces, exacerbating flood risks both locally and downstream.

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Conclusion
This proposal threatens community wellbeing, student mental health, local sport, and environmental resilience. It appears to proceed without adequate consultation or a convincing plan for parking, transport, or financial sustainability. I urge council and relevant authorities to reject or substantially reconsider the Hunter Basketball Stadium development.

I would like to object to development application HISC SSD-65595459 at the proposed location due to the following points.
• Increased traffic to HISC will impact local roads. There is already traffic congestion when events are held at McDonald Jones stadium. With increased traffic it will become more difficult for emergency vehicle access in particular from Lambton fire station. Noting that the Geotechnical investigation is assuming 200 cars per day would be accessing the site, this is a big daily increase and together with the numbers of cars that already access McDonald Jones stadium on various event days will likely have a large impact on the local area when both stadiums hold events. The hockey site also draws many cars to the area. Would it not be better to have the HISC at another location that is not already impacted with traffic congestion.
• Flooding – local streets and properties are already impacted. Drainage is already at capacity in rain events or just heavy rain times. Drains currently get blocked or partially blocked in rain. Once the storm water drain fills the drains cannot cope. At our property the toilet will not flush until the water has gone down. This can be for quite considerable lengths of time-even days. This is likely to occur more frequently with the proposed development. Street flooding has occurred in 2025 for Turton and Young Rd. Run-off from the development will add to this and it is likely flooding will occur more frequently. Examining the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre Flood Impact and Risk Assessment, I don't think this has addressed the potential impact to the drainage system and surrounding streets enough. Looking to the recent National Climate Risk Assessment government report, I think choosing another site with less impact to the community in these future likely extreme weather and hazards would be better for integrating risk reduction.
• Green space loss has a major impact. Considering the new corridors to rail stations allowing an increase in higher density housing, minimizing green space would have a large negative impact on people living in these areas. This will occur in the area for Broadmeadow station.
• From the geotechnical report it is noted that piers need to be taken to 8metre depth because the area is not suitable for shallow footings and that the site has high groundwater level at around 1-3metres and works below this depth may require dewatering measures. Will there be impact on neighboring properties through the water table of balls bouncing? Will these items add costs to the project? Also the geotechnical report noted the site is comprised of highly expansive clay (H2 classification) and likely require piers or other structural measures to prevent excessive movement of the footings and floor slabs. Increased associated costs to the development, together with flooding effects, surely another location without these problems would be preferable.

Basketball & wheelchair sports in the Hunter region require this new stadium to allow for the massive growth in youth participation over the last 20 years. The new stadium was required many years ago & the proposed location is perfect to allow for the future growth of the sports.

I don’t have to talk about how important it is for a community to have a facility like this, I’ll assume other submissions will cover that. I don’t have to talk about how many opportunities this would open up for our city, that would’ve been covered. What I do want to talk about is how it’s important for a facility to be all inclusive.
My teenage daughter has Cerebral Palsy and is a huge Falcon’s fan. Currently, she can’t access seating safely because the current stadium was not built to current accessible standards. Imagine, going to watch your favourite team and you can’t even access a seat safely. This new facility will allow her to be involved completely in her community as an independent young woman supporting her teams. And she is only one person who is currently affected by the lack of inclusion. Consider how many more are out there. This is why we need this facility.
As for the location? Close to transport, close to the sports hub, a great option.

This is such an important project, both for Newcastle-Lake Macquarie basketball and for other indoor sports like pickleball for the aging community, netball and volleyball. I like that there is also additional function space, and that the grandstand can roll up to allow additional court space. The accessibility will be a huge benefit to the growing community of wheelchair basketball players we see there on weekends. The current doors are very poky to get in and out of.
The included grass “green” space at the front I believe is a bit of a waste - too close to the road to be a peaceful spot to sit for a coffee or to have young children on the loose there. Too far from the school for their students to use as well. I do like the footbridge from the road and path all the way around to encourage community members to go for daily walks here, and also support having the green canopy of trees around the walkway to encourage native birds and provide shade.
We have 3 girls aged 4-9, all involved in basketball for exercise and making friends, in all weather, like the rainy year we have had. However, the current courts are very unsafe with all the water leaks making it dangerous to play on rainy days for all ages and increases injury liability. I have seen people slip and injure themselves numerous times, and many indoor basketball games have been “washed out” in the torrential rain this year. No fans in that hot tin shed and not many doors/windows for airflow makes playing in summer very hard on the little kids especially. A replacement venue is urgently needed.
The updated development plan has attempted to address all the reported community issues with the exception of taking the green space. Realistically, in a growing city this crown land could be turned into social housing instead which would benefit numerous vulnerable people in the community, but there will still be some that oppose any development because of the “not in my back yard” mentality, if they have no perceived individual benefit.
The location reminds me of the Docklands precinct in Melbourne where the sports facilities are close to each other and within walking distance from public transport, which is very convenient for those travelling to the stadium.
I look forward to grabbing a coffee from the stadium on our way to a game or to the park nearby with the kids.

I support the facility as the current stadium is not fit for purpose and a new stadium will give kids and adults more opportunity to play basketball both for fun and competitively. This will also bring big games at higher levels to the area and also increase tourism to the area.

This is a vital community project that will break down barriers to participation in sport and physical activity. It will support a range of sports including basketball, volleyball, badminton, netball, futsal, and pickleball. The facility is designed to be fully accessible and inclusive, ensuring people of all ages and abilities can be physically and socially active in a community atmosphere.

Newcastle needs a respectable basketball stadium, the current one at Broadmeadow is a bit of a joke, other travelling basketball teams gotta be laughing at us and the state of that place. Newcastle as a modern city deserves an upgrade.