Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

My objections to this proposal stem from the premise of the proposal itself. To tear up open space playing fields that are utilised by formalised sporting competitions, the local school, and the wider community to build an indoor sporting facility is beyond ridiculous. It is an travesty. My objections, grounded as they are in common sense will likely be disregarded because I am not adhering to a template or making reference to studies, surveys, and the myriad other aspects of officialdom that, by design or otherwise, can deter community members from lodging submissions thereby thwarting the opportunity for our voices to be heard. I reject in its entirety the claim that this proposal will benefit the community as a whole. It will not.

The flooding issues at this location are well evidenced. The traffic choke-points at this location are well evidenced. The health benefits of outdoor sports and amenity of open spaces are well evidenced. Why then is this inappropriate development being pursued for the benefit of one sport to the detriment and irrevocable loss of the majority?

There are appropriate alternative locations elsewhere in the region. Steel River is certainly a viable alternative. This proposed development is an absolute insult to the citizenry of Newcastle and must be rejected.

The community desperately needs this new facility which has been spoken about for many years. Children and adults are playing sport in a current facility which is not safe and not fit for purpose.

This project will be of great benefit to the Newcastle region and the huge number of people that play basketball. The current facility is out dated and too small, which limits the number of people that can participate

To whom it may concern:
I wish to raise my objections to the current proposed location of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC). I have real concerns about the lack of insight into the very real, very permanent impact that this loss of green space will have on the surrounding community, Lambton Hight School and other sporting clubs.

I live in New Lambton with my husband and 3 children. My husband and eldest play basketball, he attends Merewether High School. My middle and youngest attend Lambton High School.
We need a new basketball stadium, I have no objections to that. We have spent countless hours at the stadium over the years: it’s not big enough, it floods, it has had very little maintenance work carried out on it during our time there.

However the proposed location of Blackley and Wallarah ovals is not the place for the following reasons:
Consultation and loss of green space:
The land is public/crown land and is well utilised by both the adjoining Lambton High School and multiple local sports clubs. Consultation with residents and the community from site selection through to the current response to submissions from the EIS has been poor. Residents and community have significant valid concerns around loss of the green space that is heavily used by the local school and sporting groups, flooding, parking and traffic. The ‘decide and defend’ strategy being utilised by Newcastle Basketball is disappointing and insulting to the community they wish to disrupt and become a part of.
The original plans had green space at the rear of the facility that Lambton High School could still access, however this green space has been removed from the current plans, with throw away comments about the school being able to access Arthur Edden or Harker ovals, which they can’t. These are locked grounds. Almost 25% of our children are overweight or obese (Overweight and obesity in children - HealthStats NSW), they deserve more than the remnant greenspace to encourage sports and activity during their time at school.
Lambton High School currently uses these ovals as their evacuation space – where do they propose that the new space be located?
Cost concerns:
The total cost, inclusive of GST, exceeds $90 million. Newcastle Basketball currently have the remains of their $25 million grant, leaving a significant shortfall in funding. There is no report detailing where the remaining money, which is in excess of $60 million, is going to come from. Stage one alone is estimated to cost $35 million. Newcastle Basketball has told basketball patrons they will aim to find funds for. This causes me great concern, as there is no guarantee that the project can even go ahead with adequate funding for stage 1, let alone the project in its entirety.
Traffic and parking:
The traffic congestion and parking implications on local residents is unreasonable. We used to live in Wallarah Road. We couldn’t invite people to our house when there was something on at the stadium because there was nowhere to park. This was 10 years ago. Usage, traffic and parking has only increased over time and adding to this with a stadium in suburbia is an unfair burden to place on residents in surrounding streets.

In the past 18 months Newcastle City Council has rejected not one, but two applications from businesses due to traffic concerns for the local residents.
City of Newcastle - Application Details – Woolworths Broadmeadow
City of Newcastle - Application Details – Hungry Jack Wallsend
Why has the same standard not been applied to this development?
There is poor access to public transport from this location, and the added traffic burden caused by the basketball courts will coincide with commuter peak times along Turton Rd, which raises legitimate safety, congestion and environmental concerns.
Newcastle Basketball have claimed that the site is well located to be accessed by public transport from Broadmeadow Station. It claims ‘Broadmeadow railway station is approximately 1 kilometre east of the site’. According to google maps Broadmeadow station is a 1.7km, 23 minute walk. Newcastle Basketball do not present any evidence on how many of their patrons currently arrive by public transport when Broadmeadow station is significantly closer to their current site. What evidence do they have that more people will utilise it when it is further away?
This report also states that “It was confirmed that MJ Stadium has 25 dates annually associated with rugby league or football. These days are typically a Thursday evening, Friday evening, Saturday or Sunday. In addition, there are scheduled concerts and other events held throughout the year. The scheduling of NBL1 dates and tournament dates shall therefore be planned to avoid these key commitments. This will reduce the cumulative impacts of the venues as well as enabling the HISC to make shared use of the parking in the precinct, including the 920 spaces associated with McDonald Jones Stadium for overflow parking”
In 2024 every NBL 1 match was scheduled on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday (NBL1 Newcastle Falcons Schedule - Newcastle Basketball)). There is no evidence of consultation with the NBL 1 to support the suggested scheduling above being accommodated by the NBL 1 league.
The traffic event management plan doesn’t assess the impact residents currently experience when events are on at the stadium. Their parking strategy for every day usage includes the public street parking on Monash Road – Newcastle Basketball has no claim over these public spaces, even if 80 of these are “ along the site’. They are in fact separated by a drain, and as they state, used as overflow parking when other events are held in the precinct and by residents. These parks cannot be considered as part of the day -to-day parking strategy. Newcastle Basketball has regularly scheduled community games on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, which will all clash with the 25 annual dates for events at the stadium. Their parking strategy is based on 3-4 people sharing a car, which they have no evidence to support currently happens.
The traffic even management strategy also claims that ‘Spectators can then cross Turton Road at the signalised crossing allowing for the safe and controlled movement of pedestrians at this location’ (after parking at MacDonald Jones stadium). These pedestrian lights operation on demand, and while it will allow for safe and controlled movement of pedestrians it will have a major impact on traffic flow on this arterial road.
I look forward to Newcastle having a new, functional basketball stadium, however not at the expense of our green spaces, children’s ability to freely use the space and livelihood of residents. Newcastle Basketball continue to state that there are no adverse environmental, social or economic impacts resulting from this proposal. This isn’t just a proposal about the future of basketball in Newcastle, it’s about the long term, ongoing, negative and highly impactful effects of building a stadium in a residential area without adequate planning for parking, flood management, loss of community green space, disruption to the residents and funding. I respectfully request that the proposal at this location be rejected.

I am writing to express my strong support for the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre.
This project represents an important investment in the health, wellbeing, and future of our community. The facility will provide young people with opportunities to be engaged in physical activity, which is increasingly vital in a time when so many are drawn to screens and sedentary lifestyles. A modern, accessible indoor sports centre will encourage youth participation in sport, build social connections, and promote long-term healthy habits.
I acknowledge that large infrastructure such as this must be located somewhere. Placing the basketball stadium in a precinct that is already home to other sporting hubs makes practical sense. It allows for shared resources, ease of access, and the creation of a vibrant sporting community. Importantly, the proposed location is surrounded by multiple green spaces within walking distance. This ensures that even with the development of the centre, the community will continue to enjoy a strong network of open and natural areas.
This project is not just about providing courts and facilities. It is about investing in the wellbeing of young people, families, and the broader community. The benefits — from physical and mental health, to social connection, to creating a positive outlet for young people — far outweigh the costs.
I urge Council to support the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre and help create a space where the community, especially our youth, can thrive.

Newcastle really needs a better basketball facility.
This is a fantastic opportunity to build the new stadium.

To whom it may concern
I am writing to express my support for the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre proposal. The location and design are both excellent choices and the facility will be used and enjoyed by generations of Newcastle sports people. Please help the facility get built so that the people of Newcastle can have an asset that the entire city can use and be proud of.
Kind Regards
Jane Piva

i cant believe that we are making submissions to support this going ahead. a city of 500,000 people & we are debating if we need a world class facility
I think we have enough in the bank for this one guys?

i support the project to keep sporting activities going in the community

I have attached an amended submission. Please remove my previous submission and insert this copy. Many thanks.

I have attached my objection. The second submission for the proposed development still does not adequately address the concerns around loss of green space in an urban environment, loss of amenity and safety for the adjacent school students and community, highly increased flood risk and overwhelming traffic concerns. This indoor stadium needs to be built somewhere else.

The approval of this project is critical for the development of junior basketball in the Newcastle area. The current basketball stadium is in a state of disrepair and there are no other facilities in the region. When you consider that Newcastle is the largest non-capital city in the country, for there to be only one basketball stadium in the area not acceptable. Smaller regional towns such as Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie have far superior facilities than we do.
The selected location is a perfect venue for the new stadium. Currently, the fields are used semi-regularly on weekends and ad hoc throughout the week.
The basketball courts are used from 6am to 10pm most days, and a stadium at this venue would put the location to better use.
There will be no additional traffic congestion. At present most traffic to the stadium either goes past this location or turns at the intersection of Lambton/Turton Road - this poses no issues currently.

I object to the basketball stadium being erected on Wallarah and Blackley ovals. The proponent's response to submissions and their amendments does nothing to mitigate the three objections I raised in my previous submission.

1. Loss of green space. The amended proposal moves the building footprint 19.5 metres to provide a grassed swale. Seriously?! The community loses two whole sporting ovals and get a patch of unusable lawn on a busy road in return! With the Broadmeadow Place Strategy planning to house an additional 40,000 residents, this area will need more sporting fields and open space, not less. It is extremely short-term thinking to remove actively used green space. We need to be making decisions today that are mindful of the impact on future generations.

2. Significant negative impacts on traffic and parking. The amended proposal moves a driveway by 3m. Seriously?! That is a delusional response to the objections of parking and traffic chaos that will occur when multiple sporting events co-incide in the Turton Road precinct.

3. Unfairness. Building the stadium in this location is unfair to the current users of the sporting fields. While the state government makes millions of dollars selling the current stadium site to property developers and basketball association gets a new stadium, mums and dads and kids lose their local sporting fields and have to drive miles to use alternative facilities. If the State Government is to evict Newcastle Basketball from their current location, they should do the honourable thing and provide an alternative location that does not deprive innocent third parties of their amenities.

I would like to make a strong objection to the development of the HISC on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals, New Lambton.

Community Consultation
I am starting this submission by saying I am disappointed with the way the local residents have been ignored and left out of the consultation and planning process. No one from Newcastle Basketball has ever come to our homes and asked us what we think about the basketball stadium being built in our neighbourhood and on these ovals.

Traffic
The traffic around this area is congested at the best of times. The consultants say it won’t be as bad because one of the changes they have made is to move the entry/exit 3 m to the south to help with traffic congestion. That will only make a very minor change by hopefully avoiding conflict between cars exiting the McDonald Jones Stadium to the right onto Turton Road and basketball patrons exiting to the left onto Turton Road at the same time.

The amended traffic assessment states that there will be no impact on the three main intersections along Turton Road – Turton/Lambton Roads, Turton/Young Roads, Turton/Griffiths Road, only that the timing of the traffic signals at the Griffith Road intersection will be adjusted. I cannot understand why the other two major intersections will not be affected by the extra traffic and no amendments are being made to the traffic light signals there.

Once the motel and the entertainment centre which are part of the Broadmeadow Place Strategy are built near the intersection of Turton Road and Griffith Road, the traffic congestion will be even worse.

Flooding
I attended the information session for the community on 9/925 and was told that the site was designed so that water run-off would be directed into the stormwater drain. There is a natural spring running under the ovals all the way into Arthur Edden Oval and it flows into the stormwater drain every day. The stormwater drain is not going to be able to cope with the run-off from the development, the run-off from the natural spring, and periods of heavy rainfall. I believe the locals know how the drain works better than the flood consultants, but at no stage have the flood consultants approached the local residents for information. I have watched these drains for 25 years and my family and I had to evacuate from our home, which is one block away from the drain, in waist deep water during the 2007 Pasha Bulker storm.

When I asked the flood consultant what weather conditions they used to make their assessment of flooding risks, I was told that the 2007 Pasha Bulker storm weather event was used to make some of their assessments. The stormwater drain adjacent to the site has overflowed its banks many times in weather events less severe than the Pasha Bulker storm of 2007.

I am not against the new basketball stadium development going ahead in Newcastle, but I am against where they want to build it in New Lambton.

Suzann Wallace
5 Henderson Street, New Lambton.

The project is excellent. Basketball is one of the world's fastest growing sports. It is international and at an Olympic level. It can be played day or night, and in all weather. It can be played by all ages and by people with disabilities.

The demand for basketball in Newcastle exceeds our current capacity to enable all players to access courts. When there is such a need for physical activity in our community, there is enormous urgency to build this centre. Existing facilities are also outdated, leading to injuries and unnecessary court closures.

Provision of a large basketball stadium will benefit thousands of Novocastrians every week. Whereas the existing fields only accommodate a few, and cannot be used at all in weather weather.

The proposed development is excellent. It provides multi-use indoor space, and capacity to hold large regional events here in Newcastle. It makes the fields useful, whereas currently they are frequently unused.

It's location is excellent. I am a local resident, living in New Lambton, and believe building the stadium here is an asset.

Given the area is prone to flooding, I believe that a sports complex is the best infrastructure to be built there, rather than residential, school, hospital or business. I strongly hope that there has been significant consultation with experts to manage potential flooding.

In terms of loss of open green spaces, I hope that there will be replacement green space designed into the new Broadmeadow "sports and entertainment" precinct. Hopefully returning some of the previously filled in wetlands back to their natural state, and converting current concrete drains into artificial creeks with native plants, but still with the same flood management capacity. I believe there have been trials if this concept in other areas of Newcastle.

In terms of traffic, I believe it is located in an excellent position, where there is already proven capacity to hold large crowds based on use of McDonald Jones Stadium. Access to the large McDonald Jones carpark is an additional asset.

Positioning the indoor centre at the same location as the football stadium and hockey fields is ideal. Another location would be suboptimal.

I am in VERY strong support of the project, meeting the needs of both local and greater community, being an appropriate use of the land, and upgrading existing sport facilities.

I hope that flooding has been deeply considered. And I hope that the open space lost will be replaced in the new Broadmeadow development.

As a long time New Lambton resident my children and grandchildren have enjoyed wonderful years of learning and sport at Lambton High school. This proposal to build a large stadium on open land which joins the small school playground goes against the site selection when Lambton High was first planned, giving students access to the local parks for the large variety of sports that local students participate and excel in. I wonder which other school sites throughout NSW are in line to have their playing fields built on. Maybe the vast playing fields of private schools could be considered if the Labour government that I have supported all my life intends to go against community needs and build this proposed stadium.
I totally agree that the basketball stadium needs demolishing and rebuilding as it is well-used and in poor repair, however with an open mind for land use in the Broadmeadow precinct across Turton Road the proposed stadium can and should be built in that area where so many other sports grounds already exist. The issue of parking has been summarily dismissed and yet the volume and noise of heavy traffic is a big issue.
I also have concen that building a large, illuminated facility that will open until late at night is truly out of place in a residential area. Surely there are other parcels of land in both Newcastle and Lake Macquarie council areas where a large and busy sporting facility can be located, including the present basketball stadium site.
My final thoughts are about Newcastle development generally. Please listen to our local politicians, in particular to Sonia Hornery MP who has a very grounded view of the citizens of Western Newcastle and their views and needs. Make a bold decision and nominate a far more suitable large area for the basketball stadium - certainly not on school and community playing fields.

The amended application submitted does not address any of the major concerns of the proposed development in a residential area where people will be affected for ever who live there.
The name change to Hunter Indoor Sports Centre does not make the proposal any better to deflect from the selfishness Basketball Association by not inviting any community consultation.
NCC was just as bad with no community consultation.
Noise 6am to 11pm 7 days a week
Traffic increase which is based on a 10 year old study
Parking in local streets as not enough is provided for the facility when in use.
Increased flooding risk to all the houses in the local area.
No stormwater retention area is included as applies in local residential developments
Turton Road has recently flooded a few times in this winter’s rain events where the entrance is proposed
Loss of ovals for Lambton high use for sport/PE thousands of students in the coming years which is greatly needed in today’s screen society
Loss of vital green space for Lambton residents
Loss of ovals for existing cricket/ soccer. Where do they end up?
It should be included in the Broadmeadow master plan area and an interim solution is to fix the existing roof on the current basketball court.

I lodged an objection to this proposal in 2024. Previously raised concerns have not been addressed: visual impact on the high school & local residents; increased traffic & parking in residential streets; increased noise levels; impact on Turton Rd traffic; cumulative effect when events coincide with MJS or the hockey centre; increased risk of flooding roads & properties; lack of parking; loss of green space to schools & community; loss of school evacuation point; traffic effect on 303 Turton Rd residents; displacement of other sporting codes to “new” fields half an hour away; the effect on the emotional & physical health of local residents & school students; no acknowledgement of real-life experiences of local residents; no genuine community consultation with residents; effect on local Broadmeadow businesses who have their parking areas filled up with patrons attending events rather than customers - 2 local vets, a major medical clinic, Red Cross Blood Bank are critical businesses who are impacted by the total lack of event parking that already exists without adding another major sporting complex with next to no parking.

The proponent appears to have addressed all concerns in relation to risk to the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre - but states there will be no adverse effects from the development. This is contemptuous. Also contemptuous is the displacement of 1,200 school students per annum, 3 sporting codes & the general community - for the benefit of one sport "which wants it all". I played basketball, as did my late husband. My daughters played basketball & now my eldest grandson is a playing member of Newcastle Basketball. If this was built, it would be walking distance from his home & so convenient. However, neither he nor any of my family support the application. It's not about convenience or being close to other sports centres. It's about whether this location is suitable. It is not.

I do not oppose Newcastle Basketball seeking a new sports stadium. I do however, strongly oppose the location they have chosen. The impact on the local school & residential community of noise, traffic, parking, lighting will be immense. We continue to be told by the applicant & supporters that the NSW Government needs this application to be approved. Please do not lose sight of the BIG picture - the negative impacts far outweigh any benefit to the sport of basketball. Traffic & parking is chaotic when events are on at McDonald Jones Stadium. Another 22,000 patrons per week, 7 days a week from 6am-11pm is not sustainable in our proximity. Homes & lives could be ruined by compounding the flooding issues in this area. The flood reports fall well short & are not based on factual, recent flooding events.

From what I understand, State Significant Developments can only be approved where the benefit to the public is greater than any negative impacts. This proposal delivers everything that Newcastle Basketball want (even though they don't have the funding to even complete Stage I & will need to renew their lease at their current site!). However, multiple sites in the region may well deliver those benefits. The adverse (& irreversible) impacts on students, residents, other local sports, & general motorists far outweigh the benefit to basketballers.

I believe that genuine engagement with the local community is also a requirement. Newcastle Basketball have failed to meet with us or engage with us. A few residents received information regarding limited "drop in" sessions over 2 evenings. They have not genuinely made an effort to engage with us & this is an opportunity lost to them. Should they have met with us on site or close to the site, we would have openly shown them factual examples of how we are already impacted by overdevelopment with insufficient parking. We would have shown them dozens of photos of flooded streets, homes & the significant absorption of rainwater that the 3 ovals continue to provide. We would have told them of our concerns & genuine fears. However, their last minute drop in sessions where we are divided into single one on one conversations with so-called specialists in their field felt like bullying & intimidation - divide & conquer. The flood expert admitted he'd never seen the site during wet weather. How do you reason with an "expert" that only quotes information from artificial intelligence? Those who attended found it infuriating & contemptuous. No open engagement has been had with the community. We are yet to even get a single Labor or Liberal Newcastle councillor to meet us on site - because the newly elected independent Mayor, independent & Greens councillors stand with us & oppose the location. We really feel like we are unheard & our way of life & the foreseeable negative effects on us are irrelevant.

Please refuse this application.

This is a fabulous proposal and fills an important community need.

The amended submission does not address any of the objections that I raised in my initial objection.
A change of name does not resolve any of the major problems with the development.
Flooding of surrounding areas
No storm water initial catchment pits as required in normal residential developments
Climate change impact on flooding
Loss of valuable green space for ever
Thousands of students from Lambton High school with no local access to ovals for PE /sport which has been in use since the school was established.
Conflict with other events not address
E.g Hockey facility Hunter Stadium Football, Special events
Traffic management, lack of parking
Out of date traffic study
Hours of operation effecting local residents
6am to 11pm
No public consultation by NCC so no community involvement at all.
Huge visitor numbers in a residential area 7 days & nights each week