Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

I remain opposed to the stadium and do not believe my initial concerns have been adequately addressed. In fact, they are worsened by the fact that traffic overflow is now fully to surrounding streets, the building is higher (and will reduce nature light to my school and classrooms) and the green space they have offered is actually also supposed to capture flood water. I have therefore reiterated my concerns below.
Traffic congestion, parking and pedestrian safety
The development response has failed to address my concerns in this regard and, in fact, the changes will make these concerns worse as they can no longer rely on the Stadium for overflow of parking and have said it can just flow to already busy streets. These streets are narrow, already heavily utilised, and only enable one way traffic when cars are parked (although they are two-way streets). I already have issues parking when I visit friends or attend my kids’ high school near the proposed site. And this becomes impossible when there are any events on at the stadium and/or the international hockey fields. Allowing this development to go ahead will make this a daily struggle for the local community and will significant increase the risk of pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
The response from the Newcastle Basketball Association has failed to also address my original concerns, so I’m repeating these below.
My concern as a local resident is the significant increase of traffic in what is an already very busy location especially during the peak period between 4 and 7pm, due to local traffic, training by other sports around the location and movement of school children. As a local bus driver, I also have concerns about increased traffic and the safety of pedestrians and school children.
This is likely to exacerbate what is already traffic chaos during events at the stadium (Knights and Jets games, concerts etc.), the high school and international hockey fields, causing considerable disruption to local residents. I have experienced this first hand walking local streets before and after these events.
Parking is already difficult in surrounding narrow streets just with cars belonging to residents, businesses and those associated with the local high school. I already have difficulty parking at my friends’ houses in these surrounding streets when there are no events on. This is impossible during events at the stadium with parking stretching to into nearby suburbs, Wests Leagues Club carparks and surrounding streets, which significantly impacts residents and local businesses. I have frequently seen cars parked across people’s driveways, on corners, in no parking areas during these events, which makes it difficult to be on the road during these times and quite unsafe for pedestrians. As a local bus driver, I am also concerned the impact this parking will have on the safe manoeuvring of the bus in these constrained environments. This will only be made worse by adding an additional 2500 capacity stadium with only 250 car spaces allocated. And will be a daily event, rather than 30-40 times a year.
Loss of green space
My children currently play soccer, junior cricket and attend Lambton High School, and utilise these fields daily. The loss of green space is not proposed to be replaced, yet the local surrounding suburbs (Broadmeadow and Adamstown) are poised to have 60,000 new homes in future.
Lambton High School will lose access to its green space that is currently leases from council. This is needed to fulfill their curriculum of sports and to support their health and wellbeing. The response indicates they can use other fields further away from the school, but this will impact teacher-student ratios (as it involves crossing roads) and will also reduce the active time they get. This is the only green space available to the high school and is needed. Students also use this green space for lunch and recreational time, which supports their health and wellbeing. It is also unclear what will happen to the evacuation procedures as this is currently the emergency evacuation point. Alternative locations would require crossing roads, which is not ideal for 1200 students in an emergency.
My children will also lose access to green space for their weekend sport. Both use these fields to play cricket and soccer. Access to sporting fields by these clubs is already difficult. Removing more green space will only add additional pressure and traffic to those already heavily utilised spaces.
The Association’s response also says the construction height will be raised, further reducing the amount of natural light into the school.
Noise and disturbance
I have significant concerns about the noise impacts to my children, who attend the adjacent high school, during construction. This will impact their learning and exams, especially HSC exams. It will also impact their wellbeing, given exposure to extended construction and noise and air pollution over an extended period. I am also concerned about them having to navigate the streets while walking to and from school, with additional construction traffic, road closures etc. while the stadium is being constructed.
Funding shortfall
It is understood there remains a significant funding shortfall, with Government deciding not to further invest. It is unclear where they could possibly source this level of funding without Government funding, which is already operating in a fiscally constrained budget environment. The proposal says that stage 2 is dependent on funding allowances. There is a risk that, if approved, you will allow the removal of valuable green space, in place of only part a stadium and/or corners will be cut to deal with this.
Flooding impacts
The response does not address my previous concerns, so I have repeated them below. The addition of a swale at the front does not have the same volume capacity that the existing fields provide for water retention. It also means that the area they have provided as “green space” is dangerous and inappropriate. Are they really suggesting we utilise a flood retention mechanism as “green space”?
Flooding impact assessment doesn’t adequately consider the flood impacts. For example, the local canal goes from empty to full very quick (I’ve experienced it doing this after just short thunderstorms). Currently the fields provide flood and stormwater retention for considerable time, keeping these floodwaters away from homes and local streets. The report indicates the only mitigation measures proposed are rainwater tanks. There is no way these could store the same amount of water as the existing fields.
The report also says the carpark might flood, so if people are worried, to park in residential streets instead – further adding the to traffic mayhem in local narrow streets that already can’t fit two cars side by side when cars are parked.
Inadequate community engagement
There has no been adequate community engagement. For instance, over 80% of Lambton High School students’ families were opposed to the development, but we have not been consulted with as part of targeted consultation. Likewise, the local residents in surround streets that I know in Duke St, Rex Ave and Durham Rd have not been consulted but will 100% be impacted by parking loss and traffic in their streets.
Inadequate social impact assessment
The SEIA for the project does not sufficiently address the effect that displacing Western Suburbs Junior Cricket Club. It’s one of the fastest growing junior clubs for Newcastle. Losing ground will not only limit current capacity but hinder the ability to grow the sport.
Misclassification of the ground utilisation
The report misclassifies Wallarah and Blackley ovals as underutilised. This is based on flawed analysis from the City of Newcastle’s Sporting Strategy (2020), which measure usage only for winter sports, rather than peak summer usage. Cricket teams use these fields daily during spring and summer, and loss of this green space will add pressure to other facilities, and insufficient replacement grounds (current proposals are inferior in quality and proximity).

I remain opposed to this development. I do not think my initial concerns have been adequately addressed as outlined below.
Traffic congestion, parking and pedestrian safety
The development response has failed to address my concerns in this regard and, in fact, the changes will make these concerns worse as they can no longer rely on the Stadium for overflow of parking, and have said it can just flow to already busy streets. I have attached two photos of a couple of the streets surrounding the proposed development site, which show only local resident parking (very early in the morning). You can see that the streets are narrow, already heavily utilised, and only enable one way traffic when cars are parked (although they are two way streets). I already have issues parking when I visit friends or attend my kids’ high school near the proposed site. And this becomes impossible when there are any events on at the stadium and/or the international hockey fields. Allowing this development to go ahead will make this a daily struggle for the local community and will significant increase the risk of pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
The response from the Newcastle Basketball Association has failed to also address my original concerns, so I’m repeating these below.
My concern as a local resident is the significant increase of traffic in what is an already very busy location especially during the peak period between 4 and 7pm, due to local traffic, training by other sports around the location and movement of school children. I also have extreme concerns about the risk the increased traffic will have on the safety of my children and other pedestrians, esp school children.
This is likely to exacerbate what is already traffic chaos during events at the stadium (Knights and Jets games, concerts etc.), the high school and international hockey fields, causing considerable disruption to local residents. I have experienced this first hand walking local streets before and after these events.
Parking is already difficult in surrounding narrow streets just with cars belonging to residents, businesses and those associated with the local high school. I already have difficulty parking at my friends’ houses in these surrounding streets when there are no events on. This is impossible during events at the stadium with parking stretching to into nearby suburbs, Wests Leagues Club carparks and surrounding streets, which significantly impacts residents and local businesses. I have frequently seen cars parked across people’s driveways, on corners, in no parking areas during these events, which makes it difficult to be on the road during these times and quite unsafe for pedestrians. My husband is a local bus driver, and has also raised concerns about their ability to safely manoeuvre school buses in these constrained environments especially with increased foot and vehicle movements. This will only be made worse by adding an additional 2500 capacity stadium with only 250 car spaces allocated. And will be a daily event, rather than 30-40 times a year.
Loss of green space
My children currently play soccer, junior cricket and attend Lambton High School, and utilise these fields daily. The loss of green space is not proposed to be replaced, yet the local surrounding suburbs (Broadmeadow and Adamstown) are poised to have 60,000 new homes in future.
Lambton High School will lose access to its green space that is currently leases from council. This is needed to fulfill their curriculum of sports and to support their health and wellbeing. The response indicates they can use other fields further away from the school, but this will impact teacher-student ratios (as it involves crossing roads) and will also reduce the active time they get. This is the only green space available to the high school and is needed. Students also use this green space for lunch and recreational time, which supports their health and wellbeing. It is also unclear what will happen to the evacuation procedures as this is currently the emergency evacuation point. Alternative locations would require crossing roads, which is not ideal for 1200 students in an emergency.
My children will also lose access to green space for their weekend sport. Both use these fields to play cricket and soccer. Access to sporting fields by these clubs is already difficult. Removing more green space will only add additional pressure and traffic to those already heavily utilised spaces.
The Association’s response also says the construction height will be raised, further reducing the amount of natural light into the school.
Noise and disturbance
I have significant concerns about the noise impacts to my children, who attend the adjacent high school, during construction. This will impact their learning and exams, especially HSC exams. It will also impact their wellbeing, given exposure to extended construction and noise and air pollution over an extended period. I am also concerned about them having to navigate the streets while walking to and from school, with additional construction traffic, road closures etc. while the stadium is being constructed.
Funding shortfall
It is understood there remains a significant funding shortfall, with Government deciding not to further invest. It is unclear where they could possibly source this level of funding without Government funding, which is already operating in a fiscally constrained budget environment. The proposal says that stage 2 is dependent on funding allowances. There is a risk that, if approved, you will allow the removal of valuable green space, in place of only part a stadium and/or corners will be cut to deal with this.
Flooding impacts
The response does not address my previous concerns, so I have repeated them below. The addition of a swale at the front does not have the same volume capacity that the existing fields provide for water retention. It also means that the area they have provided as “green space” is dangerous and inappropriate. Are they really suggesting we utilise a flood retention mechanism as “green space”?
Flooding impact assessment doesn’t adequately consider the flood impacts. For example, the local canal goes from empty to full very quick (I’ve experienced it doing this after just short thunderstorms). Currently the fields provide flood and stormwater retention for considerable time, keeping these floodwaters away from homes and local streets. The report indicates the only mitigation measures proposed are rainwater tanks. There is no way these could store the same amount of water as the existing fields.
The report also says the carpark might flood, so if people are worried, to park in residential streets instead – further adding the to traffic mayhem in local narrow streets that already can’t fit two cars side by side when cars are parked.
Inadequate community engagement
There has no been adequate community engagement. For instance, over 80% of Lambton High School students’ families were opposed to the development, but we have not been consulted with as part of targeted consultation. Likewise, the local residents in surround streets that I know in Duke St, Rex Ave and Durham Rd have not been consulted but will 100% be impacted by parking loss and traffic in their streets.
Inadequate social impact assessment
The SEIA for the project does not sufficiently address the effect that displacing Western Suburbs Junior Cricket Club. It’s one of the fastest growing junior clubs for Newcastle. Losing ground will not only limit current capacity but hinder the ability to grow the sport.
Misclassification of the ground utilisation
The report misclassifies Wallarah and Blackley ovals as underutilised. This is based on flawed analysis from the City of Newcastle’s Sporting Strategy (2020), which measure usage only for winter sports, rather than peak summer usage. Cricket teams use these fields daily during spring and summer, and loss of this green space will add pressure to other facilities, and insufficient replacement grounds (current proposals are inferior in quality and proximity).

I support sport and basketball in Newcastle that is in desperate need of facilities.

I am writing to express serious concerns about the proposed HISC development on the green space adjacent to Lambton High School. This area has been a vital resource for student physical activity and wellbeing for many decades. Its removal would significantly undermine student health, particularly for neurodiverse students who rely on unstructured physical activity to regulate behaviour and support learning.
I am both a local resident and the parent of multiple primary school aged children zoned for Lambton High but have received a lack of meaningful consultation during the development and promotion of this proposal. Despite claims of extensive engagement, families from the three feeder primary schools appear to have been excluded. Our school has received no communication, and I personally only learned of a consultation event via social media—but it was too late to attend. No mail drop reached our home, despite being within walking distance of the site and only 1.5km or 3 minute drive. This lack of outreach to future students and their families is unacceptable. These children will be directly impacted by the loss of access to the fields, yet their voices have not been considered.
My children are due to commence their secondary education at Lambton High School shortly after the anticipated completion of the proposed development. Under the current plans, they will no longer have access to the adjacent fields that have historically supported student wellbeing and safety. To date no alternative location has been clearly identified for essential school functions such as lunch breaks or emergency evacuation muster points. The fields proposed as alternatives for sports use are located at a considerable distance and are unsuitable for short access over lunch and recess. This raises significant concerns regarding both student safety and the loss of opportunities for unstructured physical activity, which plays a critical role in student regulation, engagement, and overall wellbeing.
In regards to student health and wellbeing there are many studies that show:
• Students crave and feel inspired by exposure to green spaces: https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/september/new-high-rise-schools-need-green-spaces-for-students-to-grow
• Green spaces can reduce depression: https://scite.ai/reports/campus-green-spaces-academic-achievement-G3rR0b9x
• Unstructured sport at school has positive health benefits: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-14-164
• Greenspace exposure in adolescence promotes positive brain development and is associated with better academic performance: https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/exposure-to-greenspaces-linked-to-better-brain-health-and-academic-success-in-adolescents-400565
• Access to green spaces reduces behavioural problems: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969722007008

As a long-time school volunteer, I’ve seen firsthand how movement and outdoor play help children – all children but especially neurodiverse students – self regulate and thrive. Removing this space will disproportionately harm these students and reduce their ability to succeed academically. With emerging understanding of the importance of regulation in a child’s education and wellbeing, making the school less inclusive by removing opportunities to regulate makes no sense.
If this proposal proceeds, I will seek alternative secondary schooling options for one, possible more, of my children. However with places in nearby selective schools are limited they may still end up attending Lambton High School. I suspect that one of my children who is both academically gifted and has severe attention regulation needs, will be unable to complete high school successfully without access to this green space to self-regulate.
Finally, my children also participate in hockey, and we already experience significant difficulty accessing the fields during major events due to frequent road closures on Young Road and heavy traffic congestion along Turton Road. The proposed development is likely to exacerbate these existing traffic issues, further restricting access for players and increasing safety risks for pedestrians.
In summary:
• The proposed location removes essential green space from Lambton High School.
• No alternative has been proposed for evacuation or daily student access.
• Future student populations have not been consulted.
• The loss of green space will negatively impact student mental health and behaviour.
• Traffic congestion will worsen, affecting access to existing sporting facilities.
• The proposal particularly risks the educational outcomes of vulnerable students.
I urge decision makers to reconsider the location of this proposal and the significant long-term impacts on the community.

As a long-standing resident of Lambton and basketball patron, I strongly object to the amended Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) proposal. This project — in its current form — represents a failure of governance, a failure of planning, and a fundamental threat to the livability and safety of our neighborhood and future of the game in Newcastle.
Attached, I outline the reasons why this proposal must be rejected in full, and why a community-minded, properly governed approach must be pursued instead.

As a continuous playing member of the Newcastle Basketball Association since 1983, I have proudly represented Newcastle basketball at local, state, and national levels — both as a player and coach. I am a lifelong student of the game of basketball worldwide, deeply committed to its growth and integrity. I also reside locally, adjacent to the immediate precinct of the proposed development. This unique combination of lived experience, involvement, and local insight informs my objection to the amended Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) proposal. My concerns are grounded not only in planning principles and community impact, but also in a deep understanding of basketball’s needs and the long-term wellbeing of the sport and its participants. Please find my detailed objection attached.

The existing basketball stadium at Broadmeadow is the only basketball stadium currently in Newcastle. With this stadium no longer fit for purpose and being slated for residential development it is crucial that a new stadium is built in a timely manner to meet the existing and future needs of the community. An indoor sports facility can be used both day and night 7 days a week providing a vastly better use of the public land than the existing fields that are utilised a small portion of any week. Additionally there are vast numbers of other fields for the purposes of soccer/cricket etc located in most suburbs in the Newcastle area. There are no other basketball stadiums. basketball is a top five sport nationally and growing rapidly. Add to this the emergence of other popular sports like pickleball this facility is absolutely essential to the Newcastle area. The sooner it is built the better for the whole region.

The location of this proposal is a suitable
1. Flooding risk as shown during the Pasha Bulker Flood and more recently, as the rainfall becomes more intense and frequent. The presence of canals adjacent indicates the propensity of flooding anyway. The increase in paved areas for this facility will also reduce flood absorption. The main access, Turton Road, is also a well known flood risk as well as surrounding streets. The whole of Lambton and New Lambton surround this piece of land and are uphill of it. It is a natural water drainage site.
2. Overcrowding of traffic into residential areas. This is already a problem due to the presence of the Knights Stadium and Hockey Stadium, soccer fixtures, light
industrial areas surrounding this site and the high school. This green space is the schools's recreation area, as well the site of other sports at the other end of this field. If matches overlap it will be even more severely overcrowded by traffic. If matches are on other dates the overcrowding will then be impacting residents
daily. Overflow parking will add to the impact on the area. Even overflow parking around West's New Lambton parking provisions will then impact current usage, which is already at a high level. The whole area is already a no-go area during matches at the Stadium with RMS warning signals before every match to motorists using Newcastle Road as far back as Wallsend and Turton Road.
I believe any extra venues built in this area are an over-development in relation to flooding and loss social/residential amenity.

I am a student at Lambton High School and oppose this proposal. Our school is already overcrowded with over 1200 students and staff occupying a small space. We use Wallarah and Blackley Ovals every day so that we can do sport and PE lessons on grass and I personally use the ovals at lunchtime to kick a ball with my friends and get some exercise and fresh air. If the basketball stadium is built on the ovals we will have no grassed areas to use. Instead we will be looking at a concrete structure 6 metres from the school boundary that will shade our school and block any breeze that we would otherwise get. It is depressing. If feels like nobody is listening to the students or considering our well being. The noise during construction will be unbearable. How can we be expected to learn in this environment? We don't want the stadium built next to our school. We already have concreted basketball courts but we do not have any fields. Even when the fields are wet we have a lovely grassy outlook. Where will we evacuate to when there is an emergency? This location is both inappropriate and unsafe.

I OBJECT to the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC). Please see attachment

I strongly object to this project in the currently proposed location. I am most concerned about the loss of playing and sport area for students of Lambton High. The alternative offered has not been approved by the relevant sporting authorities and is unlikely to be approved. In addition, it is neither feasible nor reasonable for staff to supervise students during breaks that far from the School. I also believe that the impact on traffic flow has not been thoughtfully assessed. Further, the WSJCC will only experience detrimental impacts for reasons which have been well documented in the media. This is the wrong site for this Stadium and I strongly oppose this proposal.

I live at 329 Turton Rd, 3 houses back from the corner of Monash Rd.
I have lived here for almost 30yrs & have always accepted the traffic debacle caused by soccer and football games. I have had people park across the entrance to my driveway, while dropping people off or picking people up. I am always watching for people being dropped off in the bus zone adjacent to my driveway, often blocking my entry or exit. I have recently removed my front fence to give myself a parking spot for my own car and I will ALWAYS reverse my car into my drive so that I significantly reduce the chance of hitting a pedestrian going to or coming from the stadium. I have a single driveway which my son and I share.
Planning an entry point to a multilevel basketball stadium with a boom gate will cause much more traffic congestion and I fear more and more people will use the bus zone to drop children off on training days and competition days. Considering that this facility is proposed to be in use seven days a week from 7am until 10pm, this will cause congestion, aggression and dangerous driving conditions. Clearly the lack of parking within the facility for the amount of people using it will inadvertently create parking chaos in the surrounding streets. I have watched parents drop children in the same spot to run across the road to hockey practice and I am certain this will be the exact same with this stadium.
Flooding is also a major concern to me and my property, I flooded in 2007 and these areas were rezoned a 'flood zone', the amount of water that builds up in those ovals and spills into the drain makes me feel like this stadium build and planners is completely ignoring the serious impact it will have on our properties not to mention the devaluation of our properties.
Various other areas would be more suitable, Maryland, Glendale. More open space for planned parking and closer to the freeway and Hunter suburbs linked by the new freeway. Trying to shove this enormous facility in this small space will be a terrible choice, there will be no room for any growth or expansion (as reported in the proposal) .
For a facility that has the potential to have almost 6000 people and possibly more on competition days. This coupled with a clash of a football game will be absolute chaos and gridlock.
Please reconsider this proposal, its a dreadful decision to try and put this here.
Newcastle Basketball and all their players deserve a better location.

I strongly object to the development in this location.

Green Space.
Wallarah & Blackley Ovals are needed as space for playing games, walking, talking & winding down.
These green grass areas are important for children to learn ball skills & to run around & let off steam.

Flooding.
Increased rain & flooding events are expected to increase with climate change.
Green grass areas such as Wallarah & Blackley ovals act as a soak to mitigate the effects of flooding.

Traffic.
An increase in the number of vehicles using Turton Rd & Hamilton Rd will mean more congestion on the streets & access & parking problems for local residents.
Already when major events have finished at McDonald Jones stadium , cars & trucks race frantically through a network of narrow Lambton streets to get away quickly & avoid the congestion.
There are better, more accessible places to build the Hunter Indoor Sports Stadium, with no added stress & anxiety for already heavily burdened residents.

Consequences.
I was recently informed by a local fireman whose station is very near the proposed ovals, that he hopes he doesn't get roosted on to work when there is an event at McDonald Jones stadium. He said it is a nightmare trying to manoeuvre a large fire truck around numerous vehicles, traffic & people parking close to corners, & numerous pedestrians. Which will only be exacerbated by the proposed stadium.
He is in a state of constant stress hoping he doesn't get caught in packed streets & not being able to get to the emergency which could put someones life at risk!
Regards, Luis Orlandi.

I am a resident of New Lambton and live metres away from the proposed development. I am writing to express my objection to the HISC development being built on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals. My reasons for this objection are the same as they were in my first submission, as I believe the concerns from the community have not been adequately addressed and mitigated in the amended design. My concerns are still pedestrian safety and flood risk, now also adding to the long list of concerns with this site, the new design has taken away the not so generous 30m patch of grass that was to be given to the school.
Both my children will attend this high school. The high school currently lease the ovals Monday to Friday for recreational use from the council. With the proposed development, students would lose access to green space during their breaks. The other adjoining ovals are fenced off, they would need to be ferried across the road by teachers, if their schedule would allow such supervision. To take away the opportunity of fresh air and movement from students at their most formative and sometimes stressful time of their lives is absolutely not an option. Newcastle Basketball have stated the school would be able to utilise the facility, but the school already has outdoor basketball courts. They need grass and sunshine.
From reading the documents Council responded to the proponent from their first submission, there needs to be some major infrastructure upgrades to Monash Road if this development was to go ahead. There are no footpaths on either side of Monash Road, which is a huge problem without adding 27,000 extra visitors to the area each week. I could not find mention of the proponent’s plans to work with council, transport for NSW to upgrade the pedestrian amenity on Monash road to ensure students can safely travel by foot or bike to Lambton High. This is also a densely populated residential area with many young families. Kids learning to ride bikes. It’s absolutely ridiculous to think that any planner would sign off putting a sporting hub literally next to houses. It’s dangerous and makes me fear for my family’s safety if this goes ahead in its current form.
Finally I don’t believe the proponent has adequately addressed concerns of local residents with regard to flooding. There has been an additional flooding report done, however the flood consultant has confirmed they are still using the same set of assessed data from the first flood consultant. There needs to be a new independent flood risk assessment conducted on this site with a much wider radius. The current flood assessment seems only concerned with flooding of the site rather than the hundreds of adjacent homes that rely on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals as nature’s sponge, helping to hold water and slowly release it into the canal. The flood assessor has claimed that the run off will be released into the canal downstream from the houses, but honestly that doesn’t matter if the drain is full – which it so often is! Our property flooded with the huge rain event in May 2025. We pay a huge excess for flood cover, this area is a flood plain. How on earth any flood consultant can put their name to this site being suitable for a giant concrete structure which will generate considerable run off is absolutely beyond me.
A new basketball and multi sports facility is absolutely needed in the Hunter, but we all need to focus energy on finding a new site that will not compromise safety for the local community. There has been a lack of community consultation for this project, the proponent has ignored the pleas of the affected community. We are frustrated, scared and needing transparency from stakeholders. Because this is being touted as “the only available site” by Newcastle Basketball, doesn’t automatically mean it must go there. Being the only site, does not make it the right site by default.

I am 12 years old & attend New Lambton Public School. I live one block from Lambton High School & start there next year in Year 7. At my primary school there is only concrete. There is no green play space & we only have fake grass & astro turf. I've really been looking forward to going to high school next year & being able to get out & play with my mates on the ovals next to the high school. If the basketball stadium & carpark was built there, we'd have nowhere to run & play except in the school yard. That would mean I will spend 13 years at school with no green play space.
We keep being told to put away our phones, socialise with other kids & be active outside. How can adults be able to make decisions to take away the ovals & restrict us to inside the school yard? I'm glad that I can have a say & I hope you consider the impact on every school kid that will ever go to Lambton High School in the future.
I have ADHD & I am easily distracted. I don't know how I'll be able to concentrate in class if there is construction noise all day outside our classrooms. Where will we go to study or sit our exams?
I play basketball & am a member of Newcastle Basketball. I've played for 3 years now. Even though mum has to drive me to the courts to play, I'd rather that than lose the sports fields behind the high school. I would be able to walk to the new basketball courts but I don't want them there.
I have been involved in getting people to sign petitions, I've delivered pamphlets asking people to object to it, & I've handed out flyers in the pouring rain when there have been games on at the Knights Stadium. WE HAVE TO SAVE OUR OVALS. ONCE THERE GONE, THEY'LL NEVER BE RETURNED TO GRASS.
I strongly object to the building on the ovals. I object on behalf of myself, my younger brother & all the kids that will ever go to Lambton High School. Thank you.

I remain opposed to the proposed stadium at this location. While I support a new basketball facility for Newcastle, this site is unsuitable.
None of my previous concerns have been addressed which makes me concerned as to their motive for continuing with this clearly unsuitable site.
The proposal will create severe gridlock on Turton Road, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up, NRL events, and basketball changeovers.
With only limited on-site spaces, overflow will be pushed into residential back streets. These narrow streets are not designed to handle hundreds of extra cars and will quickly become dangerous rat-runs.
No proper modelling has been done to show whether nearby streets can cope. The plan simply assumes the side streets will absorb the overflow.
Students will face more traffic hazards walking and cycling to school.
The site currently acts as a flood storage area. Covering it in concrete increases flood risk to surrounding homes.
Flood reports are based on questionable modelling.
I also note that the Peer Review - Appendix K - predates the final version of both the Flood Risk Assessment and the Flood Emergency Response Plan.
Increased noise, lighting, and building height will permanently change the character of the area.
The amended proposal does not solve the issues raised. It increases traffic congestion, pushes cars into residential back streets, heightens flooding risk, and removes vital school and community green space.
This site is not suitable. A stadium should be built in a better-planned location that supports both basketball and the local community.

Newcastle basketball stadium is rundown and needs to be upgraded. This new facility will ensure that upcoming talent within the hunter region will be able to participate and work on their craft as they strive to achieve whatever goals and aspirations they have on courts that don’t have puddles from rainy days, aren’t slippery, are full sized courts and are up to date with other current facilities in NSW

I strongly object to the Amended State Significant Development Application Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) SSD-65595459 at the proposed Wallarah Road and Monash Road, New Lambton site for the following reasons:

A. Flooding
I have firsthand experience of the flood issues in the vicinity of the proposed HISC as I reside approximately 500 meters upstream of Ker-rai Creek from the proposed site. Our property is within the blue lined area (‘model extent’) map that forms Figure 3-1 on page 11 of EIS Appendix CC – Flood Risk Impact Assessment (1) – hereafter referred to as the ‘Torrent report’.
Our property heavily relies upon Ker-rai Creek to efficiently drain stormwater away from our property during heavy rain events. We typically experience these rain events approximately 4-5 times per year when large volumes of stormwater seriously flood our backyard. These events are likely to increase in frequency with the effects of climate change. In fact, since we moved to Lambton 10 years ago, we have personally witnessed the increased frequency of East Coast Lows that cause significant flooding in this area. You really have to be living in this area to understand the extent of this issue.
The proposed HISC lacks merit as it will exacerbate the flooding as follows:
1. It is inevitable that the hard surfaces of the proposed HISC and adjacent car park will generate vast volumes of stormwater runoff that will exacerbate the existing flooding that occurs in the vicinity. Also, the additional large volumes of stormwater runoff will flow into the adjacent Ker-rai Creek which will clog and delay the stormwater getting away that will affect those with properties upstream (where we live). The Torrent reports have not taken the effect of stormwater backup upstream into account. Apart from our issues, many other properties in the vicinity also have flooding issues. The adverse effect that this project will have on local flooding outweighs any potential gains.

2. The current green space acts as a sponge by absorbing a vast volume of the rainwater. We will lose the advantage of that absorption if the HISC proceeds. In fact, the proposed HISC would reverse the benefit that the current green space provides. The HISC will exacerbate the flooding problem which would be a huge step backwards.

3. The Torrent reports rely upon modelling to support the proposed HISC. I submit that flood models are imperfect and rely upon the input of data that may not be accurate or truly relevant to this location. As stated earlier, as each year goes by, we are experiencing more frequent flooding events. With climate change, the flood events will only further increase in frequency. Has the modelling taken this into account?
4. The EIS suggests that site management should cancel or postpone events if a relevant severe weather warning is issued by the BoM (EIS page 87 and Torrent report dated 20/05/2024 at page 53 and Torrent report dated 08/07/2024 at page 15). How can we justify spending such vast sums of money on the HISC when it won’t even be an “all weather” venue?

5. It has been advised that a suitable bollard arrangement should be constructed along the northern and southern boundaries of the proposed HISC car park area to prevent vehicles from being washed into the Lambton Ker-rai Creek or instal other key drainage infrastructure (Torrent report dated 20/05/2024 at page 52) If it is predicted that cars will wash into Ker-rai Creek during a rain event, then I suggest that this site can hardly be suitable for this development.

6. The Mitigation Measures report (EIS Appendix C, page 11) states that the threat to people/property in the event of a flood is rated at ‘medium’ which, considering we are referring to people’s lives, is quite a substantial rating. How can this be justified? The cost to human life outweighs any benefit the HISC would bring.

B. Traffic & Safety
The Risk & Mitigation Measures report (EIS Appendix C, pages 2 & 3) states that the risk of vehicular accidents and injury arising from unsafe access to the site is ‘medium’. I regard this rating as high enough to confirm that this site lacks merit for this development.
By living in the vicinity of the proposed HISC I experience firsthand the significant traffic congestion when an event is held at McDonald Jones Stadium. We live on the eastern end of Karoola Road and there are huge volumes of traffic in and around the neighbourhood before and after an event at the Stadium. It is worse on Sunday afternoons when the Hockey Stadium is being utilised. Before any such event, the traffic crawls around the neighbourhood vying for a parking space that become scarce as time goes on. At the completion of any such event, the traffic leaving the neighbourhood is gridlocked taking up to an hour to dissipate. If the HISC proceeds, this problem will undoubtedly worsen particularly if simultaneous events are held at the proposed HISC, McDonald Jones Stadium and the Hockey Centre. It will be a risk to both the people that live in the neighbourhood together with the visitors. How can such a risk be justified?

C. Parking
I regularly experience firsthand the issues with street parking when an event is held at McDonald Jones Stadium. Street parking is at a premium throughout the whole suburb and beyond. Visitors must park long distances away from McDonald Jones Stadium with a lengthy walk to the Stadium. As stated earlier, parking becomes even more sparse when an event is held simultaneously at the Hockey Centre. How is our suburb going to cope if the HISC proceeds and all 3 venues stage simultaneous events? The parking spaces allocated in the HISC plans are grossly inadequate and parking will be a disaster. In essence, the proposed site cannot support three (3) major venues within such a small area. There will not be enough infrastructure & the HISC should not be allowed to proceed on this site.

D. Loss of Open Space
The Risk & Mitigation Measures report (EIS Appendix C, page 16) states that the loss of current open space, being the Blackley & Wallarah ovals, risk is rated as ‘high’. This is a significant rating and confirms that once this open space is lost, it will be lost forever.
This open space is currently highly utilised by members of the public and sporting facilities. There is also a significant amount of birdlife that feed from these ovals. How can the relocation of the existing sporting clubs to alternative facilities, which I understand will be at long distances away, be justified? How can this proposed development justify Lambton High School losing its play & sporting fields? In essence, this proposed development means that the current green space is being converted from multiple use to single use space i.e. basketball only. How can this be justified?
There is a proposed large high density housing development planned in close vicinity to this open space, and we have been told that this space will be the closest green space to that housing development. I submit that this green space will therefore be required more than ever.

Conclusion
This is not the right site for the new HISC. The adverse impacts referred to above will outweigh any public benefit and I respectfully request that the application to locate the HISC on this site be rejected.

I support the project

Demand for high-quality indoor sporting facilities continues to grow, particularly as population increases and outdoor sports are impacted by weather and seasonal conditions. This is particularly important for Newcastle and the Hunter region as the Newcastle Basketball Stadium at Broadmeadow is no longer fit for purpose and the fact that it is making way for the State Government Housing initiative.

Supporting and enhancing the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre development ensures the region can continue to meet community needs, attract major events, and promote health, inclusion, and opportunity for all.

For Newcastle Basketball and other indoor sports,
The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre is a vital community asset. Ongoing support and investment will allow it to expand its impact, enhance community participation, and strengthen the Hunter region’s reputation as a leader in sport, recreation, and community wellbeing. Newcastle Basketball has a proud history and tradition in the NSW Basketball community and as Basketball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, Newcastle deserves to have a home for Newcastle Basketball.