Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

Flood Risk:
I am a nearby resident of New Lambton and wish to formally object to the proposed development of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre on the grounds of flood risk, community safety, and non-compliance with Newcastle’s planning controls.
The proposed development does not satisfactorily address flooding concerns. It is clearly not modelled by someone with a depth of flood knowledge on the local area.
After reviewing the developer’s Flood Impact and Risk Assessment (FIRA), I have significant concerns that this proposal will worsen flooding for neighbouring properties, schools, roads, and community facilities.
The site is inside/near catchments studied for Newcastle (Dark Creek / local catchments) that drain toward Hexham Swamp / lower Hunter floodplain. The Dark Creek catchment and other Newcastle catchment studies show New Lambton lies upstream of the lower Hunter/Hexham wetland system, these catchments have been modelled in City-wide flood studies. That matters because any increase in runoff can add to flows conveyed downstream into the wetland/floodplain. Therefore, the site is part of a natural drainage system (the Dark Creek/local New Lambton catchments). Rain falling on the site ultimately drains into downstream creeks and wetlands like Hexham Swamp.
Those catchments are already modelled as flood-prone by Newcastle Council and the NSW Flood Data Portal. That means Council recognises that development in this area can influence, and be influenced by, flooding.
If you remove grass and build a complex, the extra hard surface increases runoff. Because the site feeds into these catchments, the risk is not just local ponding but also contributing to higher peaks downstream. The recent weather events and landslips in New Lambton highlight the risk of building in new lambton and removing open spaces that absorb flood waters.
The proposal removes a large portion of existing flood storage capacity, retaining only 64–71% of baseline storage during major floods. Newcastle’s Development Control Plan requires at least 80% retention. This is a clear non-compliance. The site currently functions as an important natural storage area for Lambton Ker-rai Creek. Reducing storage increases the risk of water being displaced into neighbouring properties and streets.
The FIRA itself acknowledges:
20–30 mm higher flood levels extending off-site along Lambton Ker-rai Creek and Monash Road during a 1% AEP (2050) flood.
60–70 mm higher flood levels in parts of the catchment at the PMF event.
Even “small” increases in water level can mean the difference between yards and homes staying dry or being inundated, especially in a catchment that already floods.
As a resident removing this much natural storage increases the risk of higher water levels nearby shifting flooding to surrounding properties which should not be allowed.
The modelling shows:
Floodwaters in the proposed carpark could accelerate from 0.4–0.6 m/s up to 1.5–2.5 m/s.
Off-site, Turton Road flood velocities will rise, and parts of Lambton High School will see increases too.
Higher velocities mean greater risk to children, pedestrians, and vehicles. They also increase erosion and debris hazards. This is unacceptable near schools and sporting fields.
Council’s own mapping shows the site is bisected by primary and secondary floodways, with one crossing the proposed building footprint
The FIRA repeatedly acknowledges “significant uncertainty” in extreme event modelling. Approving a major complex based on uncertain modelling is unsafe, particularly given Newcastle’s history of flash floods is incomprehensible.
The proposal fails Condition C-1 of the DCP (flood storage retention)
By the consultant’s own admission, they rely on modelling “improvements” to justify non-compliance, rather than meeting the standard
In Summary -
Loss of flood storage (non-compliant with DCP).
Increased flood depths on Monash Rd, Lambton Creek and nearby areas.
Higher velocities affecting Turton Rd and Lambton High School (safety risk).
Development in mapped floodways contrary to planning intent.
Significant uncertainty in the modelling , the impacts could be worse than shown.
This development:
Does not comply with Newcastle’s DCP flood storage requirements.
Increases flood levels and velocities on nearby land.
Builds in mapped floodways, against the intent of flood planning controls.
Relies on uncertain modelling, which underestimates risks in a catchment with a long history of damaging floods.
For these reasons, I urge Council to refuse this proposal in its current form. Protecting residents, schools, roads, and our community from worsening flood risk must be the priority.
Traffic Plan:
This site is located within a sensitive precinct, surrounded by 40 km/h residential zones, a high school, children’s sporting facilities, and established residential housing. The proposed traffic arrangements present unacceptable risks and impacts.
The plan acknowledges significant additional vehicle movements for events and directs overflow parking into surrounding residential streets once the 240 on-site spaces are filled. This will create congestion, noise, and safety issues for residents, who already contend with peak school traffic and weekend sport demand.
The plan explicitly states “no temporary speed reduction zones will be implemented for medium-impact events”. In contrast, nearby McDonald Jones Stadium enforces 40 km/h event-day speed zones to protect pedestrians. The decision not to implement similar controls in an existing 40 km/h precinct disregards established safety standards and exposes school children and sporting participants to unnecessary risk.
The plan downplays risks by ruling out measures such as Variable Message Signs, portable traffic signals, or User Paid Police for most events. Given the site’s proximity to McDonald Jones Stadium, cumulative impacts and overlapping event traffic have not been adequately addressed.
Frequent traffic control points, road closures, and redirected traffic will negatively impact the quiet enjoyment and accessibility of residential streets. This is contrary to the objectives of maintaining liveability in established neighbourhoods.
Any proposal that changes traffic flow or uses a public road requires approval from Council or Transport for NSW (s.138 consents).
The TMP relies heavily on overflow street parking and short-term closures but does not appear to adequately demonstrate compliance with s.138 requirements that works must not compromise public safety or reasonable access for residents.
The Traffic Management Plan fails to adequately protect vulnerable road users, particularly school children and young sporting participants. It does not provide sufficient safety measures in a high-risk, high-use pedestrian precinct, and will significantly diminish the amenity and liveability of the surrounding community.
The guide requires event organisers to implement adequate pedestrian safety, clear communication, and stakeholder engagement.
The current plan states “public notification is not required”, which is inconsistent with the guideline’s expectation of community consultation where residents are impacted.
The TMP acknowledges only 7+ accessible parking spaces for events drawing up to 1700+ patrons.
Inadequate accessible transport and parking could place the development in breach of accessibility requirements under the DDA and referenced Australian Standards.
Based on flooding and traffic implications only this plan should be declined

Love basketball

I’m a regular visitor to Newcastle to watch my 2 grandchildren play basketball. The current stadium is old and too small.
A city the size of Newcastle needs a quality indoor stadium and I support the current plans and location.

Attached are my objections to the Amended EIS Submission

I support

Help the kids play indoor sports

I am writing in support of the submission for the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) .

The Hunter region is in need of modern, accessible, and multipurpose indoor sports facilities that can cater to the growing demand for community recreation, grassroots participation, and competitive sporting events. The proposed HISC will provide an inclusive space where people of all ages and abilities can engage in physical activity, learn new skills, and connect with others in a safe and supportive environment.

Beyond sport and recreation, the project will deliver significant social and economic benefits to Newcastle and the wider Hunter community. It will create local jobs during construction and operation, attract events and visitors to the region, and provide a vital hub for schools, clubs, and community groups.

Approving the development of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre is an investment in the health, wellbeing, and FUTURE of our community. I strongly endorse this submission and urge that it be given full consideration and support

Object to the project
I strongly object to the proposed Development Application for a Hunter Indoor Sports Centre at 2 Monash Road and 24 Wallarah Road, New Lambton. The development would remove a significant recreational green space provided by Blackley and Wallarah Ovals which are heavily used for recreation and as playing fields for football and cricket. Lambton High school, with approximately 1200 students, uses these ovals every day for sport and during break times, as well as for events and emergency evacuation procedures. This is not a suitable site for the HISC development. It would have ongoing detrimental, permanent impacts on residents and students in the local area and should not be approved.
The recently announced sporting fields for Maryland highlights that there are more appropriate site options available for the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre other than trying to squeeze it onto Blackley/Wallarah Ovals. This stadium is to be known as a HUNTER facility and should be easily accessible to the wider (and expanding) Hunter community; it is not just a Newcastle basketball stadium. Other possible sites such as the Hunter Park sporting precinct, provide basketball players and supporters with a new stadium but not at the expense of other sporting codes, schools or the local community’s access to precious green spaces.
Specific concerns are outlined in attachment.

I’m a student at Lambton High and play basketball and I support the new stadium.
Newcastle needs a new stadium for indoor sports as the current stadium is old and needs replacing and doesn’t have enough courts.

Dear Planning NSW,

Re: Objection to Proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre at Wallarah and Blackley Ovals, New Lambton (SSD-65595459)

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre at Wallarah and Blackley Ovals, New Lambton. While I support the need for improved basketball facilities in Newcastle, this location is inappropriate and will have serious negative impacts on our community.
My main concerns are outlined below.

1. Impact on the Lambton High School community

As a local resident, and long-term High School PE teacher, I know first hand how vital these open spaces are for young people’s physical, mental, emotional, and social development. My wife and I have two young boys who will attend Lambton High in the near future, and I am deeply concerned about the impact of losing these spaces on their education and wellbeing.
The statement in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that the ovals are “underutilised” is misleading. It fails to account for Lambton High School’s established right to use the ovals under a long-term formal agreement with City of Newcastle, and completely ignores the school’s reliance on them for many generations.
The school does not need more indoor facilities or basketball courts — these already exist on site. What it urgently needs is access to ovals and greenspace suitable for sport, free play, and outdoor learning. Lambton High has no oval or large grassed field on its grounds, and much of the school site is out of bounds for safety reasons (e.g. car parks). Without Wallarah and Blackley Ovals, students would be left without any adequate outdoor play or sporting space.
The Lambton High community currently uses the ovals for:
-Emergency evacuation (essential for student safety and compliance with Department policies).
-Learning across Years 7–12 in PDHPE and SLR.
-Free play at lunch and recess (particularly ball games).
-Wednesday school sport, including AFL, rugby league, rugby union, soccer, etc.
-Whole-school events such as the Colour Run and Cross-Country carnival.
-Training for school sports teams and events.
-Free play before and after school.
Over the short-medium term future the Government projects a huge increase in the population of Broadmeadow, one of the neighbouring suburbs. This would mean the number of students who attend Lambton HS would increase significantly. In the future, the school will need more space, not less.
The proposal that Lambton High School students MAY have access to the Indoor Sports Centre is misleading and disingenuous. If they pay? When it is not used by others? How would that fit in with the school's need for student sport and PDHPE lessons?
The benefits of free play, greenspace, and uncrowded environments for students are well documented. Free play and outdoor activity improve concentration, learning outcomes, and social development. Access to green space, running, and ball games contribute significantly to the physical and mental wellbeing of young people.
This is supported by academic research, the lived experience of parents and teachers, and international organisations such as UNICEF (UNICEF: The necessity of urban green space for children’s development). Lambton High’s easy access to the ovals has enabled it to provide opportunities that enhance both learning and wellbeing — opportunities that will be lost if the ovals are removed.
Importantly, the EIS and Social and Economic Impact Assessment (SIA) fail to consider the physical and mental wellbeing of future student populations. These intergenerational impacts will be significant and long-lasting, yet they have not been addressed or mitigated in the EIS.

2. Traffic, Congestion and Safety Risks
The proposal will place unacceptable strain on local streets, particularly Young Road. The impacts include:
-Additional traffic volumes and increased safety risks for children and pedestrians.
-Parking and congestion problems, which are already evident during school events.
-Noise from traffic and congestion.
-Parking spillover when school, stadium, and other venues operate simultaneously.
-Dust, vibration, and noise during construction, which will disrupt teaching and affect vulnerable students and staff, including asthmatics.
-Prolonged disruption from staged construction, with years of noise and vibration impacting classes, tests, exams, and performances.
-Increased litter and environmental impacts from large crowds and building works.

3. Environmental Impacts and Flooding
The loss of open space and tree cover will damage local biodiversity, reduce community access to nature, and worsen flooding. The ovals sit near a stormwater drain, and replacing greenspace with carparks and hard surfaces will increase flood risk in heavy rain. (Something we seem to be getting more of these days).

4. Noise, Construction, and Amenity Impacts
Daily operations of the stadium would create persistent noise from PA systems, games, and late-night traffic, disrupting nearby residents. Lighting spill from evening events will further affect local amenity. Construction so close to a school will compromise learning and wellbeing for years.

5. Reduced Equity in the community
Wallarah and Blackley Ovals are currently free, open-access facilities used daily by the whole community for sport, recreation and informal play. If redeveloped, these opportunities will be lost. Children who want to play cricket, soccer, AFL, or rugby will need to travel further, imposing additional costs and burdens on parents and carers.
The stadium would also restrict access to those who can afford to pay for use, reducing social equity. A development that replaces free, inclusive community facilities with fee-based access is not in the public interest.

6. Scale and Suitability of the Proposal
This is not a small community facility but a large regional stadium. It is incompatible with a residential and school environment. The basketball community deserves a new facility, but it should be built in a designated sports precinct such as Hunter Park, where the infrastructure, transport and parking can support it.

For the reasons outlined above, I strongly urge Planning NSW to refuse this proposal. Wallarah and Blackley Ovals are an irreplaceable community asset, essential for school sport, community recreation and the health and wellbeing of current and future generations.
Newcastle definitely needs a new basketball facility — but not at the cost of vital green space, social equity and the wellbeing of our local community.

Yours sincerely,
Nick Johns
Lambton NSW

I fully support this development

Sports play a vital role in maintaining physical health, mental well-being, and social interaction for people of all ages. Regular participation in sports helps improve fitness, build resilience, and encourage teamwork. Given the changing and often unpredictable weather conditions, having access to an indoor sports complex is particularly valuable. It ensures that individuals can continue their activities year-round without disruption, providing a safe, consistent, and comfortable environment for exercise and recreation

This will be great for the Futcher of the area especially all the kids

I support the project

I believe the HISC will be ana amazing upgrade to the basketball community and the community as a whole. I have been playing at Broadmeadow stadium since i was 13 and it was old and tired back then (over 20 years ago). I believe this new stadium will bring a new love for sport for the new generation as well as add so much value to the surrounding area.

I support the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre

Great initiative

Traffic and parking
As per table 6, pg 51 Response to submissions report, the overflow parking for events up to 1700 people is adjacent streets
There is no evidence or modelling as to the capacity of these very narrow suburban streets for this overflow.
Traffic on Turton Rd will likely be affected by the boom gate entry into the carpark and the removal of the turning lane. (appendix dd traffic and event management plan)
The submission focuses heavily on vehicle movements with limited analysis of public transport capacity and accessibility impacts and pedestrian and cycling safety considerations
For big events they suggest cars can park at McDonald Jones stadium, Richardson park (where they have the circus), The entertainment centre and Wanderers oval - all but McDonald Jones says they can’t be used in wet weather (appendix dd)

Flooding
Flooding is still not mitigated and I believe after the effects of increased rainfall in New Lambton over the last few months this cannot be ignored
The Risk management focus is on the site and patrons with minimal mention of impact on surrounding houses and residents
The increase of rain and flooding events have already impacted this community which has previously flooded and more recently led to road closures.
The impact of removing the natural absorption of ovals with concrete and building has not adequately addressed run off and the capability of the storm water drains to manage the increase in deluge
No discussion with residents prior to the release of this submission despite there being an understanding that lived experience of flooding events is helpful in informing “real life” scenarios
Social Impact
Inadequate measure of social impact on local residents, The subjective statement that there will be “no adverse environmental, social or economic impacts (that) will result from the proposal” (pg 95 Rts report ) does little to relieve concerns that there will be some sort of impact in these areas.
The loss of the community green space is casually dismissed with references to McDonald Jones stadium, hockey fields, bowling green, Harker oval and Arthur Edden all of which are not freely accessible to the community .
Diagram depicting green space in the area is inaccurate – shows – all of which are not green space for the community or school
No accountability framework has been provided for delivering promised community benefits .
Cost
No updates on costs to date, projected costs or funding secured. The original budget was for $91 million but this only included pricing until the end of 2025

This is a much needed replacement basketball stadium for Newcastle.
The plans look great

There is no doubt that Newcastle is in desperate need of a new indoor sports centre.

At the present time Newcastle, a major city of Australia, has an old, not fit for purpose, overly utilised, 50plus year facility that does not meet standard on any measure. Far smaller cities in NSW like Tamworth, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour boast much larger and modern facilities than we have in Newcastle, the second most populated city in NSW.

For nearly seven years now, the Newcastle Basketball Association has been trying to build one such facility with Government support. The location of such a facility has been the stumbling block. On each occasion the projects fell short on a number of grounds.

The Association’s latest attempt at a location in Lambton is by far the best. It is central, has access to public transport, is opposite a major sporting precinct, next door to a high school with its own access point, walking distance to two other high schools and to their many feeder primary schools.

The location is on very under-utilised sports fields, due to flooding, whose sporting clubs have been relocated to superior venues.

The planning committee and design team have responded to the 3 major concerns of near by residents, namely; traffic control, flooding and the loss of green space. Traffic control and flooding are no longer an issue under the new design. The project has been moved to the west to allow for greater green space and the saving of some of the trees. There is no way an indoor facility of 12 courts is not going to take away green space. No matter where you build it, there will be some loss of green space. The design incorporates many trees, pedestrian and bike access to the green space to the west of the facility. The use of glass structures in the design lighten the impact of the building on its environment.

Most residents agree that our youth need such a facility, but selfishly just not in their neighbourhood. There will always be objections to change.

The indoor sports facility will be a great asset to complement the Government’s Broadmeadow Place Strategy plan.

I fully support the project.