Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

Please see the extensive objection attached for my reasons for the HISC to rejected at this site.

Submission in Support of Building the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre

1. Addressing a Critical Facility Shortfall

Current facilities are over capacity: The Newcastle Basketball Stadium, built in the 1970s, and the limited two-court facility in Cessnock are both outdated and no longer meet the needs of the community .

High demand unmet: Recent assessments cite over 500 players turned away each season, highlighting unmet local demand. The region faces a shortfall exceeding 20 indoor courts .

One indoor facility, multiple sports: Proposed design includes 12 courts with a show court seating 2,000—capable of hosting multiple sports and events simultaneously .


2. Rapid Population Growth and Projected Demand

Hunter region expanding fast: Current population of approximately 860,000 is expected to reach nearly 950,000 by 2041—requiring around 101,800 new dwellings .

Strong LGA-level growth:

Cessnock: +41.1% (~ 23,350 new residents).

Maitland: +32.4% (~ 25,650 new residents).

Newcastle: +24.2% (~ 39,000 new residents) .


Hunter to contribute 11% of NSW’s population growth in coming decades .

Maitland is already exceeding its own projections—expected to surpass 100,000 residents within two years .


Conclusion: As the region grows, indoor court demand will only intensify—underscoring the urgent necessity for new infrastructure.

3. Health, Social, and Economic Benefits

Health and well-being: Indoor facilities can host up to 10× more activity per square metre than outdoor venues and offer all-weather protection—critical in a changing climate .

Inclusive, multi-use design: The centre will include multipurpose courts, accessible facilities, allied health suites, gym/studio, café, and social spaces—designed to serve all ages, abilities, and needs .

Economic uplift:

Opportunity to host state-level and national events.

Co-location with the Hunter Park Precinct aligns with the broader Broadmeadow urban renewal strategy .

Injects jobs in construction and operations, and supports local business through increased visitor spending.

The development is desperately needed to support the community and increase tourism within the local Newcastle region. We travel a lot to other regions for basketball and their facilities far surpass ours and they are ion comparison much smaller regional centers like, Coffs Harbor, Tamworth and Port Macquarie.
If anything I believe the development should be bigger so we can host State Title tournaments and further advertise what a great city we are and promote the greater Hunter Area

To whom it may concern,
As a long-standing member of the Newcastle community and a parent of children actively involved in local sport, I am writing in full support of the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for the Newcastle Basketball Hunter Indoor Sports Complex (HISC). This facility is not only needed—it is vital to the growth, health, and cohesion of our community.
The current stadium is outdated, overcrowded, and simply no longer fit for the growing number of families and children wishing to participate in sport. Season after season, we see young players turned away or placed on lengthy waitlists due to a lack of available court space. A modern facility like the HISC will allow year-round participation regardless of weather and ensure no child misses out on the physical, mental, and social benefits of team sport.
More than just a basketball stadium, the proposed HISC will be a true community hub—servicing a wide range of indoor sports including futsal, pickleball, volleyball, netball, and tennis. The increased court capacity will not only support participation growth, but will also make Newcastle a regional leader in sport and recreation, capable of hosting larger tournaments and attracting broader community engagement.
Beyond the immediate sporting benefits, the HISC promises far-reaching positive outcomes. It will support community health and wellbeing, encourage youth engagement, and provide inclusive, accessible spaces where people from all walks of life can come together. Facilities like this play a critical role in fostering social connections, reducing isolation, and creating opportunities for all individuals—regardless of age, ability, or background.
I am especially proud of Newcastle Basketball’s ongoing commitment to women and girls in sport. As a parent of a daughter who plays basketball, I’ve witnessed firsthand the positive impact of programs that empower young women. Newcastle consistently fields strong female teams and provides an inclusive environment for women at all levels. This directly aligns with the NSW Government’s “Play Her Way” initiative, which rightly asserts that women and girls must be given full access to opportunity and choice in sport. The HISC will amplify these opportunities, enabling even more females to be recognised, valued, and supported through sport.
In closing, the HISC is not just a new building—it is a long-term investment in the people of Newcastle. I urge you to support this development for the future of our children, our families, and our broader community.
Thank you for your consideration.
Kind regards,
Rachel Hinton
Community Member & Parent
Newcastle, NSW

It’s about time. Newcastle basketball needs a new home!

Flooding
Sewage problems now and will only increase
Major traffic problems for an already busy area
With a left turn only this will increase the traffic down young road
Street parking will be chaotic
Decrease in property values
Loss of green space for current sports and families that use the park
Increase noise
After the football or events No one respects the residents and their property, this will increase
School usage

Sewerage problems in the area, the currents system can’t handle the waste now, it will only get worse with added building
Traffic for the narrow streets, people struggle to get down their street and in their driveways when current sports are on
Traffic will increase down young road which is already busy
Elderly people, loud and late noise
Green space lost, current sports and weekend users
Flooding
Evacuation space for high school
Loss of view for the unit block
Loss of house value for current residents

This facility is much needed and is the perfect location

A major sporting complex like this is needed to support Newcastle's growth and vision of being a spot on the national map for Australian sporting events

NNSW Futsal Association is in favour of the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre facility being established at Lambton.
We have been lobbying for over twenty years for a multi-centre to be built in the Hunter to address not only the needs of Basketball but also our need to accommodate our Futsal players, which number over 5,000 in Northern NSW, with 2,500 alone from the Newcastle/Hunter Valley area. Our current facilities, although we are grateful to those who provide the space, are inadequate and unable to accommodate the number of children playing the sport, resulting in many children not being accommodated.
The Broadmeadow district has been earmarked as the sporting hub of the region, and this makes sense, given the availability of rail, bus, and accommodation services, not to mention the link to the airport, which will facilitate the participation of competitors from all over the country and even overseas in events we may hold.
Our national body, the Australian Futsal Association, has stated that such a facility will allow us to host School Nationals and Club Nationals, as well as International Events that we can bring to the city.
These events are currently generating millions for the local economies of Penrith and Brisbane. Newcastle is a proud sporting city with many great sportspeople coming from the region. We do have some magnificent outdoor fields, but unlike the rest of the major cities in Australia, we lack a great indoor centre for the use of all indoor sports enthusiasts.
We understand the concerns of some, but the fact of the matter is that we need a facility. If any significant problems are resolved, and the venue is to be used for multisports, our NNSW Futsal Association players and supporters would be in favour of the Hunter Indoor Facility.

Very much needed for children’s sports

Sewerage problems already exists for housing around the proposed project, when heavy rain, houses go without toilets
Elderly neighbourhood, loud and late noise
Flooding
Loss of green space
Emergency assembly point for school
Parking issues streets too narrow
Traffic already busy for all streets around project, young rd will become dangerous with the excess flow of traffic
Cycle way comprised
Existing sport usage
Weekend usage by families

This is a fatally flawed project involving building on green space, creating huge problems with parking and flooding. Once these green spaces are gone, they'll never ever be able to be recovered. There are other far more appropriate sites for this project which should be stopped now before it goes any further.

Essential to provide a facility for the ever increasing Basketball community as well as providing a much needed indoor facility.

A multi purpose facility which is proposed is now an essential for the region.
With nearly 4000 futsal players looking for a home. It is critical that this facility is multi sport

This project would offer a well-needed boost to the Newcastle LGA and wider sporting community. Having it placed in close proximity to Hunter Stadium (McDonald Jones Stadium) makes sense, this area is a great opportunity for the local area!

With the number of submissions tended approx. 174 for and 484 against speaks for itself.

The 484 objecting either live in the area or have family that know the impact this will have on our lives in every aspect.

174 people for it Project are not even local residents and no idea of the impact it will have on our lives.
Newcastle Basketball said they have hundreds and hundreds of Patrons
There has been no transparency in this whole issue. Newcastle Basketball said they have personally contacted residents. No one has ever contacted me. The first chance I have had to talk to anyone from Newcastle Basketball was this Tuesday 9th September 2025. They organized through a third party a meeting with them and the planners of the Project, at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The amended Plans are worse the the first set of Plans. No there is only 1 entry/exit on to Turton Rd, which is one of the busiest streets in Newcastle. They originally were going to have and exit onto Young Rd., but after been made aware that they close that part of Young Rd during Major Events, they have changed it just Turton Rd Entry/Exit. What if there is an emergency?
I don't believe Newcastle Basketball or the Planners have been around to see the traffic/pedestrian chaos, when major events are on at McDonald Jones Stadium. Especially after talking to them the other night.
They have moved the entry/exit 3 feet down (as told to me from gentleman on Traffic planning on Tuesday 9th September 2025) from where is was originally was which makes it closer to pedestrian lights and the corner of Monash & Turton Rd. When main events are on, they close Turton Road off so traffic can only turn left and not right turn onto Turton Rd from Monash Rd. They also turn the pedestrian lights off there and the the set off traffic/pedestrian lights few meters up of the street at Young & Turton Rd the police direct the traffic as there are so many pedestrian's.
There are not enough car parking spaces for NB patrons. Parents are going to double park to drop their children off and the have to go through the traffic again and park kilometers away or park over our driveways to get back to watch the game.
I spoke to the gentleman in charge of flooding. He did not know there was a natural spring running under the parks. Turton Rd has flooded twice in the last lot of heavy rain, we had. Turton Rd was closed in both directions from Turton/Griffiths Rd to Turton/Lambton Rd.
My life is already impacted by what development is already here. This new Basketball Stadium will add even more anxiety into my life and devalue the price of my property.

I would like to express my strong support for the development of the new basketball stadium. This facility is much needed in our region, both as a professional venue and as a community space.
Basketball continues to grow in popularity, yet our area lacks a dedicated, high-quality facility that can support both elite-level competition and grassroots participation. A professional stadium would not only attract major events and showcase talent but also inspire the next generation of players.
Equally important, the stadium would provide residents with greater opportunities to stay active, develop their skills, and connect through sport. Access to safe, modern facilities encourages healthier lifestyles and strengthens community spirit.
This project has the potential to deliver lasting benefits for both professional sport and everyday participation, and I fully support its development.

A much needed resource for a thriving & growing sporting community.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed development project at the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) based on several significant concerns;
1. The loss of green space and sports grounds - the proposed development would result in the irreversible loss of valuable green space, including sports grounds currently used for cricket and soccer. These facilities provide important recreational opportunities for all age groups and promote physical and mental well-being. This area is also used everyday by students at Lambton High School. The removal would deprive the community of much-need open space and negatively affect youth engagement.
2. Traffic congestion - a major increase in traffic is anticipated on surrounding suburban streets, many of which were not designed to handle high volumes of vehicles. This will lead to serious traffic congestion, especially during peak hours and will affect the safety and accessibility of the area.
3. Parking and Emergency Access - Parking is already extremely limited on local streets. Adding more residents or visitors without adequate off-street parking solutions will worsen this problem. In particular, the congestion could further restrict access for emergency vehicles, posing a direct risk to public safety.
4. Increased Flood Risk - Replacing permeable green areas with hard surfaces will increase surface water runoff, significantly raising the risk of flooding in nearby residential areas. Local homes could be dramatically affected, especially during heavy rainfall events, as the current drainage systems may not be able to cope with the additional load. The long-term environmental and financial consequences of increased flood risk must be taken seriously. Some local residents are no longer able to afford the skyrocketing insurance costs due to the high risk of flooding in this area. Further development will definitely impact this situation.
For these reasons, I urge the planning authority to reconsider or reject the proposal in its current form. I respectfully request that community concerns be fully addressed and that an alternative site can be considered.
Yours sincerely
Lisa Kiss