Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

The community will great benefit fron this development, not just the basketball community.

I support this and am excited!

Pleas see my previous & ONGOING objection as below:

As a resident living close to the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) I am very concerned about the effect that this will have on Lambton High School and this residential area.
As a Registered Nurse for over 40 years I am well aware of the obesity crisis facing many Australians today. Physical activity is vital for not only physical, but also emotional well being. Having lived in the area for many years & also as the parent of 2 former pupils of Lambton High School, I am witness to the use that this area gets from pupils - not only during lessons or sporting competitions, but also during breaks. Habits formed & nurtured during this incredibly important time in children's development have helped to make my now adult children recognise the value of physical activity & they continue to play sport with friends made during their school years. It is vital to get young people off their phones & engaing in physical activity to support physical & mental health.
Whilst it is the responsibility of parents to raise their children to be active & nuture good exercise habits, unfortunately it often falls upon schools to take up this role. Whilst I recognise the need for a new location for the basketball stadium, I am appalled that this area would in any way be deemed the appropriate space for this.
Whilst this area is also in regular use for weekend formalised sport, I often see people exercising in this area when it is not being used by the school or local teams. There is also an abundance of native birds which graze safely on these fields.
This area is also for Fire & Evacuation purposes for Lambton High School, so the proposed location for HISC also raises grave concerns for the health & safety of pupils & staff of Lambton High School, should they need to evacuate.
Moving on, this residential area struggles with parking during sporting & entertainment events at MacDonald Jones Stadium. Roads are packed with cars in all the streets in the vacinity of the stadium when events are held & they are unable to support any further impact on this. How are emergency vehicles supposed to negotiate the narrow, residential streets if thy are even more congested? As you are aware, Lambton Fire Station is located in Young Road, not far from the proposed HISC. This point raises grave concerns about public safety.
Whilst I understand that work would be carried out to try & mitigate further flooding to this area, as has occured in the past - wouldn't it be better to reduce costs and actually find a more suitable location to start with.
Finally, I am very concerned about the lack of transparency & community engagement regarding this whole proposed development. As a resident I was not made aware of this proposal until it had moved far along in the planning process.

In addition please note the following:
I remain appalled that this planned project has not been rejected & strongly object to this proposal.
There remains an inadequate response to concerns raised about loss of green space in Lambton or the traffic chaos which would result if this project were to proceed. Residents are well aware of the congestion in the suburban streets when the Knights, Jets & concerts are taking place at McDonald Jones Stadium. However, when I was driving past Harker Oval at the weekend when a match was being played, there were multiple cars parked in the surrounding streets & to my knowledge this issue has not been raised as an additional burden on parking in the surrounding streets.
The effect of this project on the ability of emergency services to access all areas & make a timely response to emergencies has also failed to be addressed. Who will take responsibility for this failure should HISC go ahead?
The idea that Lambton High School pupils should have access to the indoor basketball space or walk to Harker Oval for sport shows zero insight into the health & safety needs of the pupils. Apart from my concerns raised previously, it is obvious that children need access to fresh air outside of the classroom - not only for sporting activities but also for engagement with their friends & general health & wellbeing. How are classes meant to make their way to Harker Oval - via the dangerous & ridiculous crossing which has been placed on a busy interesction on the brow of a hill at Womboin Road & Wallarah Road? If teachers are required to escourt them ...how do they find time to do that? This would impact greatly on the time left to exercise.
It is common knowledge that children & adults are less active than in years gone by, which is part of the reason the health service struggles to treat those with the side effects of obesity. I walk the streets of Lambton regularly & see many students getting the bus from Florida Avenue to school. This distance would have been classed as easily walkable or accessible by pushbike (NOT e-bike) only a few years ago, yet this proposal would reduce childhood activity even more as it would impact greatly on what activity the school is able to provide during school hours. In addition, whilst walking past the shops in Russell Road the school children are lined up waiting for the bus to take them to school & 95% are standing looking at their phones & not engaging with each other. Things are needed to help children engage with each other face to face - not on their phone & this proposal greatly affects the pupils face to face interaction & development.
Who involved in this proposal will take responsibility when the unthinkable happens & a pupill or teacher is harmed or killed when there is no safe place for them to evacuate to in the case of an emergency? This major concern has not been addressed at all.
The idea that LOCAL sporting groups that currently use the proposed site should go elsewhere e.g. Beresfield clearly shows that they have no idea of the concept of LOCAL & the impotance that local sport plays in a community. If Beresfield is such a great place to locate our LOCAL sports teams, how about the basketball stadium is built there?
Finally, it is totally unacceptable to put local residents at increased risk of flooding by building the basketball stadium at the proposed location.
The fact that this ridiculous proposal, including the ammended version, hasn't been stopped beggars belief. I hope that common sense will prevail & a more suitable location will be sourced for HISC in the very near future.

Using the proposed location for this development is penalising 90% of the community that use these fields to build a sporting arena that only a minimal amount of people will use. The loss of the fields for soccer and other team sports as well public leisure activities and access for the high school to use is short sighted and negatively impacting a larger number of people than it will benefit. Flood impacts will increase for surrounding homes due to reducing the run off area available with car parks and cement buildings covering a large area. More suitable locations are available that would better allow traffic and public transport access to all concerned. Council and government should strongly reconsider this location before further funds are wasted on a white elephant.

I strongly object to the development of a new basketball stadium at Blakely oval, adjacent to Lambton Highschool. My grandchildren who attend Lambton highschool use these grounds on a regular basis, during the school week. As there is limited green space on the high school grounds, this area provides additional fields to play various sports and participate in outdoor activities. It is also used as an evacuation area and utilized for a variety of weekend sporting codes and groups. It provides a green space for locals to use for training, fitness, exercise and development programs, after school and work. Taking away this rare green space, for a concrete building for one sport, is unjustified and unfair to all those other sporting codes, people, schools, residents and groups who currently use it. If there had been proper community consultation prior to this development proposal, it would have been very clear, that this is the wrong location for a basketball stadium. Destroying this green space and the associated amenities is detrimental to the residents, school students all all those other community groups and individuals, who use this space on a daily basis.

I object to the project (facility) as per the following:

TRAFFIC: Determining that parking for the facility can be satisfied by parking at nearby residential areas, as per the amended plan, is extremely unacceptable. The area already suffers from the football stadium which in itself should be remediated so that traffic should not have to park in residential areas. If parking/traffic was properly accommodated, then the area should not need traffic management such as streets/roads being blocked off/diverted due to ANY event e.g. Monash Road. In addition, the overflow parking as impacted emergency vehicle access, home driveways and restricting street to one-way traffic - necessitating vehicles to reverse back through streets.

HOURS OF OPERATION: The facility will operate 7 days a week, day and night, posing a huge impact on the local area.

PROPERTY VALUES: The facility will negatively impact local property values.

STORM WATER: The land to which the facility will be built will not be available to absorb rain fall. Instead, the huge roof space will run into local drains that have in the past overflown and flooded local areas.

HERGHT OF THE FACILITY: the height of the facility in the mist of local school and single-story residential housing is not in keeping with the area. Basically, it'll be out of place whereas the facility would be better placed (built) where the existing PCYC facility is currently situated.

GREEN SPACE: The proposed location of the facility will reduce the 'green space' in the area that is currently highly utilized for many sporting, social and school activities on an almost daily basis. This green space has been a drawcard for families to move into the area - an attraction to the area.

Basically, the state/local planning has got this very wrong, and it is evident that a conflict of interest is at play considering other developments in and around the current PCYC, Entertainment Centre and Basketball Stadium (Broadmeadow) which is where any new facilities should be located.

I support the project

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed redevelopment of Blackley Oval into a basketball stadium and associated carpark facilities.

As a committee member of a junior sporting organisation for over 15 years, I have witnessed first-hand the ongoing and increasing demand for sports grounds across New Lambton and Lambton. The current facilities, including Blackley Oval, are already under significant pressure from multiple local clubs and teams. The assertion that "there is plenty of room elsewhere" is simply inaccurate. Most of the nearby grounds are already at capacity, and any attempt to further concentrate use on the remaining fields would lead to significant degradation, especially considering the poor water drainage and wear resistance of those grounds.

The conversion of Blackley Oval into a stadium and carpark would not only displace existing users but severely impact the viability of community sport in the area. These fields are vital for grassroots participation and community connection.

If a new basketball stadium is needed, more appropriate and underutilised areas should be prioritised. The Cardiff and Boolaroo industrial estates offer large, accessible spaces far better suited to such a development. Additionally, the unused field near the intersection of Main Road and Lake Road, behind Glendale Mazda, which formerly served as the Cardiff AFL Club’s home ground, presents a far less disruptive option.

I urge the decision-makers to seriously reconsider this proposal and engage with all sporting stakeholders to find a solution that supports—not undermines—local community sport.

I support the new stadium as a family member of a regular user of the existing stadium and Newcastle Basketball Association. I have viewed the proposed new stadium and see that it will be a great addition to Newcastle sporting facilities as well as local club-based competitions.
The existing stadium is no longer fit for purpose. It is too small, it leaks, and doesn't have enough seating. My family has kids playing at rep level and travel to other towns. Tamworth is a town nearby with great sporting facilities that attract representative-level competitions in many sports. The result is accommodation providers are booked to capacity, hospitality is busy. Having a new stadium in Newcastle will benefit local businesses greatly.
The current stadium roof leaks when it rains. I have been present at the stadium when parents are mopping up wet floors to keep kids safe when participating in games. I also know they have had matches cancelled because of water on the court.
When I visit and watch games they are held in one of various locations. I understand that there are not enough courts at the current stadium to meet demand. A percentage of registration fees go towards court hire at other venues to accommodate the number of players wanting to participate in basketball.
The new stadium will be a facility to be proud of. It is what a city the size of Newcastle should have - accessible, contemporary, to international standards, sustainable and inclusive. I know that my grandson spends all of his extra time at the stadium and is learning to referee and coach as well as play basketball. The new stadium will be safer - with better lighting, bike path access, and safe drop off points. Families will know that their kids are in a safe and positive place. Its proximity to several schools with relatively small school grounds will make it an all-weather option for weekly sports afternoons.

RTS and Amendment Report - SSD 65595459_FINAL, prepared by Urbis on behalf of HISC.
This reply includes short reasons, for agreement, or disagreement, associated with Italics/highlight from the above report in association with the relevant points. I am still against the development of the Regional Basketball Stadium/Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals. I think there are many more areas in the near Lower Hunter that are much more suitable than this selection of Ovals due to:- See attachment

I write in the strongest possible terms to oppose the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre development. As Newcastle resident who daily uses and enjoys the subject site and its surrounds for exercise, recreation, and community connection, I believe this proposal will irreversibly damage the amenity, safety, and environmental integrity of the area.

1. Loss of Valuable Green Space

The land and existing outdoor playing fields identified for development is currently a vital open green space used daily by local residents for casual recreation, organised sports, walking, kite flying, children’s play, and general exercise. This is not a redundant parcel of land: it is a living, breathing community asset. Its removal will permanently deprive the surrounding community of a safe, accessible, and serene environment that is not easily replaced.

2. Environmental Impacts on Native Wildlife

The area supports a wide variety of native bird species in large flocks including (but not limited to) ibis, sulphur-crested cockatoos, short- and long-beaked corellas, rainbow lorikeets, native miner birds, ducks, magpies, owls, as well as reptiles inhabiting the surrounding trees and bushland. These species rely heavily on the grasses and seed-bearing vegetation across the open fields. Destruction of this habitat will not only displace wildlife but will fracture the ecological balance that has made this green space a thriving sanctuary within an increasingly urbanised environment.

3. Traffic, Parking, and Safety Concerns

The surrounding neighbourhood is already severely burdened by unregulated and often illegal event parking associated with McDonald Jones Stadium. Residents currently endure significant loss of safe access to their own streets, obstructed driveways, and dangerous pedestrian conditions. The addition of another major sporting venue—without 'demonstrably' adequate planning for traffic, parking enforcement, and pedestrian management—will escalate these problems to intolerable levels. In essence, what looks good on paper doesn't always reflect reality.

Vehicular congestion, coupled with increased ambient pollution from idling cars, vehicle emissions, and noise, will severely reduce liveability. Crowds exiting late-night events will add to anti-social behaviour, littering, noise pollution, and threats to safe residential passage.

4. Amenity and Property Value Degradation

The tranquil and low-traffic environment currently enjoyed by residents and visitors will be irreparably compromised by:
• Increased stadia noise reverberating across and between built structures;
• Increased traffic and vehicle emissions;
• Bright artificial lighting (including vehicle lights) extending late into the evening;
• Loss of currently accessible, local open green space.

These factors will contribute to declining property values in the immediate vicinity, directly harming residents who have invested in the area because of its unique balance of suburban quiet and community green space.

5. Impact on Children and Youth

The open fields currently offer safe, informal play opportunities for children and teenagers, from organised sport to casual games and kite flying. These activities foster physical health, social cohesion, and unstructured creative play. Replacing this safe, family-friendly environment with a traffic-heavy, noise-intensive built facility strips local children and youth of one of the few remaining safe outdoor spaces within walking distance. Should Newcastle residents be required to submit to over-density and the need to travel just to enjoy outdoor recreation? I question whether the residents of Merewether, Cooks Hill or Bar Beach would tolerate the loss of the Empire Park Oval, outdoor tennis courts and bowling club - a reasonably sized parcel of land.

6. Inadequacy of Regulatory Oversight

Authorities already fail to provide proportional regulation of illegal parking, driver aggression, and egress-crowd impacts associated with McDonald Jones Stadium. It is not credible to suggest that these problems will be better with the addition of another venue that will draw equally, if not more, crowds. It is not credible to suggest that there will be coordination between the two entities to the extent that existing risk will be mitigated or remain unchanged. Without demonstrated ability to enforce basic traffic and parking regulations in the surrounding streets now, residents cannot reasonably be expected to accept assurances that future impacts will be addressed.

⸻

Conclusion

The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre proposal represents an unnecessary and harmful incursion into one of the last remaining community green spaces in this area. It will displace native wildlife, destroy local amenity, exacerbate already unmanageable traffic and parking issues, and erode the safe, quiet, and communal character of the surrounding neighbourhood. Whilst I oppose the Hunter Sports Centre proposed location - surely consideration could be given to a design that could be situated on the unused and large expanses of open space between existing venues at Broadmeadow which is the ideal precinct and has lower residential impact.

For these reasons, I strongly object to the proposal and call on the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to reject it outright in the interests of community wellbeing, environmental sustainability, and responsible urban planning.

This facility is used 7 days a week and is in disrepair. It desperately needs replacing, but not replacing it isn't an option.

The existing stadium will be demolished in under 3 years. The current proposal allows for land to be allocated in a central location that is serviced by public transport and has sufficient space to support the growing demand of indoor sports participants. Newcastle is a major regional area and will be reliant on using school gyms without a new indoor sports centre. School gyms are not always available and not maintained to the level expected for organised sports competitions. Without the new indoor sports centre, thousands of people will be left without a dedicated facility for playing indoor sports and the advantages associated with socialising, health and fitness, and building a prosperous community.

We have waited too long for a facility of this kind in Newcastle.

This is much needed facility. A great location close to public transport. Newcastle is growing rapidly and our facilities need to as well. There are not enough indoor sport spaces. This will accommodate not just basketball but others as well.

I support the stadium as a local resident and a member of the Newcastle Basketball Association. I have viewed the proposed new stadium and see that it will be a great addition to Newcastle sporting facilities, able to host international-standard events as well as local club-based competitions and activities. It will be just as important to the amateur, trying out a new sport, making friends, attending events and activities.
I confirm that the existing stadium is well past its use-by date and no longer fit for purpose. It is too small, leaks, lacks seating and some courts are not to regulation dimensions. Newcastle Basketball Association is unable to host elite events and competitions because it lacks the court space and facilities to the required standard. The flow-on effect of having an international-standard stadium will be financial benefits flowing to accommodation providers, retailers and hospitality businesses. As a family with kids playing at rep level we travel to other towns. Of particular note is Tamworth, which has great sporting facilities that attract representative-level competitions in many codes. The result is accommodation providers are booked to capacity, hospitality is busy - it is great for local business.
As a parent of junior basketballers we often find ourselves mopping floors to keep our kids safe when participating in games during wet weather thanks to the leaky roof. Basketball is supposed to be a year-round sport played without interruption by weather, but we have had matches cancelled because of water on the court.
Because the current stadium lacks the courts to meet demand, we travel each week to other venues (Hunter Sports High and Macquarie College). A significant portion of our registration fees goes towards court hire at other venues to accommodate the number of players wanting to participate in this popular sport. The association has 6,000 members and is turning families away because f the lack of facilities. It is also falling behind in its ability to develop young players thanks to its limited space and sub-standard facilities.
We see that the new stadium will be more accessible and inclusive, with disabled parking, lift access and more. With the right management and marketing it can be positioned as a facility that encourages community and connections, and encourages people to participate in activities that are good for their health. The existing stadium is an important place for young people to gather, play their sport, volunteer, learn to referee or coach. The new stadium is being positioned as a positive place for young people to pursue their sporting interests, contribute and connect. Homework lounges have been included in the design for kids waiting for games to begin. Families will know that their kids are in a safe and positive place. It's proximity to several schools with relatively small school grounds will make it an all-weather option for weekly sports afternoons.
The location is a good one that has been confirmed as the best pick by Newcastle Council. Users will be able to make their way there on foot from Broadmeadow Stadium and several bus routes are nearby.

I support the development of HISC:
- A world class facility that is used weekly by 1000s of players and supporters
- Good for local businesses as Newcastle will be able to host tournaments that attract teams from other regions
- Better support for basketball, volleyball, pickleball and other indoor sports
- This redevelopment is the first step of the NSW Govt’s long-term plans for redeveloping Broadmeadow
- Relocating to the new facility will free up space at the existing site for critically needed social housing
- Other sites for the stadium have been considered but none were suitable
- Concerns about traffic and flooding have been studied and addressed
- New Lambton will remain green, as there are many high quality ovals and green spaces all close by
- Newcastle needs a venue like this in a central location

I’m a junior basketballer and we need more courts to play on. We all round need a better stadium.
We need to leave the current stadium soon, so they can build new houses and basketball needs a new home.

I am following up from my previous submission as the issues still remain the same - I do not see evidence of my issues being addressed so I will say them again with a few extra words

I believe this development in this location will negatively impact our community as a whole and the impacts will go far beyond the people living right next to it.

1. Loss of Green Space: The proposed site is currently a valuable green space that serves as a vital part of our local environment. Its destruction would not only diminish the beauty of our area but also take away a space that residents and families rely on. Green spaces contribute to community health, well-being, and the quality of life for all of us, and once they are lost, they cannot be replaced. * I understand the amended design now removes even more of the green space leaving the community with a small patch at the front called a swale - which is also used for flood storage - so is it a green spot for the community or is it a drainage point?

2. Impact on Local Schools and Students: The proposed development threatens the essential recreational spaces at Lambton High School. These fields are relied upon by over 1,200 students for physical education, outdoor sports, and as safe, open areas for daily breaks. Losing these facilities would not only impact student well-being and safety but also create a ripple effect that reduces the quality of life for the broader community. Schools are foundational to the health of a community, and taking away these spaces would be a disservice to the future of our young people. I am also aware Lambton High School use these ovals as their emergency evacuation mustering space. There is nowhere else the 1200 students and teachers could gather that wouldn’t require them to cross a road. As the school has a special needs unit and an Autism class I worry about the extra stress this would add to these vulnerable students, as well as the whole school population. * The reports detail how the students can go to Arthur Edden oval or Harker oval - this is not true.

3. Traffic and Parking Issues: The surrounding area already faces significant traffic and parking challenges, especially during large events. The reliance on McDonald Jones Stadium parking for this project is problematic, particularly given the current use of the facility for the John Hunter shuttle bus. The increased traffic in our residential streets would further disrupt our peaceful neighborhoods, making it difficult for local families to safely navigate and access their homes. With a bike path located so close to the proposed site it would only be a matter of time before someone would be seriously injured. * The new reports tell people to park in adjacent streets if the car park is full. This is worse than the original plan

4. Lack of consultation: I live 1.3 km from the 3 ovals and I did not receive any information about this development other than what I learnt from joining the Save our Lambton ovals group and the local media. I would have expected there to be some sort of consultation such as an information night, a survey to fill in or some way of letting local residents know about a State significant development being proposed in the local community.

The proposed site is simply not the right fit for such a significant project. I urge you to reconsider this development and to look for alternative locations that would better serve the community—protecting our green spaces, ensuring sufficient infrastructure, and prioritising our children’s access to safe and sustainable learning environments. * My community remain in fear and distress that this could happen. It is not ok to allow such stress for so many people. Another site must be found
Thank you for taking the time to consider my concerns.
Sincerely,
Halina

I object to the proposal based on a variety of factors:
1. Parking and Traffic Movement
• Again, the proposal has no option for traffic entering the location from the North. It requires many vehicles to turn into Young Road, along Womboin Road, down Wallarah Road and then up through Monash Road. It is noted in Appendix O (Traffic Management Plans) that medium impact events will see patrons directed to nearby on-street parking. That parking is Monash Road which is tight and will now have traffic entering the development as well as being an “overflow” carpark. It should also be noted that Young Road is shut on major event days (e.g. McDonald Jones events) so traffic from the north will be forced to come through other residential streets of Griffiths Road (e.g. Orlando Rd, Young Rd)
• 240 sites is not enough now for the existing Broadmeadow location. Parking is already on nearby streets and overflow areas on the site
• Other users (e.g. Newcastle International Hockey Centre) are also impacted by the additional traffic in the precinct

2. Socio Economic Impact (references to Appendix DD – Socio-Economic Impact Assessment)
The Cumulative Impacts (Socia) Section 8 identifies the following:
• Traffic and car parking – No improvement required to accommodate existing traffic
• Extension of Newcastle Inner Coty bypass will lead to significant reduction in Newcastle Road, Croudace Road and Lookout Road
The above roads have negligible impact based on the Inner City Bypass extension being completed. People using that bypass are travelling to areas not near the proposed sight. Turton Road is not an existing thoroughfare for this direction of traffic users
In the first part of the Socio-Economic Impact Mitigation Assessment Section 9 table, it fails to identify residents as a social groups impacted. All other social groups identified in the table have been flagged as ‘positive’ despite local sporting clubs and Lambton High P & C publicly rejecting the proposal.
The Expected and Perceived Social and Economic Impacts Section 10 table has a ‘low’ rating for all significant of impact. How can this be true when there are so many issues with the major concerns (e.g. parking, flooding, resident access, road issues that have consistently been raised with this development. The report is effectively saying it is perfect and it will have little to no impact if we do the things.
3. Green Space Loss
A corridor of green space exists between Lambton Park and Wallarah / Blackley Ovals. The existing Arthur Edden is licenced to a private operator (Lambton Jaffas). With the significant development planned in the Broadmeadow Place strategy, keeping this corridor is important for wildlife, oxygen generation and open spaces for people to congregate and enjoy the outdoors. It is noted that the Broadmeadow Place Strategy proposed a reduction in the ground level of this space to mitigate downstream flooding impacts (which Newcastle Basketball will be one) via higher pooling of excess water. So that green space will flood more regularly and take longer to drain and be useful for recreation
Not all recreational users want to pay to be inside.
4. Lack of resources and time for respondents
For such a significant proposal there is no way a resident like me can go through all the reports and identify anomalies and misconceptions about facts. There has been no funding for us to engage our own consultants or expert witnesses and we are relying on reports that have been shown to be inconsistent and have raised concerns that are not trivial. We have had to rely on the poorly informed ‘drop in sessions’ at Lambton High / Newcastle Basketball initially. The follow up ones in the new submissions are difficult to get detailed answers as there is so much preparation for us to read let along have questions for the authors. 4 weeks is not enough for one person to read all this info.

5. Flood Risks
There was a peer review of the flood report (Appendix K Flooding Peer Review) with the original submission. The reviewed indicates that they have not reviewed any of the flood modelling!!!! Other agencies including Newcastle Council told Newcastle Basketball to review their flood modelling and now with a change in the building footprint and associated design, surely a review of these factors should be done. Also, if you see how much water flows / stays in this precinct now, the flood risks are still abnormally high and cause traffic and environmental chaos in high rainfall weather events.

6. Youth Wellbeing
As a former student of nearby Lambton High School, those ovals were used extensively during the day for both formal classes and recreation time. I have children who will be attending that school who have not been given the opportunity to address the lack of fields for when they arrive there. Having a large open space is appealing to young people (especially neurodivergent children of which I have one) as a clean space. It allows them to self-regulate. Having a noisy stadium with over sensory triggers (bouncing balls, sirens, whistles) and lots of people movement, the children will feel trapped in the smaller school envelope. Plans to move students offsite to nearby areas eats into their class time (and I’m sure won’t be allowed in recreation time). It also adds additional anxiety to them to walk offsite in an unfamiliar environment.