Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

I grew up playing basketball at the Broadmeadow Stadium and thought of it as a second home but sadly the old girl is no longer fit for purpose. With competition numbers growing and basketball booming Newcastle needs a new stadium to support the growth of basketball and other sports.

I worry the proposed development will have a negative impact on our local community. The current sporting clubs using the space, the schools, and all of our neighbours will have nowhere to gather.
Busying the streets more than they already are. The roads are narrow, and heavier traffic will limit access for essential services.
The negative impact the proposed development will have on the flooding we already experience.

As both a coach and a player at newcastle basketball theres nothing I could want more than for this project to be seen through. The HISC would provide me and the future generations of players with so many more opportunities to be connected to such an amazing sport full of great coaches and administrators within the Newcastle Basketball association.

I strongly support This project and believe it is the only way to move forward to allow this amazing sporting community to thrive. My family have long been involved in basketball and both my husband and myself played at the current decrepit stadium. My daughters have played through their youth and have represented Newcastle on many occasions. Visiting other towns is a huge eye-opener to seeing what facilities other regions have. In return, when teams visit here it is embarrassing when the roof still leaks and the seating is basically non existent.
Please please allow this development to finally deliver something we can be proud of. Thank you

As a local resident, I object to this project for the following reasons:
- traffic congestion
- increase of noise and unruly behaviour from the youth attending the stadium
- it’s a green space and the community use this for outdoor benefit including personal exercise
- arterial roads and local roads are not built to sustain the levels of traffic on a daily basis

I am in full support if this project for our community,so many people have so much to gain from it
Strongly encourage those involved to back it 100%

This project is definitely needed

I object to the proposed site of a new basketball stadium. There are many other sites in the Newcastle area suitable for a new stadium without causing the loss of playing fields for numerous soccer, cricket and football teams that currently use
the oval.not to mention students of Lambton High School. Parking will be horrendous for the local residents. It’s bad enough when games are on at McDonald Jones Stadium. The old Newcastle gas works is a much better choice for the new stadium & parking.

I am writing to you to voice my support for the proposed new basketball stadium to be built in Lambton.

This facility is critical to meeting the needs of existing and future indoor sport members and the broader community. The project has enormous health and well-being benefits for Newcastle and the region. Just like the re-development of Mc Donald Jones Stadium and the International hockey Centre, the opportunity is here to achieve a great outcome for the community, allowing us to host fantastic events that will provide jobs and revenue for the city.

Newcastle Basketball has provided a detailed FAQ to show why we should support this fantastic new venue. Please see some highlights below.

Our existing facility is already home to Hunter Volleyball and Hunter Pickleball, and we regularly host events that are not related to Basketball. The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre will suit many additional sporting groups, some of which currently have nowhere to play. These include Netball, Futsal, Badminton and Cheerleading, just to name a few.

Although we do have the Newcastle Falcons Wheelchair team, the ability of our current facility to cater for events aimed at people with a disability are limited. Being an inclusive community is something that City of Newcastle prides itself on.
The proposal still includes approximately 6,000m² of open green space to the West of the main buildings. This means the best of both worlds, open green space that can be used in some weather conditions, and an indoor facility that can be used in all weather conditions.

One of the reasons Wallarah/Blackley Ovals are considered of low value as sporting venues is, they are prone to flood inundation. The proposed design will actually more effectively manage flooding better than the current situation on the site. This will ensure that the area can be used in all conditions, year round, not just when it is good weather.

Onsite parking at the HISC will be more than adequate for day-to-day uses. To accommodate larger events, Newcastle Basketball is working with Venues NSW to develop a co-use arrangement for the carpark at McDonald Jones Stadium, which is largely unused outside of sporting matches and larger event days.

Once Stage Two is completed, we will be able to host higher level tournaments in our show court facility. To provide an idea of how “large” these events would be, the show court can accommodate 2,400 spectators, compared to the 33,000 who can attend a Knights game at McDonald Jones Stadium. We will also host regional state tournaments which are typically staged over weekend. Again, these will be coordinated to avoid other major events in the area.

If this proposal is not supported there is a very real chance that the Newcastle Basketball association will fold as there is no back up plan. This will leave the 10,000 sporting participants that currently use the Broadmeadow venue with no place to play. We are constantly being advised by medical professionals that sport in children is vital. It encourages teamwork, creates lifelong friendships and not to mention the health benefits.

I have grown up and lived in Newcastle my whole life and I am well aware that opportunities for facilities like this do not come around often, whilst I understand that a small section of the community is concerned about the removal of green space, we need to weigh up the loss of that space v the new facility. The new facility will allow for year round use, in all weather conditions, for multiple sprots, something that the current green space is not able to do. There are also multiple green spaces available for public recreation and sports within a very short distance to this park. If we need to loose green space to allow for a facility such as this, then this is the one to loose.

Our region is desperately in need of a facility of this nature. I am imploring you to show your support for this amazing new venue that will support our community for years to come.

Thank you
Andrew Jiear.

I am fiercely opposed to this proposed development - as a resident of New Lambton, we use that park for recreational purposes with our children as does a lot of the local community. Our children will attend Lambton Public School and we are appalled that they won’t have an oval to play sport on. This goes against all healthy living standards.
The parking situation is already a huge issue and on major events at Macdonald Jones stadium, parking is overcrowded and traffic is congested. Having this development with exacerbate parking and traffic issues.
Taking away green space from our community is appalling and we are so opposed to this development.
There are so many other more suitable sites across the Hunter region, which can house this development where parking and traffic is not an issue and where green space is not taken away from our children and community. Please reconsider, this is shameful.

To whom it may concern,

I am writing in opposition to the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre development at Wallarah and Blackley ovals.

The importance of protecting green spaces in our community cannot be understated, for many and varied reasons.
- The identified location is an area known to flood. Maintaining green spaces in these areas is vital to our city’s flood management plan, including the ability to withstand flood events, and recover from the destruction caused by flood waters, into the future (in the context of likely increasing flood events due to climate change)
- The identified ovals are frequently and regularly used by the neighbouring school community, as well as many various local sports clubs, of different codes, and for recreation by many local community members. These community groups and individuals will be unfairly displaced by this development. This will lead to significant occupational deprivation (ie the cessation of sport, recreation and leisure activities) for various groups and individuals within our community, leading to further detrimental physical and mental health impacts, including the loss of community connection on their local outdoor natural environments.
-The health benefits of accessing natural environments, especially in urban areas, is proven. Mental health and physical health are significantly improved by spending time connecting to outdoors, especially in green areas that are large enough to gather with groups of others (such as these ovals). More and more development occurring in our city, upon pockets of green, natural environment, diminishes access to this by connection with natural environments for many in our community.
- Loss of trees and tree canopies, and the substantial benefits that they bring, especially as development increases at an unprecedented rate in this city (without adequate re-planting initiatives to replace what has been removed).
- Loss of habitat to animals and wildlife.
- Increased congestion at an already congested location with inadequate infrastructure (roads, car parks) to handle the an immense increase in traffic that will occur when existing, neighbouring sporting facilities are hosting events at the same time.

This is not an extensive list. Please review all entries before making a decision about proceeding with this development, on behalf of our community.

This document responds to the SSD 65595459 in relation to the Environmental Impact Statement for the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre to be located on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals, Turton Road, New Lambton.

I strongly object to this proposal for the following reasons:

· Major Loss of Green Space
· Loss of a playing area for sports clubs, residents ,1200 school students of Lambton high as well as other schools.
· Excessive traffic movements in Turton, Young, Wallarah, Monash Roads
· Excessive noise emanating from the HISC
· Excessive noise outside the HISC with pedestrian movement and transportation vehicles for passengers as well as commercial vehicles.
· Inadequate parking onsite as well as surrounding streets.
· Lighting 24/7
· Operational hours are outside the NSW Government regulations
· Permanent interruption for the students of Lambton High not only in construction phase but also when operational
· Flooding impact greatly intensified
· Loss of trees and native species
Parking is a major concern for this HISC project. When McDonald Jones hosts NRL, Soccer, Concerts or other major events the surrounding streets are heavily congested. The adjacent Hockey Association also needs to be taken into consideration. Adding another venue with grossly inadequate parking will deeply impact not only on local residents, but patrons and players as well.
Regards
Richelle Armstrong

1) The ‘Economic Impacts’ in the EIS are scant and overstate the benefits.
According to the EIS, “The operation of the HISC will generate 91 operational jobs (including 52 direct jobs).” That's not a typo - just 91 jobs.
The EIS states the “Estimated Development Cost Above $30 million (excluding GST).”
Therefore $30 m (ex. GST) divided by 91 = $330, 000 per job. Expensive jobs.
Other estimates put the final figure at $91 m. That’s $1 million per job. Even more expensive jobs.
The Draft Broadmeadow Place Strategy “provides a framework to enable up to 15, 000 jobs” over 30 years.
That’s 15,000 less 91 for the HISC = 14,909 to go.
At $1 m per job – it will cost $14,909,000,000 at this rate.
https://newy.com.au/2024/10/15/hunter-indoor-sports-centre-now-open-for-public-exhibition/

2) Visitors estimates in the EIS are exaggerated.
The EIS states that on completion the annual number of visits - “regular training, local competitions” - will be 1,403,000 million.
Events related visits will be an additional 55,000 a year.
“Visitors to special events at the HISC (estimated to be per 35,000 per annum).” (Page 90 of the EIS.)
Total annual visits to the HISC on completion: 1,493,000.
By comparison, in 2013 – over 10 years ago – the former Olympic Stadium in Homebush, Accor Stadium, recorded an annual attendance figure of 1.634 million.
Granted, this is not a like-for-like comparison, but it gives some scale to the estimates of visits to the HISC. The estimates seem exaggerated.
https://accorstadium.com.au/sydneys-anz-stadium-on-track-to-break-highest-annual-event-attendance-since-the-2000-olympics/

3) Where money should be spent
It is a repeated claim in the EIS that the HISC “will facilitate physical activity. Increased sporting participation has the potential for improved physical and mental health outcomes within the community and therefore contribute to increased economic productivity.”
It further states, “The venue utilisation forecasts show the HISC will support a substantial increase in physical activity (with over 375,000 active participants per annum).”
But we already have facilities that achieve these aims – the five public pools in Newcastle.
“City of Newcastle's pools experienced their busiest season in almost 30 years during 2023/24, attracting around 450,000 visitors.” (Newcastle Herald – 20 Aug 2024.)
The pools are in desperate need of repair and replacement.
Why isn’t money being spent by State and Federal governments on these facilities?

The Newcastle basketball stadium has needed to be upgraded for over 20 years. An indoor sports complex is essential for the community. It provides for sports including basketball, netball, volleyball, futsal, badminton and more; it enables people to stay active in any weather condition; provides the potential for a professional basketball team in the region; and it provides a facility for the disabled community to utilise and play sports such as wheelchair basketball and rugby. After years of discussion on a place to build the new stadium, discussion which is often fuelled with critics finding reasons to knock back the location, there is finally a concrete plan on where it can be built, how it will be built and what the end result will look like. It’s to stop delaying the building of the stadium and finally provide the community with a modern and appropriate multi purpose indoor stadium.

I object to the construction of a basketball stadium on Blackley and Wallarah ovals.
1. Loss of Public Green Space.
The ovals are used by a number of sporting clubs including my sons' cricket and soccer clubs, namely Waterboard Cricket Club, University Soccer Club and Mayfield Cricket Club. Waterboard Cricket Club uses Blackley Oval as their home ground in my sons' grade. We need to preserve these green spaces in the Newcastle area. I would like to think that my young grandchildren will be able to play soccer and cricket on the same fields where they currently watch their fathers from the sidelines. Not only will teams lose their home ground but once lost, these sporting fields and public green spaces will not be able to be replaced in our area. Lambton High School also use these fields and I believe utilise them currently as an emergency evacuation area.
2. Impact of Run off and Flooding to the surrounding area.
The area around Turton Road and the Lambton Ovals is known to be subject to flooding during heavy rain events. The storm water drains in the adjacent area fill very quickly and become very dangerous during such times. In 2007 a 45 year old man was swept into a nearby storm water drain on Griffiths Road and drowned during what is known as the Pasha Bulker Storm. The construction of a large basketball stadium on what is currently green open space, is likely to create more run off and increase the impact of flood waters to the surrounding area.
3. Impact to Traffic Flow
The area already becomes choked with traffic, particularly during sporting and non-sporting events. A large basketball Stadium operating from 6am to 11 pm will only add to this.
Catherine Nolan

The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre project has been asked to explore other options. The Wallarah Oval and Blakeley Oval is a very poor choice.
My wife and I recommend the old Cardiff AFL ground at the corner of Main Road and Lake Road. It is neighbouring Crossroads Subaru. This location is made for this project.
It is already in a sports precinct. It is near Glendale Shopping Centre and near the Hunter Sports Centre.
This ground is not in use. It is fenced off and and is covered in 2m high weeds. Nothing has happened with this oval for around 20 years. Is there a plausible explanation for this?
This ground would accommodate a main stadium, and any number of minor courts.
Parking is unlimited.
Regards..................Alan and Jane White phone 0411 268080

I strongly support the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre to go ahead and provide the Newcastle area with an updated modern sporting facility. The current basketball stadium has provided a venue for myself and my siblings to play ball as children, and now for my three children to play and learn to officiate basketball.

This deteriorated state of the current stadium has effected my children and their teams over the past 3 years or so. Games are cancelled, entire afternoon/evening schedules are cancelled due to flooding INSIDE the stadium. As a referee this has impacted my daughters work schedule and resulted in reduced pay. She has helped out on a number of occasions to sweep/mop inches of water out of the stadium, which leaked through the roof.
It is quite preposterous to realise that such a large regional city as Newcastle has a degraded, un-airconditioned old facility which has hosted National sporting events. Such as the Men's Deaf 3x3 Hustle.

I have the following major concerns about the impact of this development in its proposed location:

1) First and foremost I am concerned about the urban green space that will be lost if this development goes ahead.
Has the location planning of this facility taken into account its impact on the wider community once this green space is lost forever?By the wider community I mean the local and Newcastle residents, the local high school and the many people that pass through this area every day by car, by bike and on foot. What impact is replacing open green fields with buildings and concrete going to have on the mental and physical health and wellbeing of the people of Newcastle? Has research been conducted to establish the risk of replacing green space with built space on the wider community? Has consideration been given to the impact of green space on student learning given the significant impact this development would have on the physical learning environment of students at Lambton High School.

2) Traffic implications of the development in this location.
From what I can make out the entry and exit to this facility will be from Turton Road in one direction only. Traffic entering the facility will need to enter and exit the carpark in a westerly direction (towards Waratah) . Anyone travelling to the facility is most likely take the most convenient route that will enable easy entry and exit in the direction of their choice. If it is easier to park on local streets that is what will happen. I don't believe a thorough assessment of the traffic implications of this development has been carried out, particularly in relation to the likely behaviours of people accessing the facility given the location, not just the parking availability.

3) Is this really the best location for a facility of this kind to provide the greatest benefit to the community?
Has there been an analysis of the population demographics that would most likely use and benefit from a major indoor sports centre? Given the growth of areas such as South-West Lake Macquarie and Maitland and its surrounding areas, would a facility like this be better located in one of these areas?

4) Increased flood risk to surrounding residential areas.
Given the history of flooding in this area in 2007 how can it be guaranteed that replacing open fields with buildings and concrete would not increase the risk of flooding in the local area in the future.

Dear Planning Department,

On review of the available submission for the HISC, I find I must object to the project location. I do-not believe the below has been adequately addressed:
- The existing multi-use park amenity being lost to a primarily single use facility does not balance the needs of the community.
- The known funding currently available appears to be grossly inadequate to provide a facility that will actually exceed the existing facility in Broadmeadow. If stage 1 is completed (i.e. doesn’t run out of funding), there will be eight courts, where as the existing facility has 6 courts. A slight change to stage 1 plans based on the actual construction cost during the build could easily see the new facility only have 4 or 6 courts built and no foreseeable timeline to when the remaining would be built, leaving a half-baked ‘elephant in the park’.
- The available funding will not cover the 1st phase and the facility will be inadequate without the 2nd stage being completed.
- With population density due to increase within the surrounding area, the School student population will continue to grow. Due to this population expansion, it is highly likely Lambton High school will need to expand to cater for the increase in students, it is highly likely the school will require some of this adjacent land in the short to medium term to allow for School expansion. There is currently no space or plans for any additional new schools in the area, so the existing Schools will need to cope with increased student numbers. I feel maintaining this option for the school whilst also maintaining the existing multi-use park and sports fields is critical for the Lambton and surrounding area.
- The School already utilises the existing park and sports fields for many activities critical to students as there is not enough space inside the School grounds.
- Referring to Figure 2-4 of Appendix P - Traffic Impact assessment, the proposed site is shown outside of the Broadmeadow Regionally Significant Growth Area and also outside the ‘Hunter Park Precinct, a proposed “entertainment, sporting and lifestyle precinct”’. This facility should be located within the bounds of this area, not outside it (be it adjacent or not).
- Based on the shaded area of the Growth Area mentioned above, there is many un-utilised areas that could potentially be used that have yet to be explored.
Once again, I am objecting to the project proceeding as is.

Kind Regards

The proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre is a key facility for this region. I barely need to mention the degree of need for a Basketball facility in our city but it affects our family personally as both of our sons, aged 11 and 13 are dedicated basketball players and we support them strongly in their sporting pursuits. When they were younger and playing soccer we would go to games all over Newcastle and the region for their games and there were soccer fields and facilities in nearly every suburb. Since changing to basketball we have noticed the difference in amenities and it is staggering, if not shameful. The Newcastle stadium is an old aircraft hanger. It is decrepit. It is not suitable for the task and can not be renovated to meet the needs of kids and young sports people in Newcastle. We have seen children injured because water drips through the ceiling when it rains and games cancelled when the temperature inside reaches 36 degrees and above. Every season hundreds of kids are denied the opportunity to even play basketball as we all have to submit our kids applications and wait for the announcement to see if they got in a team. One of our boys missed out on a team one season while the other one got in. That's pretty painful for kids with this much passion for the game. The staff at Newcastle Basketball are amazing their efforts to squeeze kids in and interest in the game is huge in Newcastle but many miss out. We have travelled for competitions to Maitland, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Katoomba and Central Coast and all of them have up-to-date modern facilities. The contrast with Newcastle (NSW's second lasrgest city) is extraordinary. To summarise, Newcastle needs a new basketball stadium and it is long overdue. The second issue here is about its location. We have watched with hope for the last three years of our involvement in the sport as newspapers report all the government statements, investigations, proposals and plans being reported and after much patience, to see a site selected opposite the MacDonald Jones Stadium. I am not qualified to state whether it is the best location and clearly some advocates in the current community debate claim that it is not, but given the effort that has been put into this project so far and the urgency with which it is needed, it is staggering to see that some key stakeholders such as the new mayor of Newcastle object to it. From following the discourse over these years it looks like a GOOD proposal and one that can be actioned and can lead to a real stadium to serve the interests of the people soon and something we can be proud of. To argue that we should wait until a PERFECT proposal can be located and developed has the effect of pushing this stadium into a future that our children will miss. I urge all parties to consider the needs of the children, families and young sportspeople of Newcastle and support this proposal and contribute every effort to see that it is realised quickly.