Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

Hi Major Projects Team.

I object to the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre development at Wallarah and Blackley Ovals, New Lambton, on the grounds that the site is unsuitable for a major sporting and entertainment precinct due to inadequate infrastructure, significant community disruption, and environmental risks.

Key Grounds for Objection
1. Inadequate Infrastructure and Traffic Concerns
The proposed development will attract thousands of visitors for major events, yet the surrounding road network—particularly Turton Road—is already congested. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) acknowledges traffic concerns but offers limited mitigation . The proposed Green Travel Plan is insufficient to offset the expected increase in vehicle traffic, which will strain local roads and parking availability. The latest proposal is now taking up the entire park area.

2. Flood Risk and Environmental Impact
The site is located in a known flood zone. Residents have long reported inadequate stormwater drainage . While the EIS proposes on-site flood storage and bollards, these measures do not address the broader infrastructure limitations. The risk of increased flooding due to hard-surface expansion is a serious concern for nearby residents, especially those who experienced flooding during the 2007 Pasha Bulker storm. I believe this proposal is not within the 1 in 1,000,000 year insurance risk and will affect the local residents insurance further.

3. Loss of Community Green Space
Wallarah and Blackley Ovals are vital community assets used by local sports clubs, Lambton High School, and residents for recreation and education . The development would displace existing users, including Lambton Jaffas Juniors and the Newcastle District Cricket Association. Lambton High School relies on the ovals for physical education and emergency assembly, and their loss would negatively impact over 1,200 students. I have personally used this park with my kids and relatives and chosen these particular parks as the other parks to the west are not as suited for open play soccer and frezbe.

4. Insufficient Community Consultation
Many residents, including those living adjacent to the site, report receiving no formal notification or invitation to consultation sessions . The consultation process appears to have disproportionately engaged Newcastle Basketball members, sidelining broader community voices. This undermines the transparency and inclusiveness expected of a State Significant Development. I believe this was fast tracked without proper consultation or consideration to a suited area by a Mayor interested only in procuring a venue in their LGA quickly so as not to loose to another LGA and to push another development they had direct involvement in.

5. Noise, Light, and Residential Amenity
The proposed operating hours (6am–11pm, seven days a week) will result in significant noise and light pollution for nearby residents. The proximity of the carpark and driveway to residential units raises serious concerns about sleep disruption, safety, and property devaluation . This is against councils own regulations on noise and again unjustly affect the local residents.

6. Alternative Sites Not Adequately Considered
Several alternative locations, such as the former Shortland tip or the Broadmeadow showground, were dismissed without sufficient public explanation. The current site selection appears driven more by expediency than suitability .
This whole project needs to go back to be reconsidered for a more suitable location, not due to a rash decision by a Mayor not wanting to lose to another LGA

Conclusion
While I support the need for improved indoor sports infrastructure in the Hunter region, this proposal is fundamentally flawed due to its location. The development poses unacceptable risks to local infrastructure, community wellbeing, and environmental sustainability. I urge the Department to reject the current proposal and explore more appropriate sites that balance sporting needs with community preservation.

Highly supporting this project

This stadium is essential for the well being of the community

I have attached my objection information.

I’m a meme et of the stadium and being here for so long mad brought so many people here to play so it’s kind of small to fit everyone so I think being another stadium would be a great help to help everyone be able to play

I am strongly opposed to the concreting of Wallarah and Blackley Ovals.

I am eleven years old and I go to New Lambton Public School. I play football for a local club and I also play with my friends throughout the year, both at school and in my free time. I also play in my school rep team in league and touch.

There is no green space at our school so we can only play touch on the concrete. I have been really looking forward to going to Lambton High School. I live in Womboin Rd, just near the ovals and I’m over there all the time, kicking the ball around and playing with my mates.

During school, the high school kids are always using the ovals. It’s a great space for them to play, exercise and just get in a good head space. Being outside is so important to me and I think to most kids. Many don’t have back yards, or big back yards, or green ovals near their homes that they can play on. When council builds playgrounds they don’t build anything for us older kids except for a skate ramp here and there. Many of us are in team sports and want to run and play. And if the playing fields are too far from home we can’t go there on our own.

When my mum told me that the ovals might be concreted and built on I got really upset and said she had to find another high school for me to go to. I don’t want to go to Lambton High if there is no green play space for me to run out onto with my friends. But the school is only one block away from our house.

There are about 1,200 kids at Lambton High. Where are they supposed to play and get their time out? We keep being lectured from teachers and parents about reducing our screen time and getting outside to play. What a joke if the government then concretes these sports fields which are all that Lambton High has. And how long will it take to build the basketball complex and all the concreting? They’ll be doing that right next to the school EVERY SCHOOL DAY.

My older brother plays basketball all year round and he’s in Newcastle Basketball. Even he doesn’t want the stadium build next to Lambton High, even though it would be so close to our house. On the news they’re always talking about increasing the population by 30 or 40,000 right next to our suburb. Well there’s going to be a heap of kids from there wanting to play in open green space and lots of them will have to go to Lambton High school. It makes no sense to take away those 3 ovals forever.

Adults get to make all the decisions but we kids don’t get to have a say. It’s our suburb. They’re our playing fields and they’re always getting used. During the day the High School kids are on them all the time. On afternoons and weekends they’re used all year round and no one can get a park anywhere near our place because there are hundreds of cars parked all around the area.

Please don’t approve the application to concrete and build on the ovals next to Lambton High. We won’t enjoy our high school free time. We won’t be able to play on those ovals out of school hours. I’ll have to listen to construction noise EVERY day at school for ages, probably years. Let us kids have a voice. We deserve to have a say in what we want and what we need. It’s our home. It’s our suburb. And once those ovals are gone we won’t ever get any new ones nearby to replace them.

Newcastle needs a new basketball stadium! Our current one is old and falling down and leaking when it rains making it dangerous to play. There are thousands of kids and adults that play every week and sill have hundreds miss out because of lack of facilities. This will be a great investment in the kids future. I travel to Victoria and see all their new stadiums and indoor sports centres in every second suburb. NSW is so far behind Victoria in this vital infrastructure. Please fund this build in full so our kids can have a future in sports.

Without this project, Newcastle will have no suitable venue for basketball from 2028 when the current facility will be demolished for residential. Even the current Broadmeadow stadium is run down and unsuitable for Waratah league, Newcastle is already a poor location for basketball but our players are national level. Newcastle needs this.

This needs to go ahead for the thousands of kids who play basketball in the Hunter Region. Newcastle Basketball not be without a stadium and the Government owes it to them.

I fully support this development submission.

As a Newcastle representative basketball coach, I strongly support the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre development. The current stadium is outdated and struggles to meet the needs of our growing community. Too often, children and families miss out on opportunities simply because there aren’t enough courts or the weather prevents play. Furthermore there is significant urgency given that the existing stadium will soon be demolished.

The new HISC will change this. With modern facilities and increased capacity, it will allow more young people to stay active, engaged, and connected through sport. Importantly, it won’t just serve basketball — it will provide space for futsal, pickleball, volleyball, netball, tennis, and more, making it a genuine community hub.

This project will deliver wide benefits: healthier lifestyles, youth engagement, talent pathways, inclusion, and stronger social connections across Newcastle and the Hunter. It is an investment in both our children and the future of our city.

I urge you to support this development wholeheartedly.

We have been involved in basketball in Newcastle for many years- where would all the players go? Maitland? Take all the local revenue away from the area not to mention the social and community network basketball provides.

Very much needed & overdue!!

Newcastle Basketball is a cornerstone of community building in the region, playing a pivotal role in fostering a vibrant and inclusive environment. It is particularly noteworthy for its unwavering support and promotion of underrepresented women’s teams, which not only compete but excel in NSW and National competitions, bringing pride and recognition to Newcastle.

Despite these achievements, the current state of the facilities is a significant barrier to the organization’s potential. The inadequate infrastructure prevents Newcastle Basketball from hosting any of the competitions in which its teams consistently outperform others. This is the only stadium that must close during heavy rain due to safety concerns, forcing teams to play “away” in every competition.

The consequences of maintaining these substandard facilities are dire. There is a risk of losing teams, diminishing the ability to compete, and eroding the strong community of over 6000 members. Furthermore, Newcastle’s reputation could suffer, which is unacceptable. It is imperative to provide facilities that allow youth sport programs to thrive, ensuring that Newcastle Basketball can continue to build community and support underrepresented women’s teams effectively.

The new stadium will have a very positive impact on basketball and bringing people to Newcastle who will spend money within our community.
The stadium caters for so many demographics and lga areas (Lake Mac, Port Stephens, Maitland, Central Coast) the stadium is functional in all weather conditions and is only taking up one park space unlike others sports that need many and in poor weather these parks cannot be utilised. Parking spaces at the sporting facilities across the road is favourable option.
I support all aspects of this submission

this project must idgaf abour the soccer people there is more parks then basketball stadiums

I am writing to formally request consideration for the development of a new stadium within our community. At present, our existing facilities are outdated, undersized, and unable to meet the needs of players, supporters, and the wider public. A modern stadium would not only support local sport but also serve as a multipurpose venue for community events, entertainment, and regional competitions.

Newcastle basketball stadium is very out dated and the area is in desperate need of a new updated stadium to support all future basketball players. It would be amazing to see Newcastle host a WNBL game

Our facilities need to be updated it is an embarrassment the current state and the leaks in the stadium

Build it.