Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

Hello and thank you for your time.
The site location for this proposed stadium is absolutely inappropriate. I will list my many issues below.
Parking/Traffic
The area in question is already a somewhat busy urban area, with normal fluctuations in activity, but local residents find there to be a reasonable balance between a peaceful state and congestion. The proposal includes a vastly inferior amount of on-site parking but instead relies heavily on the street parking within the surrounding residential blocks. Given the participant numbers the basketball association expects and the operating hours of 7 days a week well into the evening this means the traffic and parking congestion affecting hundreds of local residents will be all day, every day. Every day. Many of these streets are narrow and not at all conducive to constant parking and shuffling around. Not to mention the safety of children and families. I realise it is legal for anyone to park on these streets but the actual reality of this constant impact on local people will be highly stressful and without a break from it. When there is an event on at the McDonald Jones stadium the streets are well and truly parked up full for many blocks but we residents are accustomed to these events and they are only every few weeks. The days of events at McDonald Jones will be extra intense with basketball participants also fighting for parking. It's hard to fathom. With basketball participants also parking in the MJ stadium parking that means the pedestrian crossing which operates with a stop light will be active much of every day. This crossing has a long red light time which makes sense and is fine for the few times it's used during the day but with a huge increase of people needing this crossing the slowing/back up of traffic on busy Turton Road will be very impactful on the flow of traffic all throughout the day. Currently there is a nice healthy balance with daily parking in our local streets. During the day there is enough parking for the high school students and teachers adjacent to the school but this balance will be lost if this proposal is approved. Students and teachers will not only lose their precious green space but they also lose their convenient parking. And residents who do not have off-street parking (there are many) will also lose. Again, I realise it is not reserved parking but we must consider the huge impact on us tax paying residents.
Green Space
The idea of using long-established utilised green space within a residential area is hard to fathom. This proposal looks to convert a space used by many different community groups, the high school, and local residents, into a space used by just one community group. It's important to maintain healthy outdoor space in urban areas especially during a period of growth like we are experiencing now. To suggest using this precious space and then possibly creating a token green space somewhere else is not reasonable. This space is within walking distance to a huge portion of our suburb.
Flood Risk
The proposed Flood Risk Assessment is very vague as to the actual affect to flood risk to the surrounding areas. It focusses on the risk and impact etc to the actual stadium site. During a heavy rain the drain fills up very quickly. Any local resident will attest to that. Currently the drain system can handle a large amount of rain but ONLY if the City of Newcastle has maintained the drain and kept it free from clogging. During a heavy rain event in 2018 we did experience a flood which affected many properties and the City actually accepted liability as they had not maintained the proper flow of the drain. That flood event has directly resulted in our properties being classed as in a HIGH Risk Flood Zone and some insurance companies will simply not offer us home insurance in any form or if we wanted to add flood insurance it is exorbinantly expensive and not an option. So most people here cannot insure our homes for flood. If the proposed stadium is built there and during the next heavy rain event the huge volume of water coming off the large building and huge expanse of concrete all in a very condensed amount of time into the drain we will experience flooding. We already live with this threat but in a much more unlikely level.

The proposed site is close to the proposed Hunter Sports Precinct but it is NOT in the Precinct. It is absolutely jammed into a peaceful residential area. The proposed area in the Proposal is quoted in many spots as 7.8ha but in reality this site is 3.3ha. Have all reports and assessments been done using this incorrect area measurement?
The need for a new basketball stadium is not in question. It is needed. But this proposed site should never have been suggested and it should never have been allowed to get to this point. It is an extremely inappropriate site.

I understand the need for a new Basketball Stadium and the frustrations for basketball users who need a new stadium due to the decline of the current venue.

However, I strongly object to the use of open green park land to build this new stadium. This area is used by many thousands of people - of all ages and fitness levels. From sporting groups (cricket, soccer etc) to families pushing strollers, walking dogs, walking for exercise, jogging and running for fitness, time spent in relaxation and down time. And it is free! Accessible for all no matter your financial situation. There are many in our community who can’t afford to join a gym, or play community sport for example due to affordability.

I have lived in the area for 12 years and we have used this park in a myriad of ways over this time. When my children were young that’s where we went to run around, kick the ball, and play together - to get out of the house and away from computers, laptops, television and phones. As young adults they, as do my husband and I, continue to walk for relaxation and we exercise there as do so many, many other people in what is a haven in this area. As I write this my 21 year old son just walked in the door from his usual exercise catch up at the park with several friends where they did a series of exercise and running drills. Those in planning may not ‘see’ this use - but it is happening and people rely on and need this space.

The bird life there and in the wider corridor is wonderful and this construction will negatively impact through displacement of bird habitats too.

The Hunter Stadium and Hockey Stadium already cause parking issues for the residents in this area. Personally I accept this in support of the wider community knowing that it occurs less frequently than if there was large scale attendance every day, night and weekend as predicted to result from the stadium.

My family and I do not accept taking away free green space available to all and used by thousands individually and via other community sports and replacing it with this stadium used by a segment of the community who wish to play basketball.

The loss of valuable community open green space is a serious concern to the ongoing health and welfare of our entire community and I believe it will set a concerning precedent if it goes ahead.

See attached for objection statement and relevant support documents.

Please see attached objection statement (Sze Ching CHANG Submission Objection RE: SSD-65595459) and relevant appendices.

Attaching a letter of support for this submission

I strongly object to this project going ahead at this location due to the following reasons:
1. Increased traffic flow through the local area:
The increased traffic flow demonstrated when the Rugby League and Soccer games are on, or during a concert at the Stadium across the road from the site will be present all times the Sports Centre is open for games. This is inappropriate for such a residential area and is dangerous to pedestrians as drivers are constantly looking for somewhere to park.
2. Lack of appropriate parking for those using the centre.
As mentioned above, parking is at a premium during sporting games and concerts at the stadium with guests resorting to parking on corners and across driveways. There is often nowhere for residents to park and they have to plan ahead and make sure their car has a park before the crowds appear. How will they do this when the parking is always like this? Having cars parked on corners is dangerous to other drivers and pedestrians and there have been instances where people have parked on other green space and ripped up the grass when leaving.
3. Irreplaceable loss of green space at the site of the project:
One of the reasons I chose to live in Lambton is because of all the green space and open air. It's a suburban area, not urban so it should stay that way. I regularly use those ovals to walk my dogs and run along the track.
4. Loss of sports and recreational facilities for Lambton High
I attended Lambton High, along with my sister and her children. My own children have attended and are still at Lambton High. I would like them to have the opportunity to use these fields as I did and to use them for sports and recreation during and after school.
5. Loss of natural light for Lambton High students and residents of flats which site next to the ovals:
Lambton High is a good school but like most secondary schools, is a bit of a concrete jungle. The students need this green space out the back for a respite from that and for the natural light, not to feel closed in. The applies to the people who live in the flat behind the proposed site. They already have to deal with living in a small area, now they will have any view they had blocked and with it, the natural light into their home.
6. Increased noise for school students and local residents to endure during construction and when the Centre is in use.
Local residents will have to deal with loud construction noise and after that, the constant noise emanating from the stadium. This also applies to the students and teachers at Lambton high, who are trying to teach, learn and sit for important exams.
I am writing this submission as it is important that Planning NSW listens to local residents who in the most part object to the intended location of this project.
Thank you.
Elizabeth Bray
Lambton local resident

I strongly object to using green space for this type of project. We need to preserve what little green space remains in urban areas. The State Governments plan for this site is nonsensical, given there are a range of other options which don't risk the importance of our parks.

I fully support this project. Currently there isn't enough space available for kids to play indoor sports, specifically basketball. Kids that want to play often can't and have to be turned away as there aren't enough courts. It's my opinion that any child that wants to play sport should be able and encouraged to. The government needs to provide adequate facilities to accommodate this.

I am 100% supporting the new Newcastle basketball facility. A facility like this services 1000’s of community members. This facility can be used in all weather conditions and attracts outside communities which in turn brings new money into our community. This facility is a very much needed in a rapidly growing sport.

Dear Major Projects,
I am not usually one to protest a project but for this one I must. The proposed construction of the hunter indoor sports centre will dramatically affect the people and area of Lambton leaving the area worse off. I have no disagreement with the case for the stadium but i disagree with the proposed location. Already we have lost land that my families and schools have played on to the knights centre of excellence, wests bowling club, fencing off of arthur eden oval for soccer and the quick procurement of grassed land for netball, skate park and playgoround will have a number of effects on reducing areas children and families can play and be healthy. My protest is on the basis of a number of arguments (not in order):
1. Playing surfaces for the general public - Blackley and Wallarah oval are used year round by sports teams (cricket, soccer etc) and are a great area for families and school students to gain much needed exercise.
It must be remembered that with ovals and newly acquired areas used by wests, the cricket oval at Arthur Eden, soccer and cricket (lambton oval) and rugby fields/netball (Ford oval) this is the only ovals left on busy weekends for families and older users to use safely it is flat and easily waled around.
2. Health and obesity - children need areas to play and removing areas and access will encourage illness
3. once it is developed it is lost forever
4. Parking proposed parrking will not work as the stadium is used year round for soccer, football, gokarts, gym , minigolf, overflow for events at the hockey part and not to mention other activites (concerts, seminars and trainign that all occur at mcdonald jones stadium).
5. Water both ground and surface water flow down hill from lambton park through the parklands (lambton park, ford, arthur eden, wallarah and blackley ovals) of which accept huge volumes and absorb it into the ground, already surface water can flow over these grounds into the channels on either side. On numerous occasions these have over flowed and yes there has been deaths form people swept into the drains. If a large concrete structure is placed at the lowest point of absorption it would follow that surface water would increase in these areas potentially flowing over the road and flooding residents, stadiums and Turton, Lambton and Griffiths roads. This has already occurred with storms on multiple occasions (I am certain NSW police Waratah could inform you of the number of times road closures occur to Newcastle city and other areas from natural events). with a concretes structure and road this would reduce absorption and make everything worse. I can only state that with global warming worsening and storms increasing in intensity this would be a disaster, and I feel that if the ares became flooded the cost of refurbishment to he stadium occurring routinely would be an unexpected cost.
6. finally aesthetics- this is part of a green belt running through a local area that makes it so nice to live in. Multiple sites around are being gobbled up by development meaning this area is one fo he few sites left everyone can enjoy. For the future of people who will use this parkland please do not develop it.
So I am totally against this plan and request it be ceased and moved to a different area. Lambton already has so many sports that when roads are closed due to multiple events we just can't have any more.
sincerely

Brett Ireland

I object to this development on the site of these ovals, that are used continuously by Lambton High School, Sporting groups & the local community.
There are many other sites in The Hunter area that would be well suited to this development. Land that cannot be used as housing etc.
Land that was once used for industry would be the better option, as it does not take away valuable green space that is for all community members to enjoy.
Traffic.
Terrible traffic congestion in Lambton & surrounding suburbs where the Basketball Stadium is proposed to be built.
This constant extra traffic entering & exiting from early morning to late at night will be detrimental to people's health & well being.
Already parking is problematic outside residents homes when McDonald Jones stadium, sponsors sporting & entertainment events. These events are set to increase.
Roads are already blocked off when these events happen, causing a nightmare for locals.
Flooding.
Weather forecasters predict more damaging storms & heavy rain events. We had a storm yesterday afternoon, after 15 minutes of heavy rain the drains were almost full.
This means flooding in surrounding suburbs is more likely because there is nowhere for the water to go.
Lambton residents already experienced major flooding in this area in 2007 with the Pasha Bulka storm.
Residents have had very large increases in house insurance & others have had insurers refuse to insure them.
Looking over the development application there are many, many inconsistencies, misleading information that isn't correct!
The residents aren't against the building of the stadium, but our valuable green space is not the right place for it.
It makes no sense to build numerous sporting facilities in the one area causing undue stress & chaos to the local community.
There needs to be better planning, building sporting facilities in different areas of the Hunter makes more sense & spreading the traffic flow.
Thank you, Luis Orlandi.

I am writing to strongly oppose the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre Development act the proposed location of Wallarah and Blackley Ovals (SSD-65595459). I am interested in this development as my children attend Lambton High School and will be negatively affected by this development which has become a state significant development with inadequate community consultation. My views should be considered as I am a resident of New Lambton and value green space within my community.

5. Community Engagement pg 55
“A notification for a presentation to the Lambton High School’s community was included within the weekly school notices. This notice was distributed to approximately 1,100 students (and their families).”

The LHS Weekly Newsletter (dated 5/3/24) notified parents and students of an opportunity on the 12/3/24 from 5.30 - 6.30pm to attend an information session about the state significant proposal through a presentation by Newcastle Basketball. This is the first occasion that parents and students had been made aware of the development located next to Lambton High School. At no time had either Newcastle Basketball or the City of Newcastle Council attempted to consult with parents and/or students during the planning phase of this proposal. The first opportunity to discuss the development was once it had been deemed a state significant development and parents were informed that the proposal would be going ahead. There was clearly inadequate consultation during the planning phase and no engagement with some of he people most directly affected, the 1100 students and their families that advocate for them.

On the 12/3/24 once I had become aware of this development I contacted all three Ward 3 councillors and the Lord Mayor to express my disappointment at the lack of community engagement by Newcastle City Council and to voice my opposition to the proposed location. Cr Peta Winney-Baartz responded that this was now a state significant development and that Newcastle City Council had no influence, Cr Katrina Work phoned me to express her concerns with the location and I had no response from Cr Wood. The Lord Mayor responded that they had no involvement.

Development Should be at an Alternative Location pg 57 EIS
“CN put forward the site for use by BANL”
This further highlights the lack of engagement sought by City of Newcastle during the planning phase and disregard for the local community.

EIS clearly acknowledges the Loss of Playing Fields / Open Space on Pg 57 EIS.

This development takes valuable community green space at the expense of Lambton High School, a school of up to 1200 students who have very little green space within their grounds. For the past 50 years LHS have had an agreement with Newcastle City Council that the school has access to this green space to conduct PE lessons, a safe space for school emergency evacuations and allows children to play at lunchtime and recess on grass. The EIS States that the school will be allowed to use a small section of land during phase 1, however, will have no access to green space thereafter. Green space will be lost to the school entirely.


Mandatory sport and physical activity requirements, Years 7 to 12 - 150 mins per week
Mandatory components of the 150 minutes include: weekly school sport and physically active lessons in PDHPE
The extra time required to walk students to another location away from the school to attend physical activity will heavily impact on the quality of lessons provided and be detrimental in achieving the mandatory 150 hours required for students. Teachers will need to get special permission to take students to an alternate location, need to provide extra staff to take students off site and provide additional support for students with mobility issues adding to their workload and reducing the opportunities for students.


6.16.2. Potential Impacts Social Impacts pg 90 EIS

“The proposal will reduce the open space available for local sporting clubs and Lambton High School as well as informal access by the community to the open space.”

The development will take a valuable free of charge community green space accessible to all and replace it with a structure that will only be accessed by paying an entrance fee and only when games are not being played. This is an example of discrimination for our lower socio economic families who will not be able to utilise this space.
Less space for LHS students at lunch and recess potentially leading to more conflict. Phones are banned at NSW Public Schools to promote play, however, this proposal takes valuable play space from students and removes space to move around freely, leading to cramped conditions and play opportunities.

“During construction there is likely to be some disturbance to neighbourhood and amenity, temporary changes to road access arrangements and construction vehicle movements.“

Construction of the development will be during school hours where 1200 children will be subjected to 30 hours/week of noise and dust. This will negatively impact learning and lead to poor education outcomes.

“The proposal will promote physical activity, health and wellbeing, through the provision of a variety of sporting opportunities including basketball, netball, pickle ball and volleyball”
….but not for LHS students.
LHS has access to 2 under cover concrete basketball courts within school grounds, however, what they do not have is valuable green space which provides a safe environment to exercise. This development will take from 1200 students the opportunity to have green space to play on during school breaks. My children aged 17, 15 and 12 are distressed at the thought of not being able to exercise at lunchtimes in fresh air, which they view as invaluable in maintaining positive mental health and well being.

Conclusion
I acknowledge the need for a new indoor sporting facility in the region, however, I DO NOT support the location of Wallarah and Blackley Ovals identified by City of Newcastle.

The lack of community consultation means that the social impact assessment (SIA) in inadequate. The SIA guidelines were not followed and the negative social impacts have not been properly identified or addressed. This shows a total disregard for the local community most affected by the large scale development.

Outcome
The Development should be included in the Broadmeadow Place Strategy/Project.

I am writing to submit my OBJECTION to SSD-65595459 Hunter Indoor Sports Complex (HISC) for the reason below.

Loss of green space
When the COVID pandemic happened, we all learned how valuable green, open spaces were. During lockdown, the community could only exercise in public outdoor spaces, and we saw so many of them walking around parks and ovals. When lockdown eased and people could meet outdoors, we and so many people met our loved ones in parks, ovals, and fields. Wallarah and Blackley Ovals are local fields for the residents of Lambton, New Lambton, and their surrounding suburbs. See Figure 1 in attached document showing the members of the community in Wallarah and Blackley Ovals enjoying an Elton John concert in McDonald Jones Stadium.

According to the draft Broadmeadow Place Strategy, there will be up to 20,000 new homes for 40,000 people through medium (such as apartments) and low density housing in the precinct across the road from Wallarah and Blackley Ovals (https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/news/community-invited-have-their-say-future-broadmeadow). However, there is no extra green space allocated for this major development, besides the existing green fields. The previous NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said that the pandemic has underlined the crucial importance of amenity within and around our homes, and access to green public spaces is so important to our wellbeing (https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/arbitrary-metrics-government-and-developers-face-off-over-green-space-20210924-p58ukc.html).

According to the NSW Government’s Adapt NSW strategy, incorporating green spaces into urban areas will help balance temperatures and reduce the urban heat island effect (https://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/home). It does not make any sense to remove precious existing green space.

According to the Public Open Space Strategy, public open space, which includes parks, sports grounds and courts, and recreation trail for walking and cycling, is the foundation of liveable communities (https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-06/public-open-space-strategy-for-nsw.pdf). Public open space play an important social and cultural role in our lives, and are beneficial for and not limited to organised and informal recreation, healthy lifestyles and happier people, community participation and engagement. One of the objectives of this strategy is to recognise public open space as infrastructure that is essential for creating great places to live and supporting healthy and active lifestyles, and recognise access to public open space as fundamental to supporting healthy and active lifestyles for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

The proposed HISC will remove valuable public open space, and remove community access to informal recreation and exercise. In Appendix II (Social and Economic Assessment) section 5.2.2, there was a disclaimer that the HISC will meet the needs of Newcastle Basketball Association members. But it failed to report on the detrimental impact on members of the community. In Newcastle Basketball’s initial presentation to Lambton High School, it was stated that there would be 3000sqm of space left at completion of the full development (Figure 2 in attached document). However, as Figure 3 in attached document (from Appendix I Landscape and Report Plans) shows, there is not a significant amount of green space available to students and the community, only 733sqm of open space, approximate 2% of the proposed site.

The lack of access to suitable facilities inhibits the opportunity for many residents to participate in physical activity and sport and excludes them from associated health and social benefits. This statement is true. The proponent claims that HISC will create a social hub that promotes and supports health and wellbeing. However, Newcastle Basketball members themselves petitioned the organisation to reduce their registration and session fees, due to an increase in fees in August 2024 to an exorbitant $40 per game per player, and therefore, participation in basketball socially is cost-prohibitive (https://www.change.org/p/make-social-competition-fees-affordable-in-newcastle-basketball-association). This facility is excludes participation of the older population and pensioners due to the high intensity of the sport of basketball and the costs involved, compared to this demographic being able to use the ovals and fields when there are no organised sports running, and at no cost to them.

I believe the loss of green, open spaces is really detrimental to the physical and mental health of the community, especially of the older population. I do not agree that Wallarah and Blackley Ovals are the right location for the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre.

I have played indoor basketball for the past 32 years. The current stadium facilities have not been updated greatly since I commences playing many years ago. I have travelled with my daughter for representative sport and although Newcastle is an ever growing city the indoor basketball facilities are by far the most run down in the region and in desperate need of an upgrade. The younger generation has many teams eager to play but the kids constantly miss games because of poor court quality and families have to travel to different locations to use private school indoor courts as the current stadium does not have enough courts available. The court sizes are also not to scale which is not ideal. A new facility is well overdue and as the stadium caters for other sports being volleyball, cheer competitions, pickle ball etc. These sports would also gain allot of benefit from the new facilities.

For 3 generations we have played basketball at the Newcastle stadium, but over the year the courts and capacity have been lacking and a new modern facility is required to encourage participation in a fantastic sport that brings community together

This project is vital for the future of Newcastle Basketball. As a basketball player, coach & parent I have witnessed the Newcastle Basketball program suffer due to poor & inadequate facilities for too long. This lack of facilities is preventing full participation for all kids in the greater Newcastle area as competitions quickly sell out and there are not enough courts to support more teams. It also impact the representation player’s development due lack of access to court to practice. Newcastle Falcons are a proud basketball club and at the moment the current facilities are an embarrassment for the region. This new centre is a wonderful opportunity for the whole community - not just basketball players. It is a much needed sport facility for a growing region. I strongly support this development.

Newcastle needs a new basketball facility but NOT at the proposed location on Turton road. This will deprive current users of this site the ability to enjoy the facilities and will also great impact Lambton HS students who use these fields for school sport. The traffic is already very bad on Turton road, especially when there is a game at Hunter Stadium and this will make it worse. Plus you will only be able to access the site from one side which is madness. Lastly the initial budget was $25 million but has already ballooned out to $80 million and will no doubt exceed $100million by the time this project is finished. The new Lord Mayor of Newcastle was elected largely because he does not support this proposed site and neither do the majority of people in Newcastle. Build it somewhere else - ideally on the existing site.

I have strong opposition to the development application with regards to the chosen location being of the most importance.
Having children attending Lambton High school this loss of freely accessible green open space to that of a basketball stadium in which the school already have facilities on site, makes no sense. Past recreational use during lunch time is an important part of the school culture which will be lost if this goes ahead in the projected location. Not only used at lunch time but also utilized for circular activities and sport events such as Afl, softball and cricket.
This area i feel is also unsuitable for this development with it being effected by Flooding as was very much present in the 2007 pasha bulka storm, with many houses and businesses being inundated with water at that elevation. It resides beside a well known strom drain that is often filled with water. looking through the planning report doesn't fill me with confidence of the carpark being the answer for flood mitigation.
Lastly having been a long term local and seeing the traffic management section of the report doesn't inspire me with confidence of representing the current roads utilization. the reporting of traffic is from 2023 and even if the idea is to use parking at the stadium and transit across on foot, this will increase delays in the area with continual activation of the lights.

The project from the beginning never really took into consideration:
- the impact on the neighbourhood
- the adding pressure of the already crowded area with the Mc Donald Jones stadium and the Hockey Centre which see huge traffic congestion during events
- the loss of green space for the Lambton High school and impact to the school during construction
- taking fields from other sports (cricket, soccer..) without any consideration where the teams using them will have to go if these filed are replaced by concrete (heard of Beresfield????)
- impact on the existing flooding zone
- figures of added cars & members using the new facilities ever changing - any realistic approach?
-

We have brilliant development pathways in Newcastle for aspiring basketballers and successful representative teams in reputable competitions. However, the current facilities are sub-par, and even counter productive to further development of the game in the local area. The possibility of reentry into the national competition is not only possible, but highly likely. To do so, Newcastle basketball must have better facilities. Not only would this project promote basketball in the wider Newcastle area, but also provide quality facilities for other indoor sports. The vision for a sporting precinct is not only great for all local sport, but arguably the local economy.