Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC)

Newcastle is a thriving city and needs this infrastructure to continue to grow. It’s a joke and an embarrassment to host representatives from other basketball or sporting associations and have the roof leak during wet weather. Travelling across NSW for basketball, it’s clear to see other smaller cities and regions like Tamworth, Illawarra, and Shoalhaven have all invested in sporting facilities. It’s time for Newcastle to catch up. This investment is needed to encourage children and young people to stay physically active and build strong social bonds in a positive and safe environment.

As a city grows it is important that planning authorities create space and safe recreational environments for the next generation.
The facility outlined by Newcastle basketball is such one facility. It will provide a place of recreation, where young people, (In particular) can pursue healthy activities.
The location earmarked is ideal for the city of Newcastle. It is central. It is close to other sporting facilities, cycle ways, major road links and with an easy walking distance to rail facilities.
At the moment, the land is not used to the level that is / will be required by a city where the population is increasing. As Australia wrestles with chronic housing shortages the density of living arrangements close to existing amenity and infrastructure must increase in line with the government and market requirements.
A rejection of this proposal would be a major backward step for the city. Land that is only used by a few hundred people could be use by 100s of thousands annually.
During my 10 years as President of Newcastle Basketball our constant struggle was fighting an aging facility despite as I would constantly tell people "We had more people coming through our front doors than the Football stadium. And we offered 1000s of children a healthly alternative. Unlike the football stadium that dominated Government funds".
By approving the basketball submission that has taken into account noise, traffic, asthetics, flooding and cultural factors, you are approving a healthy lifestyle alternative for perhaps millions of people over the next 50 years.

The current stadium is old run down and requires replacing. The new HISC will allow the next generation to participate in an active lifestyle all year round, regardless of weather conditions.
The development of the HISC is a great community asset for Newcastle indoor sports, e.g., basketball, futsal, pickleball, volleyball, netball, table tennis, etc. It will also generate additional income to the city through being able to hold State, National and international events.
The increased court capacity enables more children to finally have somewhere to play indoor sport, having been turned away in the past due to a lack of court space available to cater for them.

Firstly the provision of a new venue not only for Basketball but many other indoor sports is long overdue. So to have a new venue for many and varied indoor sports is very sensible. With the new Broadmeadow precinct planning not allowing for a replacement venue it is left to put it in a sensible position within or as close to the new sports precinct. Lambton high will have access to the venue and public transport is close. The 6,000 or so kids wanting to play the different sports will have a great venue and it is needed. It needs to be built quickly as well because the old stadium is on its last legs with less than 3 years before eviction from the asbestos ridden building. A good use for a sometimes-unplayable area subject to flooding. It must happen.

I object to the project because of the following reasons:
The proposed site takes up green space that should be left open space especially in a major city like Newcastle that has limited open space.
It is unlikely that Newcastle Basketball actually has the funds or can attract the needed funds to build the proposal so rate payers and tax payers will be left footing the costs.
Existing sporting fields will have their size reduced.
The local high school (Lambton High) uses existing sporting fields, if those fields are reduced it will reduce availability of sporting fields for the school.
The proposed site is known as a flood relief area, the fact it is open space allows for overflow of water from surrounding areas to sit and drain in the sporting fields.. Removing a large part of this open space will mean any flood water will be forced into nearby streets.
Building on proposed site does not allow for large traffic volumes entering/ existing the site. This will cause mayhem on the main local road (Turton Rd; the excessive traffic flow when an event is on it will also impact residents in surrounding streets. Similar problems regarding parking when a major event is held.
Local community members use the existing green space for leisure, they will loose most of that space.

I believe the proposed site for the HISC is inadequate and problematic; a more suitable site could be Creek Road in Maryland which is currently undergoing planing stages for it usage.

We very badly need this in the close cbd area of Newcastle. Basketball demand is bursting at the seams and the existing building desperately needs repair

I support the Proposed Newcastle Indoor Sports Centre. This project is long overdue. Newcastle Basketball stadium current location is no longer currently viable. The roof leaks, equipment run down, facilities are no longer up to scratch. The location is central and accommodates all.

The due diligence is complete and it is clear that not only the 6000 members of Newcastle Basketball need this but the broader sports community including netball, pickleball, gymnastics, the PCYC and StarStruck just to name a few. Whilst the concerns of the minority should be heard and addressed, they have been and the misinformation amongst the vocal minority should not hinder this much needed community facility.

Newcastle has a strong basketball community desperately in need of better facilities.

The subject site is not fit for purpose for the development proposed.
The loss of green space will impact upon the adjoining Lambton High School where the site is used for pdhpe lessons, sport and lunchtime recreation. This is the only green space the school has immediate access to and doubles as an evacuation area.
Further, the site is within 200 metres of Hunter Stadium, which holds events attracting up to 30,000 people, as well as the Newcastle Hockey Centre, who hold daily sporting events, bringing significant traffic to an already overcrowded arterial road. Proposed daily use by Basket will turn the area into gridlock.
A far better place for this project is located at Glendale on the site currently owned by State Rail, which adjoins the Hunter Athletics and Gymnastics Centre. Placing the proposed development here would give far better outcomes from a traffic and geographical point of view. This land is currently undeveloped and will not impact on the community at all.

I support this development because, first and foremost, I am a mother of three children who have been playing basketball for the past 8 years. The current stadium has been in a state of disrepair all this time, and is so bad that it is actually unsafe. These are the main problems that I see:
- When there is high rainfall, the roof leaks above every court, causing a slip hazard on the court.
- There is a sewer smell coming from the toilets which can be smelt on court 4 and 5.
- The carpark size is inadequate for the number of players on comp nights, and the state of the carpark surface in relation to the drains is another hazard.
- The scoreboard system is temperamental and on some courts it turns off on it's own in the middle of the game
- The sisalation is falling off the soffit of the roof above courts 4 and 5.
- Because the demand for this sport has grown so much and the current stadium doesn't have enough courts to accomodate all of the games, the games are also played at Hunter Sports High and Macquarie College, which results in many people having to travel a lot further to get to the games, not to mention the confusion it causes.

Basketball is the fastest growing junior sport in NSW and the facilities have to grow accordingly. The standard of Newcastle Basketball players is very high, however our stadium is not up to the same stadium. Even Maitland and Central Coast have better facilities than we do.

I support this facility in the current location as it is a central location for the whole of Newcastle/ Lake Macquarie residents and is aptly placed in the sports and recreation precinct that is Broadmeadow. It's not ideal that the area will lose green space and playing fields, however if you look at the number of people that use the fields/ park versus the amount of people that use the stadium, the stadium use would exceed the field use by a huge amount. I'm sure there has been a study done on this already.

This new facility is desperately needed and will make a huge difference to so many people and will allow this growing sport to continue to grow. I'd really like to see it go ahead in this location as we can't wait another 5 years for a new location/ application to be made.
regards
Sita

The current stadium is not viable to continue the influx of basketball in Newcastle, Lake Mac and Hunter area. This is a great opportunity to continue the growth and a great location. There is no better location in the area.

I strongly support the proposal for the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre, a vital investment in Newcastle’s sporting infrastructure and community wellbeing. As a former basketball player and now a parent to two daughters who love the game, I’ve seen firsthand how sport can shape confidence, resilience, and connection. My daughters are eager to continue playing for many years to come, but the current facilities simply cannot meet the growing demand.

Basketball is booming across Australia. According to the latest AusPlay data, it ranks as the second-highest team participation sport nationally, with approximately 1.3 million players. Participation among girls and women has increased by 25% since 2022, making this proposal especially timely in light of the NSW Government’s Her Sport Her Way initiative to boost female involvement in sport. Basketball is also one of the top five organised sports among children aged 5–14, with over 350,000 junior participants.

Locally, outdated facilities and limited court availability mean players and teams are being turned away. The proposed centre would meet international standards for basketball, netball, and volleyball, and support a wide range of sports including futsal, pickleball, and badminton. Unlike outdoor fields, which are frequently closed due to weather or maintenance, an indoor facility offers consistent, year-round access—day and night.

The centre would serve a diverse cross-section of the community: wheelchair athletes, school groups, seniors who play pickleball during the day, and students with disabilities who participate in Inclusive Sports Days organised by the Department of Education’s School Sports Unit. This inclusive, multi-purpose venue would be a cornerstone for community engagement and wellbeing.

Beyond its social impact, the centre would deliver significant economic benefits. By attracting teams, players, and spectators from across the region and beyond, it would stimulate local business—hospitality, retail, and accommodation—while positioning Newcastle as a destination for major sporting events. This kind of infrastructure investment has a proven multiplier effect, generating jobs and long-term growth.

Finally, the long-term health benefits of valuing sports participation cannot be overstated. Regular involvement in sport improves physical health, mental wellbeing, and social connection. It reduces the burden on our health system and fosters lifelong habits of movement and community.

With its central location and accessibility via public transport, the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre is not just a facility—it’s a future-proof investment in the health, vibrancy, and prosperity of our region. I urge decision-makers to approve this proposal and support the aspirations of thousands of local athletes, families, and community members.

I moved to Newcastle in 1997 as a 25-year-old, and for nearly three decades the Newcastle Basketball Stadium has been part of my life.
I still play there twice a week, and my son, who started playing at the stadium at the age of 10 and is now 17, has grown up with it as his home for sports.
The sad reality is that the stadium today looks and feels almost the same as it did when I first walked through its doors in the late 1990s.
Beyond a few coats of paint, nothing has changed, and it was already outdated back then.
As a sports photographer and graphic designer, I’ve covered countless basketball tournaments, school sports carnivals, dance contests, and conventions at the venue.
Every weekday afternoon, schools fill the courts until 3:30pm, when junior basketball takes over.
From then until 10:30pm, every night of the week, the stadium is packed with kids, parents, and senior players.
On weekends, it transforms again, hosting basketball, volleyball, pickleball, concerts, and conventions.
It is truly the beating heart of Newcastle's indoor sport and community life.
But the demand far exceeds the capacity.
Thousands of children and senior players are turned away because the stadium isn’t big enough or modern enough to cope.
This is happening at a time when basketball in Australia has never been stronger.
It was a big trend in the 1980s and 1990s.
I know, I lived through that era, but today the sport is booming like never before.
Clear and exciting pathways now exist for young Australians to progress to the NBL, WNBL, and even the NBA; yet, in Newcastle, our facilities are holding the next generation back.
Newcastle is the seventh-largest city in Australia, yet it lags embarrassingly behind when it comes to sporting infrastructure.
Our outdated stadium means we consistently miss out on hosting major events that could bring huge economic and cultural benefits to the region.
The proposed new stadium would not only transform local participation but put the Hunter on both the national and international stage, allowing us to attract world-class events we currently lose to other cities.
The need is urgent.
More than urgent, it's a MUST!
In 2019, funding was announced to deliver a new stadium.
My son was 10 then.
He’s 17 now, and we are no closer to having a facility worthy of this city.
At this rate, he’ll be 30 before anything is built, and my own playing days will long be over.
This project is not just desirable, it is essential.
Newcastle deserves better.
A new stadium is well beyond overdue, and its benefits for our community, our young people, and our city’s reputation will be enormous.

This project is urgently needed to satisfy the needs of the city to provide a comfortable sporting facility esp for our children.

We have 3 kids that play basketball. Newcastle basketball stadium is falling apart. A new stadium is desperately needed.

I am writing to express my strong support for the development of the Hunter Indoor Sports Complex. As a mum of players and a supporter of basketball, I believe this facility will be an invaluable addition to our region and will deliver lasting benefits for athletes, families, and the wider community. Including many other sports.

Basketball continues to grow in popularity in the Hunter, with increasing demand for indoor courts and training spaces. Unfortunately, many clubs and players currently face challenges accessing quality facilities due to limited availability. The Hunter Indoor Sports Complex would directly address this need by providing modern, purpose-built courts that can accommodate local competitions, training programs, and representative pathways.

Newcastle and Lake Macquarie are in desperate need of additional basketball facilities. At the moment kids are being turned away from the sport as there isn’t after courts for games and training

This is a great project and well overdue for Newcastle. The city has gone without a facility of this quality for many years and relied on the currently failing basketball stadium which has reached its usable lifespan. Having attended the current stadium on a weekly basis for several years, it is evident that the sport is significantly increasing in popularity and the existing building is struggling to service this need. The basketball association only has 5/6 courts to accommodate the large amount of games being played, and has to rely on Gateshead high and Macquarie college deal with the overflow.
The location of the proposed facility is more than suitable as it locates it within the city's sports precinct and in close proximity to public transport options for patron access. To move the facility further out of the city would ensure its failure and be a detriment to the future of the sport within Newcastle.
The proposal indicates adequate parking for the venue, and is accessible via public transport in addition. Any impact on adjoining properties would be less than that of any event at Marathon Stadium.

INDOOR STADIUM PROPOSAL
Regarding the proposal to build the new Indoor sports / basketball stadium adjacent to Lambton High School.
This is entirely the wrong place to build this facility. The traffic and parking during events at the existing Hockey Stadium and Sports Stadium is already insane with cars parked on the side streets and grass verges all the way along Monash Road and in the streets at Womboin Road and Young Road despite the extensive existing car parks at the Hockey Stadium and Mc Donald-Jones Stadium.
The three-year building schedule will expose the 1000 odd children at Lambton High School to unacceptable and damaging levels of diesel exhaust, dust, and noise pollution. It also leaves absolutely no room for the existing school to expand in the future.
It completely removes the playing fields at the rear of the school which are used daily by the school (with no available alternatives) and the huge building proposed will block out most of the natural light in the classrooms.
The increased traffic all around the school will create additional hazards faced by children who are cycling and walking to school. It will also present unacceptable danger of traffic accidents to parents attempting to safely collect their children in their cars as there will be less space to park and vastly increased numbers of cars, buses, trucks and construction vehicles even during the building period.
It is also disastrous for birdlife and the local residents who already must endure the existing insane amount of foot traffic, noise, cars, trucks, fireworks etc and who now will have the added burden of construction noise and pollution and additional traffic. The decrease in value of properties and the loss of the peace and tranquillity offered by the existing parklands.
I completely oppose this proposal.