The current submission in regards to environmental, social and community has a negative impact.
The proposed location at Wallarah oval -
- Would create flood and water run off issues that are already high in this space.
- where is the Traffic impact stud? Where is the data showing how busy that space is currently and then adding additional congestion to roads that have no space for widening?
The parking for any event at McDonald Jones is already lacking and increasing the load to this area would create increased frustration for any local residents and also people trying to utilise the Stadium and McDonald jones stadium.
- Why is one sport being prioritised over other sports, the new development takes away already limited cricket, soccer and school Sporting fields? Our current youth already have limited availability of sporting options and data shows our children are doing less and less activities. How is taking from multiple sports giving to another a sounds solution?
- I refer to plan SK-A02 Rev A: how is 3/4 of the space being taken up as car parking. The car parking is more here than opposite side at McDonald Jones stadium.
- SK-A03 - the height of the Stage 1A, 1B and 2B appears to be over and above the residential houses in this space. What impact does this have on the houses to the South? The highest point in building 2A is over 16 mtrs, this will
Impact residents to the South and Northern sides.
- It is clear that NCC has not consulted with sporting groups, as this plan would not have made it to this stage if full Consultation was provided to all sporting, community and residential groups.

Please see attachments

Loss of green space for local sports clubs and the 1200 students of Lambton High – the EIS references the sporting clubs being moved to other facilities, but no details have ever been disclosed as to where these are. The report also suggests that the students of Lambton high are advantageous in the proposal because they will be allowed to use the state-of-the-art facility. They don't need to. They have two covered basketball courts and 2 x ½ courts available to them. What they don't have is enough green space.
Currently, they use the ovals for all outdoor sports- footy, soccer, softball, javelin, and discus – sports required by the curriculum. They also have access to these ovals for lunch breaks, which allows them time outside in a park.
Lack of consultation of surrounding residents living less than 1km from the proposed site: I would have expected to be informed of community consultation opportunities. However, the map contained in the EIS for the distribution of fliers about community consultation shows even residents living 190m away weren't included or viewed as needing to be informed. According to the Community and stakeholder engagement report, an email was sent out to the basketball community, which I believe has over 5000 registered participants, inviting them to a targeted presentation held in December 2023. It wasn't until March 2024 that a letter box drop was done to approx. to approximately 240 local residents, providing information sessions at the basketball stadium. This is hardly consultation. This process was the delivery of information.
Traffic and Parking Concerns: Those residents nearby already experience significant impacts during large events like Knights games and concerts, with increased road traffic and widespread illegal parking. The proposed entry and exit are limited to a left turn in and out of Turton Road. This means if you're coming from the south, you can turn in, but when leaving, you can only turn left, likely causing drivers to cut through residential streets to find a route out. For those approaching from the north, west, or east, access is further complicated, as they won't be able to turn directly into the stadium. Instead, they may turn right on Young Road, navigating side streets, or take Monash Road, likely parking in nearby residential areas and crossing the footbridge over the drain to reach the stadium.
The Price Tag: The entire project is estimated at $90 million, yet Newcastle Basketball currently has less than $30 million. According to the EIS, the entire build is contingent on securing additional funding. Is it ethical to allow construction to begin without assurance it can be completed? Should all current oval users really be displaced for just six courts?

Flooding. What impact does this proposed construction have on the local area and flooding. Its hard to envisaged that such construction on this green space will do anything but add to the risk of major flooding of near by residential homes in severe weather.

I support the HISC, based on:
(a) it is a community critical project for several sports (not just basketball) and will compliment the proposed sporting precinct
(b) significant resources and time have determined the location at Wallarah and Blakely ovals is the best option. This project is time critical given the current site is a "first mover" site to facilitate the Broadmeadow Place Strategy
(c) I recognise the loss of green spaces that will occur but believe the overall benefits of the project outweighs this, especially noting the numerous fields/green spaces that are adjacent to the proposed site. Additionally Lambton High will benefit from usage of the new facility while still being able to use the adjacent fields/green spaces.
(d) when assessing the pros and cons of this project the pros significantly outweigh the cons and underpin the overall benefits of the HISC

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.

I object for the following reasons:
- Loss of sporting fields used by local cricket and soccer clubs
- Loss of ovals and green space used by the local high school
- Safety issues around increased traffic and the loss of evacuation space for local high school
- Loss of public green space that cannot be replaced, green space which is important for physical activity and mental health benefits for all.
- Issues regarding the flooding that occurs in this area
-Green space in this city is being removed at a rapid pace. At a time when physical activity is declining, and cost of living makes the ability to afford to register for sports that utilise indoor facilities prohibitive for families, it has never been more important to have areas for the public to utilise for both passive and active recreation.

The site proposed at Lambton will bring much more traffic to that area which is already a very busy traffic thoroughfare. And given McDonald Jones Stadium has sporting and/or entertainment events on a regular basis, as does the hockey centre, this would only contribute to traffic chaos. Leave the park at Lambton "as a park" for leisure and local community sports use! Why not extend the site where the basketball stadium already exists? Maybe remove Hungry Jacks and KFC from nearby and utilise that area as well? Are KFC and Hungry Jacks really necessary there? How many unhealthy fast food outlets does Newcastle really need? We have plenty! Thank you for reading this and hopefully commonsense will prevail and our local community
is more important, instead of another money grabbing Council project.