I have 2 children that attend lambton high school. I object on the basis that it will have a detrimental effect on the students at lambton high school who utilize the fields on a daily basis at recess and lunch time and for sport.

My objections fall into four categories: TRAFFIC - I live two blocks from the Wallarah and Blackley Ovals. Many of the houses, including mine have no off-street parking. Those that do often have cars parked out the front of their house as well. The houses directly across from me have off-street parking and rear lane access from a lane behind their homes. Nevertheless, they (or members of their family) routinely park on the street. The neighbour to my right at No. 16 has no off-street parking and he and his girlfriend park on the street. My neighbour to my right (20A) has off street parking and uses her garage but her neighbour (20B), also has a garage but the two of them park two cars on the street. From the top of Durham Road, near Young Road, all the way down the length, this is a typical situation. When my girlfiend visits, she commonly has trouble finding a place to park inside the block. When it is bin night, the parking situation becomes diabolical as residents attempt to fit bins between cars parked along the street. My experience of events at the nearby football stadium leads me to question the wisdom of locating an indoor sports stadium at Wallarah/Blackley ovals. Admittedly, the proposed indoor sports stadium will attract smaller crowds than the football stadium, however, what the residents in the area surrounding the proposed development experience is a) traffic jams at odd times (eg 10pm at night, after a football game as the crowd exits) and b) an inability to access their homes when an event is on. This does two things: a) it reduces the opportunities for residents, such as inviting a number of people to a birthday party and b) it increases the risks for local residents involved in emergencies. Access by emergency vehicles would be severely limited at the time of any event at the proposed Indoor Sports Stadium. LOSS OF GREEN SPACE - The loss of green open space would be detrimental to the local community who use the ovals for a) Lambton High sports, b) soccer and c) cricket. The changes underway in the Broadmeadow are mean the population will rise dramatically over the next decade or two. It is highly likely Lambton High will have to expand to accommodate extra children. FLOODING - The area around the proposed development often floods and indeed has a canal running alongside of the development site. Raising the ground level at the proposed site (and attendant run-off from the rooves) will increase the amound of water attempting to enter the canal and at present, when there is excess water in the canal, it flows into nearby streets and the Ovals. Newcastle is built on a river delta. The water coming through this canal starts as far away as Kotara and Cardiff. The proposed development does not deal with increased flows. Water flows to the lowest point. In any development, every effort will be made to ensure the courts aren't flooded. This will mean in reality, instead of the ovals acting as sinks, the water will flow into Lambton High and nearby houses, to the south around Monash Road. This will be a double whammy. When an event is on, there will be traffic chaos and when there is rain, there will be flooding. LACK OF COMMUNITY CONSULTATION - I attended the consultation meeting at Lambton High . This was the only meeting outside the (friendly crowd) drop in consultations at the Basketball Stadium. This meeting was not open to everyone, as it had been organised through the LHS P&C. The reception was nevertheless, hostile. There were no more meetings involving open sessions with locals after this. One of the aspects of discussions at the LHS meeting, was the height of the Indoor Sports Staduim. I recall the proponents saying at the LHS meeting, the show court would have a roof 6 stories high. The size of this development has been seriously understated by the proponent. A 6 story building adjacent to Lambton High will forever change (for the worse) the amenity of the school.

As a dedicated parent of basketball-playing children and a former player myself, I fully support the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre. This facility is not just an addition to our community; it is a much-needed investment that will benefit families, athletes, schools, and the wider community for generations to come. The approval and construction of this indoor sports center will provide our children and youth with a safe, high-quality venue where they can practice, compete, and develop their skills while promoting physical health, social interaction, and a sense of community.

1. A Central Hub for Youth Development and Sporting Excellence

The proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre will offer more than just basketball courts. It promises a state-of-the-art environment that will foster youth development and promote sporting excellence across multiple disciplines. With modern facilities, young athletes will have access to the tools and environment they need to hone their skills. Many of these children have dreams of pursuing sports to higher levels—whether at local, state, or even national levels. An indoor sports center will allow for uninterrupted, year-round training, shielding athletes from weather disruptions and providing a consistent venue for improvement.

Moreover, the facility will cater to multiple sports, which encourages children to explore different activities, reducing burnout and promoting physical literacy. This versatility is crucial, as it opens doors for many kids who may otherwise lack access to professional-grade facilities.

2. Health and Wellness Benefits for Our Community

The construction of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre will have a far-reaching impact on the health and wellness of our community. Physical activity is a crucial component of healthy child development, fostering both physical and mental well-being. By providing a venue that encourages regular exercise, this facility can play a significant role in combating the growing issue of childhood obesity and sedentary lifestyles. In addition, research shows that physical activity has positive effects on mental health, reducing stress and anxiety—a benefit that will extend to children, teens, and adults alike.

In a community-driven space like the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre, people of all ages will find opportunities to engage in physical activities. The ripple effect is profound: families that play and train together create stronger bonds, and individuals who participate in group activities feel a stronger sense of belonging. These positive health and wellness benefits will enhance our community’s quality of life for many years to come.

3. Economic Benefits and Job Creation

The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre is an investment in our region’s economy. Its construction will create numerous job opportunities, from the initial building phase to ongoing operational roles within the facility. By providing employment to local residents, the sports center will contribute to the economic stability of our area, making it a vital project from a financial perspective as well.

Moreover, once completed, this facility will attract sports events, tournaments, and visitors from surrounding areas. These events will generate revenue for local businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and retail stores, creating a positive economic ripple effect across the community. In addition, the center could serve as a venue for schools, community events, and sports camps, further boosting its role as an economic driver and community resource.

4. A Safe and Inclusive Space for All Ages and Abilities

One of the greatest strengths of an indoor sports facility is its inclusivity. The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre will be an environment where people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities are welcome. Whether it’s young children learning fundamental skills, teens refining their techniques, adults engaging in recreational leagues, or seniors participating in low-impact activities, this center can serve a wide demographic. Importantly, it will provide a safe and welcoming space where families can come together, fostering community pride and social cohesion.

Additionally, the center will provide an accessible space for individuals with disabilities to engage in sports, creating an inclusive environment that celebrates and supports diversity. In a community that values equality, the creation of such a space is both timely and essential.

5. Supporting Lifelong Healthy Habits and Community Spirit

Facilities like the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre play a pivotal role in establishing lifelong habits for physical fitness and well-being. By instilling these values at a young age, we are setting our children up for healthier, more active futures. For children, access to a quality facility will allow them to develop a passion for sports, building discipline, teamwork, and resilience—qualities that go beyond the court and positively impact every area of their lives.

For former players like myself, as well as other parents and older adults, this center offers a valuable opportunity to stay active and engaged in sports we love. It allows us to share our experiences with the next generation and encourages a strong community spirit. The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre will not only develop skilled athletes; it will nurture a supportive, vibrant community connected through shared interests and goals.

Conclusion

In closing, I want to reiterate my unequivocal support for the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre. As a parent and former player, I am passionate about the positive impact this facility will bring to our community. It will be a place where families gather, children thrive, and athletes are nurtured. This sports center will provide a high-quality, inclusive, and safe space for recreational and competitive sports, promoting physical and mental health for all. It is an investment in our youth, our economy, and our community’s future, making it a vital project that deserves full support.

I urge decision-makers to approve the construction of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre. It is a facility that will bring value to our community for generations to come, inspiring a legacy of health, fitness, and community connection that we can all be proud of.

I have concerns regarding the building of the Basketball Stadium on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals for multiple reasons.

1. The complex is being built in a flood area. I am extremely concerned this will have detrimental effects on surrounding residents, businesses, Lambton High School and sporting clubs. To my understanding no studies have been conducted to understand the impact the basketball stadium once created will have on these bodies. Increased flooding issues will also increase the costs of insurances premiums.
2. Currently these fields are used by multiple sporting bodies:
a). cricket
b). soccer
c). Hornets touch football training
d). students at Lambton High School
e). medieval groups
f). general public sprint training, walking animals etc
I am unsure how assigning this area soley to the basketball stadium is reasonable to the above mentioned groups. Taking away facilities forces these mentioned parties to hopefully relocate to a new location. Local sports are no longer 'local' as athletes will need to travel out of home suburbs to train and play matches. Convenience and accessibility is lost and can lead to fewer people participating in sport. For mental health reasons and health benefits we need to encourage people to participate in sport. I can not locate a survey which identifies the risk of people dropping out of sport due to Wallarah and Blackey Oval being overtaken by basketball.
Where will the students of Lambton High School train for sport and PE which is reasonable distance? Walking to a location 5 minutes away reduces the lesson time at least 10 minutes. This time does not calculate lost time waiting for traffic to cross a road and other possible delays. Lost time per period over a year is minimum 1200 minutes. Is this lost time acceptable by NSW Education?
For basketball and pickleball to soley use these facilities is forcing other sports and users from this location whose preference is to stay.
3. Parking. The number of parking spaces is greatly short of the expected visitor/player count expected by Newcastle Basketball. Providing insufficient infrastructure (parking spaces) will lead to visitors parking in the surrounding streets. This will put an incredible negative strain on the surrounding residents and businesses. In some streets such as Hitchcock Avenue which is a narrow street, parking on both sides of the street will create an issue for health services (fire, ambulance and police) to safely travel along the street if required by residents. In the case of an emergency I am greatly concerned health services could not access dwellings along the street and put the residents in high risk of health services available. Health care should be available to all residents at all time of the day/night.
4. Traffic. The impact increased of traffic will be heightened along an already busy road being Turton Road. Increased traffic created by the expected number of people attending basketball scheduled for 7 days a week will be significant. Turton Road is already very busy and increasing the number of cars travelling this 2 lane road will create a congested area. surrounding streets will also be impacted as motorists look for alternative paths to get to their destination. As mentioned in point 3, many roads are equipped to handle increase traffic flow.
This area is already heavily populated by children from the high school and the increased in traffic is of great concern to the young adults coming and going to Lambton High School. Users of the bike track will also be impacted by the increase in people coming/going from the stadium.
5. Newcastle Basketball do not have finance to complete the build. I am concerned the lack of finance will create an unfinished project and overtime the project will not be completed and sit idle. This will be an unattractive addition to the area and an irritation where the land could be utilised by the groups mentioned in point 2.

I do not disagree that Newcastle Basketball require a new stadium. I disagree Wallarah and Blackey Oval, New Lambton is a location suitable for this build. This increased strain it will create on surrounding residents, businesses, Lambton High School and sporting associations is of great concern. Taking away precious green space which is heavily used by many parties at all times of the weekday and weekend both morning, afternoon and night is neglectful to New Lambton community. We need to preserve our precious green spaces to help limit our footprint. Many other locations can be found in the local area. (Gasworks, old BHP site, Glendale to name three alternate locations). Building on an alternative location which is not currently used will provide an outcome to Newcastle Basketball and New Lambton and surrounding community which is favourable. Whilst trying to convince the audience this location will work, once the traffic strain and parking limitations are realised and the flood issues caused by the construction of this centre I am concerned solutions will not exist.

I currently run a Personal Fitness Training business in the local New Lambton area. I have used Blackley and Wallarah Ovals since the Covid pandemic. The Greenspace and Pavilion are ideal for the local fitness enthusiasts and my clients over the years have valued the opportunity to exercise in a beautiful environment. With the rise in Mental Health illnesses in the community I want to strongly advocate for the retaining of these Ovals for the purposes of outdoor leisure activities and the local sporting organisations, not to mention the Lambton High School. With the rise in technology in the classroom and the amount of screen time pupils must keep, I feel it is important we all fight to keep the Ovals for the students use in their Physical Education sessions. Also let's remember with the increasing in the density of population around the area especially so close to the Broadmeadow Sporting Precinct ithis open space will be highly valued in the generations to come. No one denies that the region needs a new Basketball/Indoor Sports Facility, but to lose these Ovals for this purpose I believe is utter madness.
Thank you,
James Wilkinson BSc (University of Sydney)

Please see attached submission.

The project will provide desperately needed indoor sporting infrastructure to better suit a city the size of Newcastle. The sporting, social and community opportunities from the project will benefit the direct users and Newcastle residents alike. The lack of suitable facilities diminishes the status of the city and negatively impacts local users who have to inexplicably travel to smaller regional centres to access suitable indoor sporting infrastructure for events depriving the community of financial opportunities and local extended family units of engaging in exciting family moments.

Out-dated and no longer fit for purpose facility
The current facility used by Newcastle Basketball and other indoor sports is over 55 years old and outdated, with ongoing issues like water damage and slippery floors due to a leaking roof. This not only poses safety risks but also disrupts events and limits the capacity to support sports like Badminton, Futsal, and Netball, which lack adequate indoor spaces in the region. Years of under-investment have left local sports groups without proper facilities. The indoor sports of the Newcastle region have suffered from significant under-investment for decades, and now is the time to correct that imbalance.

New facility will increase accessibility to more diverse range of groups
The proposed High-Performance Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) will provide inclusive, accessible spaces for people with disabilities and those from multicultural backgrounds to engage in indoor sports. Without such a facility, participation rates for these groups are about 50% lower than their potential. The new facility will help address physical inactivity, particularly in underrepresented communities, and support healthier lifestyles. With projected population growth in the region, the HISC is a timely investment to meet future demand and promote greater community engagement and well-being.

The economic benefits of the new facility will be lost to the region if it isn’t constructed
The Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) is expected to attract 35,000 visitors annually for special events, boosting the local economy, particularly within the Newcastle LGA. One-third of visitors will come from outside the area, spending an average of $144 each. The project will create 260 construction jobs (115 direct) and 91 operational jobs (52 direct). Additionally, relocating Newcastle Basketball will free up the current facility site for redevelopment, supporting the Broadmeadow Place Strategy.

Social Benefits to the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre
The proposed facility will offer greater access to indoor sports in a safe, welcoming environment, including opportunities for older adults to stay active. It will foster stronger social networks and community cohesion among participants, volunteers, and supporters. The HISC will improve the health and well-being of over 600,000 local and regional visitors, including children, families, diverse cultural groups, seniors, and people with disabilities, while promoting social engagement and inclusivity.

I object to the project development of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals.

As a resident of New Lambton this green space can be used by everyone in the local community or abroad, no matter their age or residency.

With the current proposal DA, only members will be able to use the built facility. This will discriminate against all community personnel and the public.

Additionally, the current green space ovals are homes to our local fauna. If the development is approved where do these animals live. Humans must not damage the environment for self greed or monetary benefit but enhance it. We need to protect the environment. The birds, possums, bats etc, forage for food on the ovals, the birds dig for worms and crickets. They aerate the soil for free.

Families have picnic on these fields, Sports are played on them. There is so much talk about obesity these days, yet your wanting to take away ovals that the public can use for exercise.

Finally, I object to the development of the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre at Wallabadah and Blackley Ovals.

Please see attached submission.