Objection to the Amended Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) Proposal
As someone who grew up in Newcastle, played for the region, and represented both state and national teams, basketball has been a defining part of my life. I owe much of my personal growth and community identity to the sport and to Newcastle’s proud basketball legacy.
Although I no longer live in the city, my connection to the game and to the community remains strong. My family still resides in the area that would be directly affected by the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) development, and I intend to return to the region in the future, hoping to bring my children up as part of the Newcastle Basketball community. From both a community and sporting perspective, I cannot support what is being proposed.
What concerns me most is this: this project doesn’t just get the location wrong it misunderstands what basketball needs to thrive in the future.
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A Broken Vision for Basketball’s Future
The HISC proposal represents a dated, oversimplified vision for the future of basketball. It leans on a “one big facility” model, a centralised mega-hub built in a residential zone, when the rest of the basketball world is moving in the opposite direction.
Modern basketball infrastructure is:
• Distributed, not centralised
• Embedded in communities, not forced into them
• Scalable and sustainable, not oversized and overburdened from day one
This “single-site” solution ignores the actual needs of players, families, and the broader sporting community. It locks the future of the sport into a congested, flood-prone corner of the city, one with limited access, no resilience, and no flexibility for growth.
This isn't just poor planning; it's poor vision.
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Harm to Basketball’s Growth and Experience
It’s ironic and tragic that a facility claiming to “grow the game” could do so much to hold it back.
From a player and family perspective, this site presents barriers, not opportunities:
• Severe congestion on game days will frustrate families, reduce accessibility, and deter participation particularly among new or younger players.
• A single entry and exit point for hundreds of vehicles is a recipe for gridlock, especially during weekend tournaments or evening events.
• The parking and pedestrian arrangements are unsafe, especially for children, teenagers, and those carrying equipment.
• The facility will reportedly use multi-use courts, meaning there’s no guarantee of real extra capacity for basketball, despite claims to the contrary.
• The environment will not feel community-oriented, welcoming, or accessible, it will feel industrial and difficult.
Instead of inspiring the next generation, the experience risks being so inconvenient, chaotic, and disconnected from grassroots basketball that it actively turns people away from the sport.
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Impact on the Local Community and Liveability
It’s important to acknowledge that sport doesn’t exist in isolation, it exists within communities. And when you try to force a mega-complex into the middle of a residential suburb, everyone loses.
The area surrounding the proposed HISC site is not designed, in any sense, to absorb this level of infrastructure. The consequences will be immediate and long-term:
• Neighbourhood amenity will be degraded: constant traffic, noise pollution, floodlight intrusion, and loss of green space.
• Safety risks will increase: school zones and family streets turned into overflow car parks and rat runs.
• Property values will be impacted and with them, the long-term viability of the surrounding community.
This project sets up an unnecessary and unproductive conflict: basketball vs residents. But in reality, both deserve better. They don’t need to be in competition, they just need better planning.

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A Call for Smarter, Future-Focused Infrastructure
This objection isn’t about stopping progress, it’s about doing it properly.
Basketball deserves a facility that is:
• Located in a dedicated sporting or civic precinct, not shoehorned into a school-adjacent flood zone
• Designed with multi-site access to spread demand, increase reach, and enhance resilience
• Aligned with transport, environmental, and community planning frameworks
• Funded and managed with transparency and genuine engagement
There are other sites that could support this kind of infrastructure in Newcastle, sites that were reportedly offered but not pursued. That needs to be revisited, urgently.
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Final Recommendation
This version of the HISC proposal is not fit for purpose. It fails both the local community and the sport it claims to champion.
To protect Newcastle’s liveability and give basketball a genuine platform for long-term success, the project must be redesigned from the ground up, with real collaboration, real consultation, and real ambition.
I strongly urge the responsible authorities to reject this proposal in its current form and commit to a process that serves both the game and the city with the foresight they deserve.

Former Newcastle Representative Basketballer
Proud supporter of the local game
Advocate for smart, sustainable sporting infrastructure

The proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre will be a vital asset to our community, providing a year-round, all-weather facility for people of all ages and abilities. It will support local sports development, improve health and wellbeing, and create opportunities for youth engagement and talent pathways. The Centre will also attract regional competitions and events, boosting the local economy and tourism. With flexible, multi-sport courts and modern amenities, it will serve schools, clubs, and families alike. Investing in this facility means investing in community resilience, inclusivity, and future growth. I strongly support the proposal and urge its approval without delay.

As a passionate Basketball employee and enthusiast, I am wholeheartedly in support of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) project. This initiative represents a fantastic opportunity to enhance our community's health, vitality, and economic prospects, and I believe it deserves full approval under the State Significant Development process.

First and foremost, the HISC will deliver tremendous community benefits that far outweigh any potential drawbacks. With 12 indoor basketball courts—including a state-of-the-art show court seating 2,500 people—this facility will cater to a wide range of sports and activities, promoting physical fitness, social cohesion, and inclusivity for youth, families, seniors, and people with disabilities. It's inspiring to see how it will support diverse cultural groups and even include features like outdoor half courts and gathering areas to make it a true hub for wellness. In a time when mental health challenges and sedentary lifestyles are on the rise, this project could play a pivotal role in reducing stress, combating obesity, and building stronger connections among locals. Plus, relocating Newcastle Basketball from its current site will free up space for broader urban renewal under the Broadmeadow Place Strategy, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

Economically, the HISC is a winner for the Hunter region. It promises 260 construction jobs during build-out and 91 ongoing operational roles, injecting vitality into our local workforce. The projected 35,000 annual visitors for events—many from outside the area—will pump an estimated $5 million into nearby businesses through spending on food, accommodation, and more. As someone who values our region's growth, I see this as a smart investment that aligns with Newcastle's vision for sustainable development.

Of course, I've noted some community concerns raised during the exhibition, such as flooding risks in the site's low-lying area, traffic on Turton Road, and the loss of existing green space at Wallarah and Blackley Ovals. These are valid points, but the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) addresses them thoughtfully: flood mitigations like rainwater tanks, overflow channels to Ker-Rai Creek, protective bollards, and a mezzanine refuge for up to 2,000 people show proactive planning, especially with climate considerations in mind. On traffic and parking, the proposed 220 spots, combined with potential public transport tie-ins, should handle peak loads effectively—far better than the status quo of scattered, weather-dependent outdoor play. And while we'll miss some oval space for cricket and soccer, the indoor focus will actually expand year-round access to sports, benefiting schools like Lambton High and touch football clubs without the rain interruptions we all know too well.

Newcastle Basketball's engagement efforts, from school presentations to open consultations, demonstrate a genuine commitment to getting this right. With 667 submissions already in, it's clear there's strong backing from the community, and I urge the Department of Planning and Environment to move swiftly through assessment and determination to make HISC a reality.

In summary, the HISC isn't just a sports centre—it's a cornerstone for a healthier, more connected, and prosperous Newcastle. Let's champion this project and get building! C'mon the Falcons!

A New Basketball stadium is well overdue as the people of Newcastle and surrounds deserve to be able to play basketball and other sports in a safe environment which at the moment they can’t do due to the leaks, dead spots on courts and the ageing building! The proposed sight of the new facility is ideal as it is close to public transport as well as the proposed new sporting hub! I feel that Newcastle Basketball have addressed the issues that have come up in the first proposal and should be approved!

I have attached an amended submission. Please remove my previous submission and insert this copy. Many thanks.

EIS Submission is an attached file.

A region of this size requires and deserves access to high-quality indoor sports facility that can meet the needs of the growing community.
The Hunter Indoor Sports Facility would provide a central hub for athletes, families, and community groups, offering modern spaces that support participation, development and competition across a wide range of sports.
This investment is not only about sport, it's about creating opportunities for connection, health and wellbeing.

A new stadium is required, but the new site should not come at the cost of other current users, including Lambton High School and the local soccer community. The traffic and parking situation will be unfavourable.