I support the submission in its entirety. This facility will increase access to activities for disabled people and provide allied health treatment options. The current usage is a waste and offers no usage to people with mobility issues.

Our current Basketball community has outgrown the old and derelict stadium. Lots of teams are being turned away due to the lack of courts. Current proposed stadiums will continue to grow this fantastic sport. Current proposed location as great being opposite the hockey stadium. This project is well overdue and will need to be started ASAP

I am writing to formally express my objection to the proposed development project of the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre at Lambton. While I understand the intention behind creating a new basketball stadium for Newcastle, I believe this particular site presents numerous challenges that could significantly harm our community, environment, and future generations.

1. Traffic and parking congestion:
The proposed location is likely to exacerbate existing traffic congestion issues in the neighboring suburb, particularly along Turton Road. This area already suffers from severe congestion and overcrowding on-street parking issues, especially during events at the nearby stadium. The addition of a new facility will only worsen this situation, making it increasingly difficult for residents to navigate their own community.

2. Loss of Green Space:
The current ovals designated for development are vital green spaces that serve our community. The loss of these areas would be irreparable, as green spaces provide essential benefits, including recreational opportunities and mental well-being. Many local sporting clubs, including the Jaffas soccer club and local cricket teams, rely on these ovals for training and games. Without them, these clubs may struggle to find adequate facilities, impacting community engagement and youth participation in sports.

3. Impact on Local Schools:
Lambton High School utilizes these ovals for physical education and extracurricular activities. The removal of these spaces would deprive students of crucial opportunities for outdoor recreation, which is essential for their physical and mental health.

4. Flood Risk Concerns:
The proposed site is situated in a well-known flood area. Replacing green space with concrete will likely exacerbate flooding issues, as natural drainage will be compromised. Recent storms have already demonstrated the vulnerability of this area, leading to significant flooding. Increased impervious surfaces will only heighten these risks, posing a threat to both residents and infrastructure.

In conclusion, while a new basketball stadium could be a valuable asset for Newcastle, I urge you to reconsider this proposed location. The negative implications for traffic, community resources, and environmental sustainability far outweigh the potential benefits. I advocate for a site that does not compromise our community's well-being or our environmental integrity.

Thank you for considering my concerns. I hope for a thorough review of this proposal with the community's best interests in mind.

I believe this site for the proposed Indoor Basketball Centre is totally inappropriate. Firstly: The parking for the proposed 1 million visitors could not possibly be contained by the 250 car spaces as proposed, especially when a function is held a Macdonald Jones Stadium. This would mean the overflow would pour onto the surrounding streets, as it already does. This creates stress and disruptions to the neighborhood, including crime and violence. Coastal lows often sit off Newcastle resulting in copious amounts of rain causing flooding on these ovals which act like a sponge mitigating even worse flooding to the local area. Furthermore, there would be a loss of playing fields to established local Juniors, some of which will have to travel to East Maitland to play. The area behind Lambton High School has also long been used as a convenient open air area by the High School Students to promote a healthy lifestyle. Newcastle Basketball has previously tried without success to position itself as a National Basketball Centre without involving the local community and is doomed to fail again. I do believe that if there was consultation to involve the locals they would have a better chance of success. Evidence of local resistance to this proposal can be seen at the last Council elections where the pro lord mayor was out voted by an oppositional candidate, who like most of us locals, oppose the current site. We do offer some alternate sites: the current one, the entertainment center, the old gasworks but would suggest a proper consultation.

I believe there is too little "green space" in Newcastle. Rather than take away the three playing fields at the centre of this proposal, I would much prefer to find a location that would be just as suitable but that does not affect existing outdoor playing fields. As a junior, I played many games on those fields, and as a former Student of Lambton High I spent countless hours there in both organised and casual activities. SURELY there is suitable land available somewhere, e.g. the old gas works, or near the council dump, or north of Stockton. I'm told the playing fields in question are Crown Land and therefore "free". They are not free, as the legacy of lost green space would last forever. If it's only money that matters, surely the State Government can find a few bucks to buy a patch of land that would suit. PLEASE rethink this stupid idea. We need more outdoor junior sporting venues, not less.

As Newcastle residents, my wife and I object to this development for the following reasons:
This project would compromise inner city green space which is vital for the health and well being of our ever increasing population.
These ovals are the only green space for Lambton High School's sporting activities.
This area is prone to regular flooding. Any mitigation made by the developer is unlikely to succeed due to the nature of the drains crossing our city of which this green space is part. In fact such mitigation may direct flooding away from the ovals to surrounding residential properties.
Traffic in the area is already heavy at most times of the day and especially when large events are held in the stadium opposite.
The Basketball Stadium development would only increase this major problem.
Nine species of Australian birds inhabit this green location.
This valuable green space will be lost forever if this development is allowed to proceed.

The assigned area is not suitable, there will be a loss of valuable open green space, traffic is already congested in that area and parking is already scarce. Additional concreted areas will add to pre-existing flood zone.

Make use of the old BHP site, there is plenty of room, a very good arterial road access, add some public transport and it's win win.

It's current location is not suitable I believe for the following reasons.
* Negatively impact the established High School in regards to:
Safety - more vehicles trying to park and drive near school. It also removes a close area for them to evacuate to in an emergency
Usage - This is used a lot by the school for PE and Sport. If they have to travel further to do outdoor activities they will have less time doing the activities. Childhood obesity is already an issue, don't make it harder for them.
NOISE - Construction and usage next to the school could be excessive and impact their education.
OTHER Issues:
It also doesn't have enough parking or close access to the Train Station.
With the other facilities so close (Stadium and Hockey) major traffic issues if they all have events on at the same time.

Please consider the existing Basketball location or the old Gasworks at Hamilton North.

Although I understand local resident's concerns regarding the loss of green space in our suburb, I support the planned Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) at the Wallarah/Blackley Ovals (Lambton). The current Broadmeadow facilities are aged and no longer suitable for Newcastle Falcons basketball games or the hundreds of kids and seniors games played at the site each week. The Newcastle region needs an updated indoor sports stadium and it makes sense to co-locate this near existing sports infrastructure. There is adequate green sporting fields adjacent to the site and at Lambton Park.

The proposed location for the development will have a significant negative impact on multiple groups including the current users of the ovals, the high school students who utilise the space for sport and the local residents who will face traffic chaos and risk collisions with frustrated drivers attempting to navigate the small residential streets.