My name is Anna, and I’m 10 years old, and basketball is my passion. I don’t just like playing — I dream of one day wearing the green and gold and representing Australia. Every time I step on the court, I imagine myself at the Olympics.

Right now, I train and play at the Newcastle Basketball Stadium. I’m so grateful for it, but it’s really hard when the roof leaks or when games are cancelled because the courts are wet. Sometimes we are all ready to play, and then we’re told it’s unsafe. It’s really disappointing, especially when I know every game and every training session helps me get closer to my dream.

A new Hunter Indoor Sports Stadium would change everything. It would give players like me a place to train properly, without worrying about whether the courts are safe. It would also give us more space and better facilities to grow as athletes. I believe a stadium like this could inspire more kids, especially girls, to choose basketball and to believe that their dreams are possible too.

For me, basketball is more than just a game — it’s where I feel most confident and happy. I love being part of a team, pushing myself to improve, and competing against strong opponents. But I also know how important sport is for all kids, no matter what game they choose. Having a modern stadium means kids in netball, volleyball, futsal, and other sports will also get to play safely and aim high.

Even if the new stadium isn’t finished while I’m still a kid, I know it will help the next generation — the little kids who are just picking up a basketball for the first time or joining their first team. They deserve to have a place that gives them the best chance to grow, play, and believe in themselves.

Please support the Hunter Indoor Sports Stadium. For me, it would bring me closer to my dream of playing for Australia, and for all kids it would open doors to bigger and brighter futures.

Thank you

I think most people would agree that a new basketball stadium is required - my son is currently part of the Future Falcons programme so I see it first hand - but this is not the right site for it.

Green spaces should be protected; once gone, they are gone forever. These ovals are used by schools and community sports clubs and their loss would have a hugely detrimental impact. And that does not even take into account the casual usage by local residents. My son flew his first kite there, threw his first boomerang and bowled his first leg spinner, amongst many other things! Countless other children and adults use these fields to play, to learn and to exercise both mind and body. They are a hugely important local resource that contribute to physical and mental health and the quality of life of the neighbourhood. This should be cherished and protected. A new basketball stadium should not be built on precious green land. I appreciate that makes finding a suitable site harder but that is no reason to shrug our shoulders and diminish the environment for current and future generations.

I have additional concerns over parking, which is pretty chaotic already when the Knights are playing. Adding another stadium into the mix is a bad idea and unfair on local residents.

I am also concerned about the impact of this development on an area already prone to flooding. Year on year, we are seeing more (and more prolonged) heavy rain events. We should be mitigating the associated risks, not exacerbating them.

i cant believe that we are making submissions to support this going ahead. a city of 500,000 people & we are debating if we need a world class facility
I think we have enough in the bank for this one guys?

My name is Ethan, and I am 12 years old. I play representative basketball in Newcastle. I used to play other sports, but I’ve chosen basketball above everything else because it’s the game I love the most.

Right now, we play at the Newcastle Basketball Stadium, but it has a lot of problems. The roof leaks when it rains, and games and training sometimes get cancelled because the courts are wet and unsafe. The building is old and doesn’t really meet the needs of all the players and families who use it. It can be very disappointing to miss games and training for reasons like that, especially when we all look forward to playing so much.

That’s why the idea of a new Hunter Indoor Sports Stadium is so exciting. Having a modern, safe, and reliable stadium would mean we could play and train without worrying about leaks or cancellations. It would also give kids like me the best chance to improve, compete, and enjoy basketball to its fullest.

Even though basketball is my passion, I know how important sport in general is for kids. Whether it’s netball, volleyball, futsal, or any other indoor sport, having a place where children can play, stay active, and be part of a team makes a big difference in their lives. Sport helps us make friends, learn discipline, stay healthy, and build confidence. A stadium like this would be amazing for all sports, not just basketball.

Basketball has already given me confidence, great friends, and so many positive experiences. I know that a new stadium would make things even better — not just for me, but for all players, teams, and families who love the game.

Even though I understand that the new stadium might not be finished while I am still playing, I think it’s really important for the younger kids and future players to have it. They deserve to grow up with the opportunities that a proper stadium can give them, and I want them to have the chance to enjoy sport the way I have.

Please support the new Hunter Indoor Sports Stadium. It would make a huge difference to the future of basketball and all indoor sports in our community.

Thank you for reading my submission.

My name is Liam, and I am 14 years old. I have been playing at the surrent Sports Stadium for the past few years, both in competitive teams and in more social games with friends. I wanted to share why the new stadium means so much to me and why I believe it should continue to be supported.

For me, the stadium is more than just a place to play sport. It’s where I go to challenge myself, improve my skills, and be part of a team. Playing competitively has taught me how to push myself, set goals, and work hard, but it has also shown me how important teamwork and encouragement are. Winning feels great, but what I value most is being able to play alongside my teammates and knowing that we all support each other, no matter the result.

The stadium is also a place where I can spend time with my friends in a safe and positive environment. Not everyone wants to play at a high level, and that’s okay — there is always space for people who just want to play socially and have fun. I think that’s one of the best things about the stadium: it doesn’t matter whether you are there to compete seriously or just to enjoy yourself, you always feel welcome.

Being part of the stadium community has given me confidence both on and off the court. I’ve made new friends, built strong connections with coaches and other players, and learned life skills that I know will help me in the future. It’s also given my family a chance to get involved, whether by coming to watch games, meeting other families, or just supporting me in something I really care about.

I honestly can’t imagine not having the Hunter Indoor Sports Stadium. For kids like me, it’s a place to stay active, keep healthy, and have fun while learning important lessons about discipline, respect, and teamwork. I really hope that it keeps getting the support it needs, so that more kids in the Hunter can have the same opportunities that I’ve had.

Thank you for reading my submission.

Newcastle desperately needs a new basketball stadium.
The location is ideal in that it is close to public transport & in an area with other sporting facilities.

Newcastle needs a national standard facility. The children of this area are in dire need of it. Being accessible to public transport is a plus. The location of other sporting facility’s near by sets a precedence for the basketball stadium. I’m in favour of the location being put forward.

This project is long overdue, as a very close neighbour they have my full support and cannot wait until its built. Its the best location

As an individual who walks this area regularly, uses this space and first hand sees how important it is to the community.
I strongly object to the proposal to build an indoor sports centre on this section of the park.

This space is not underused or idle land – it is already heavily relied upon by the community. The local high school uses it for lessons and sport, cricket and soccer are played seasonally, and it is constantly used for recreation such as running, ball games, and community activities. To remove this would be to strip the community of one of its most valuable open green spaces. Once it is lost, it will never be replaced.

The location also raises serious and unavoidable issues around parking and traffic. Congestion is already a problem whenever the stadium across the road holds events, and placing another large-scale facility here will only make this worse. The impact on residents will be significant and negative.
Building on a well used, much needed green space is the wrong decision for the community.

For these reasons, I firmly oppose the project and urge council to reject it.

As a resident of one of the "nearby streets that can absorb traffic flow" I greatly oppose this planning application. Turton road is congested daily and completely at standstill for hours before and after events at Macdonald Jones. The surrounding streets already suffer with traffic overflow from Turton and progressively increasing traffic from the hospitals on either side including loud regular traffic through the night.

There is already a lack planning for the future when it comes to retaining and potecting green space - we cannot afford to loose this highly utilised and important community recreation area. It is the home to many community sports, school recreation, and frequent leisure use by local residents.
Choosing to prioritise one groups recreational pursuits above the general community use is an unfair allocation of that resource and just moves the problem of lack of recreactional space from one group to another. If the Hunter Sport Centre is needed then it will be utilised well even in a less than central location - the majority of people accessing that centre will be driving to it from various parts of the city therefore it's location needs are not as fixed as those of the local children's sports teams, local school, and local residents who currently walk to these fields for their recreation.



The impact in terms of flooding by concreting over huge areas will be devastating and the areas land hand already demonstrated vulnerability with recent land slips.

The impacts of traffic and congestion will be catastrophic especially considering the sheduling of the Mcdonald Jones and the expansion of both the John Hunter and Mater hospital campuses.