This is long overdue and will be great for the Newcastle sporting community

Our family are local New Lambton residents, who will be effected both mentally and physically because of the monstrosity called the HISC.

Our children both play representative sports, and have been advised that the Newcastle Football fields are no longer in Newcastle due to Newcastle Basketball wanting to build new courts on the fields. We now have to go to the edge of Maitland (Tarro) to train. If we can drive this far, why cannot Newcastle Basketball look for a more suitable site. Just because they want to be closer to their own houses, doesn’t seem fair? The fields are also used by multiple sporting clubs all throughout the year, not just for winter sports. How do they think they can boot everyone else out? That seems very entitled of them. Newcastle Basketball have said we can use the indoor venue, but this is not an option as the courts will be given priority to Basketball members. Also, the court sizes are not the same as football/indoor cricket fields. This seems to me they are just saying this to appease the neigh sayers.

I have also huge concerns on the flooding of the field. I have read some of the flood reports and it seems the new reports are just copied and pasted from the previous report. Can you please confirm that they have actually been to site to actually observe and provide reporting on the fields/floods each time we have any sort of rain? It seems they have not.

It also seems that traffic studies have not been correctly reported. Has any one of these investigators been stuck in traffic on Turton Road, Monash Road, Young Road, Lambton Road? I don’t think they can make an assumption without sitting through many changes of lights and actually not moving. Newcastle Basketball are estimated up to 500 visitors per day from 4-9pm in peak hour traffic. This is more traffic that will back up all the way through many traffic intersections all the way back to Kotara which is almost 4 kms away. This is not suitable for all residents alike.

Regarding the height of the project. How many stories are they actually proposing to have? Reports are conflicting, with no real guarantee of what is being proposed.
We have been advised that Newcastle Basketball only have a small budget available to construct. What happens when the well runs dry? Does the build just stop. I know my bank wouldn’t lend me more money to finish a mansion build, just because we want it? Life doesn’t work like that. We as residents are worried about this monstrosity becoming a concrete derelict building, with 10% completed.

We are respectfully asking for this project to be rejected at this site. Once the fields are gone, there is no coming back.

It seems Newcastle Basketball were “given” the fields to construct by a former Lord Mayor of Newcastle, who was ousted at the last local election due to the overwhelming reaction from residents. She respectfully didn’t even offer residents a chance to “chat” despite saying in the media she did offer. Locals were blindsided by her generosity to Newcastle Basketball. I have smelt a rat for a very long time with our local politics.

So in conclusion, please be advised that we are rejecting this submission due to the above.

Thank you

This location is not appropriate for following reasons:
- severe loss of amenity for local residents l, i feel incredibly sorry for them if this goes ahead
- value of local homes decrease with no compensation
-noise
- loss of green space
- PARKING. With capacity of 2500 there will not be enough parking without overflowing to surrounding streets which will just replicate the chaos experienced whenever there is a big game at MJ stadium and it becomes dodge the pedestrian.
- previous submission period showed clear opposition to this location (and I am sure there would have been more objections if it was easier to make a submission) so I am baffled why money and time is being wasted repeating it.
- other locations with less impact on the surrounding neighbourhood have been suggested

Lets gooo!

Having more and better Indoor stadiums will bring more people together to play sports

I am a student in Year 8 at Lambton High School.
I use the ovals every day for pe, sport and recess and lunch. Without the ovals there is nowhere to play ball games like soccer and footy.
I also play soccer and cricket on the weekend on these ovals. If they are gone we will have to travel greater distances for training and games. They said it could be as far away as Beresfield. Mum and Dad will find it hard to get me to training because of work so I might not be able to play anymore. it’s really upsetting to think I won’t be able to play with my team anymore.
We spend heaps of time on the ovals at weekends too, kicking balls and riding our bikes.
Please stop this development. It can go anywhere but my teams can’t play and train anywhere. There aren’t enough ovals as it is.

This is such a wonderful and exciting and deeply needed piece of infrastructure. As the parent of a keen primary school aged basketballer, I am aware of how the sport has been rapidly growing in popularity. This new infrastructure is critical to fostering this wonderful sport and affording opportunities to so many young people. It will not only house basketball, but a range of other sports like volleyball, netball, pickleball and more. We need this new facility so desperately and it should be located in the precinct with all the other sports. The plan is well thought out , adaptive and will support community cohesion and development into the future.

I object to the Hunter Indoor Sport Centre for the following reasons:
It is not suitable to put a large building on Community Green Space.
Traffic congestion, disruptions to residential streets through increase traffic in streets not design to take large amounts of traffic. Parking issues. The Re design of Traffic to divert onto Turton Road from an one way puzzle is a disaster for residents of Lambton, New Lambton and other suburbs near by. Why are residents being subject to this. Increase height of the building. This Hunter Indoor Sport Centre needs to be relocated to a more suitable area. Please see the attached submission.

I am writing as a local parent and proud member of the Newcastle community to express my strong support for the proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre (HISC) development. As someone who has seen firsthand the positive impact that sport has on our children, families, and broader community, I believe this project is not only necessary but long overdue.
Our current basketball stadium, while it has served us well over the years, is simply no longer fit for purpose. It is outdated, too small for the growing demand, and offers little protection against the weather — meaning cancelled games and training sessions are all too common. This not only affects the development of our young athletes but also limits opportunities for families to stay active and connected throughout the year.
The new HISC promises to be a true community hub, offering state-of-the-art facilities for a wide range of indoor sports including basketball, futsal, volleyball, pickleball, netball, and indoor tennis. This kind of multi-sport venue is exactly what Newcastle needs — a modern, inclusive, and accessible space where people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can come together, be active, and thrive.
Perhaps most importantly, the additional court capacity will mean no more turning children away due to a lack of space. As a parent, it's heartbreaking to see kids miss out on the chance to play simply because there aren’t enough facilities. This development ensures that more children can participate, learn teamwork, build confidence, and enjoy the lifelong benefits of sport.
Beyond the sporting benefits, the HISC will contribute significantly to community health, youth engagement, and social inclusion. It provides a positive outlet for young people, supports talent development pathways, and fosters stronger connections within our diverse community.
This project is about more than just bricks and mortar — it’s about investing in the wellbeing, future, and unity of Newcastle. I wholeheartedly support the HISC and urge decision-makers to approve the SSDA and help bring this vital community asset to life.