10-07-2025
'Just not workable': Newcastle Basketball addresses laundry list of concerns about stadium
NEWCASTLE Basketball said it has lodged its response to submissions on the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre after it was asked to address a laundry list of issues, but the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Housing said the documentation is still being finalised.
Hundreds of people objected to the proposed $82 million basketball stadium on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals. Of 667 submissions to the state government, 72.5 per cent were against and 26 per cent were in support.
The response to submissions was due June 6. Newcastle Basketball said it lodged the response with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) a week after the due date, in agreement with the department.
Newcastle Basketball project coordinator Simon Haire said the project team has made changes to the site layout to "address primary concerns".
"By shifting the building further west and adjusting vehicle movements, we've tackled key issues such as flood hazards and traffic flow," he said.
DPHI asked Newcastle Basketball to address a spate of issues, including flooding, traffic and parking, noise impacts and inconsistencies across plans and documents, among other things in its response to submissions.
Newcastle Basketball said it has drafted a Flood Emergency Response Plan and a Traffic Event Management Plan in response to feedback.
"While not typically required at this stage, we've taken extra steps to provide a greater level of detail to alleviate any concerns," Mr Haire said.
A DPHI spokesman said Newcastle Basketball was asked to prepare a response to submissions (RTS) report as part of its State Significant Development application.
"The department had requested the RTS be submitted in June 2025," he said.
"The applicant advised the department it was not able to meet the requested date, as it is continuing to finalise its RTS documentation.
"Questions regarding the timing of the applicant's RTS lodgement should be directed to the applicant."
The spokesman said that once the RTS has been submitted, the department will assess the development.
"Consideration will be given to the comments or issues raised by council, agencies, other organisations and the public," he said.
"Given more than 50 objections were received during the Environmental Impact Statement exhibition, the final determination of the State Significant Development will be made by the Independent Planning Commission."
While a vast majority of submissions objected to the proposed development, many acknowledged Newcastle's need for a new stadium despite rejecting the location.
Common objections commented on the loss of green space, the impact on local schools and sporting clubs that use the fields, traffic concerns, flooding risks for nearby properties and a lack of consultation.
The Hunter basketball community threw its support behind the project, as did the National Basketball League (NBL).
Save Our Lambton Ovals member Jacqui Rosewood said she was unsure if some of the issues raised could be addressed.
"It's a bit of a minefield. The line Newcastle Basketball has held with the media to this point is that there are just a few little things they have to fix up, and we know there are more than a few little things," she said.
"We can't see how they can address some of those issues, but they seemingly are still trying.
"I just think there are so many issues, the general feeling is that it's just not workable there."
Newcastle Basketball was awarded a $25 million grant from the previous state Liberal government for the project in 2019, and if approved, it is expected to take two and a half years to build.
Newcastle Basketball general manager Sara Jiear said the project will break down barriers to participation in sports and physical activity.
"It will support a range of sports including basketball, volleyball, badminton, netball, futsal and pickleball," she said.
"The facility is designed to be fully accessible and inclusive, ensuring people of all ages and abilities can be physically and socially active in a community atmosphere."
Newcastle Basketball said the department will review the response to submissions before taking the next step in the process.
The response to submissions is not yet publicly available.
Submissions closed in November last year.
NEWCASTLE Basketball said it has lodged its response to submissions on the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre after it was asked to address a laundry list of issues, but the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Housing said the documentation is still being finalised.
Hundreds of people objected to the proposed $82 million basketball stadium on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals. Of 667 submissions to the state government, 72.5 per cent were against and 26 per cent were in support.
The response to submissions was due June 6. Newcastle Basketball said it lodged the response with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) a week after the due date, in agreement with the department.
Newcastle Basketball project coordinator Simon Haire said the project team has made changes to the site layout to "address primary concerns".
"By shifting the building further west and adjusting vehicle movements, we've tackled key issues such as flood hazards and traffic flow," he said.
DPHI asked Newcastle Basketball to address a spate of issues, including flooding, traffic and parking, noise impacts and inconsistencies across plans and documents, among other things in its response to submissions.
Newcastle Basketball said it has drafted a Flood Emergency Response Plan and a Traffic Event Management Plan in response to feedback.
"While not typically required at this stage, we've taken extra steps to provide a greater level of detail to alleviate any concerns," Mr Haire said.
A DPHI spokesman said Newcastle Basketball was asked to prepare a response to submissions (RTS) report as part of its State Significant Development application.
"The department had requested the RTS be submitted in June 2025," he said.
"The applicant advised the department it was not able to meet the requested date, as it is continuing to finalise its RTS documentation.
"Questions regarding the timing of the applicant's RTS lodgement should be directed to the applicant."
The spokesman said that once the RTS has been submitted, the department will assess the development.
"Consideration will be given to the comments or issues raised by council, agencies, other organisations and the public," he said.
"Given more than 50 objections were received during the Environmental Impact Statement exhibition, the final determination of the State Significant Development will be made by the Independent Planning Commission."
While a vast majority of submissions objected to the proposed development, many acknowledged Newcastle's need for a new stadium despite rejecting the location.
Common objections commented on the loss of green space, the impact on local schools and sporting clubs that use the fields, traffic concerns, flooding risks for nearby properties and a lack of consultation.
The Hunter basketball community threw its support behind the project, as did the National Basketball League (NBL).
Save Our Lambton Ovals member Jacqui Rosewood said she was unsure if some of the issues raised could be addressed.
"It's a bit of a minefield. The line Newcastle Basketball has held with the media to this point is that there are just a few little things they have to fix up, and we know there are more than a few little things," she said.
"We can't see how they can address some of those issues, but they seemingly are still trying.
"I just think there are so many issues, the general feeling is that it's just not workable there."
Newcastle Basketball was awarded a $25 million grant from the previous state Liberal government for the project in 2019, and if approved, it is expected to take two and a half years to build.
Newcastle Basketball general manager Sara Jiear said the project will break down barriers to participation in sports and physical activity.
"It will support a range of sports including basketball, volleyball, badminton, netball, futsal and pickleball," she said.
"The facility is designed to be fully accessible and inclusive, ensuring people of all ages and abilities can be physically and socially active in a community atmosphere."
Newcastle Basketball said the department will review the response to submissions before taking the next step in the process.
The response to submissions is not yet publicly available.
Submissions closed in November last year.
NEWCASTLE Basketball said it has lodged its response to submissions on the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre after it was asked to address a laundry list of issues, but the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Housing said the documentation is still being finalised.
Hundreds of people objected to the proposed $82 million basketball stadium on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals. Of 667 submissions to the state government, 72.5 per cent were against and 26 per cent were in support.
The response to submissions was due June 6. Newcastle Basketball said it lodged the response with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) a week after the due date, in agreement with the department.
Newcastle Basketball project coordinator Simon Haire said the project team has made changes to the site layout to "address primary concerns".
"By shifting the building further west and adjusting vehicle movements, we've tackled key issues such as flood hazards and traffic flow," he said.
DPHI asked Newcastle Basketball to address a spate of issues, including flooding, traffic and parking, noise impacts and inconsistencies across plans and documents, among other things in its response to submissions.
Newcastle Basketball said it has drafted a Flood Emergency Response Plan and a Traffic Event Management Plan in response to feedback.
"While not typically required at this stage, we've taken extra steps to provide a greater level of detail to alleviate any concerns," Mr Haire said.
A DPHI spokesman said Newcastle Basketball was asked to prepare a response to submissions (RTS) report as part of its State Significant Development application.
"The department had requested the RTS be submitted in June 2025," he said.
"The applicant advised the department it was not able to meet the requested date, as it is continuing to finalise its RTS documentation.
"Questions regarding the timing of the applicant's RTS lodgement should be directed to the applicant."
The spokesman said that once the RTS has been submitted, the department will assess the development.
"Consideration will be given to the comments or issues raised by council, agencies, other organisations and the public," he said.
"Given more than 50 objections were received during the Environmental Impact Statement exhibition, the final determination of the State Significant Development will be made by the Independent Planning Commission."
While a vast majority of submissions objected to the proposed development, many acknowledged Newcastle's need for a new stadium despite rejecting the location.
Common objections commented on the loss of green space, the impact on local schools and sporting clubs that use the fields, traffic concerns, flooding risks for nearby properties and a lack of consultation.
The Hunter basketball community threw its support behind the project, as did the National Basketball League (NBL).
Save Our Lambton Ovals member Jacqui Rosewood said she was unsure if some of the issues raised could be addressed.
"It's a bit of a minefield. The line Newcastle Basketball has held with the media to this point is that there are just a few little things they have to fix up, and we know there are more than a few little things," she said.
"We can't see how they can address some of those issues, but they seemingly are still trying.
"I just think there are so many issues, the general feeling is that it's just not workable there."
Newcastle Basketball was awarded a $25 million grant from the previous state Liberal government for the project in 2019, and if approved, it is expected to take two and a half years to build.
Newcastle Basketball general manager Sara Jiear said the project will break down barriers to participation in sports and physical activity.
"It will support a range of sports including basketball, volleyball, badminton, netball, futsal and pickleball," she said.
"The facility is designed to be fully accessible and inclusive, ensuring people of all ages and abilities can be physically and socially active in a community atmosphere."
Newcastle Basketball said the department will review the response to submissions before taking the next step in the process.
The response to submissions is not yet publicly available.
Submissions closed in November last year.
NEWCASTLE Basketball said it has lodged its response to submissions on the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre after it was asked to address a laundry list of issues, but the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Housing said the documentation is still being finalised.
Hundreds of people objected to the proposed $82 million basketball stadium on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals. Of 667 submissions to the state government, 72.5 per cent were against and 26 per cent were in support.
The response to submissions was due June 6. Newcastle Basketball said it lodged the response with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) a week after the due date, in agreement with the department.
Newcastle Basketball project coordinator Simon Haire said the project team has made changes to the site layout to "address primary concerns".
"By shifting the building further west and adjusting vehicle movements, we've tackled key issues such as flood hazards and traffic flow," he said.
DPHI asked Newcastle Basketball to address a spate of issues, including flooding, traffic and parking, noise impacts and inconsistencies across plans and documents, among other things in its response to submissions.
Newcastle Basketball said it has drafted a Flood Emergency Response Plan and a Traffic Event Management Plan in response to feedback.
"While not typically required at this stage, we've taken extra steps to provide a greater level of detail to alleviate any concerns," Mr Haire said.
A DPHI spokesman said Newcastle Basketball was asked to prepare a response to submissions (RTS) report as part of its State Significant Development application.
"The department had requested the RTS be submitted in June 2025," he said.
"The applicant advised the department it was not able to meet the requested date, as it is continuing to finalise its RTS documentation.
"Questions regarding the timing of the applicant's RTS lodgement should be directed to the applicant."
The spokesman said that once the RTS has been submitted, the department will assess the development.
"Consideration will be given to the comments or issues raised by council, agencies, other organisations and the public," he said.
"Given more than 50 objections were received during the Environmental Impact Statement exhibition, the final determination of the State Significant Development will be made by the Independent Planning Commission."
While a vast majority of submissions objected to the proposed development, many acknowledged Newcastle's need for a new stadium despite rejecting the location.
Common objections commented on the loss of green space, the impact on local schools and sporting clubs that use the fields, traffic concerns, flooding risks for nearby properties and a lack of consultation.
The Hunter basketball community threw its support behind the project, as did the National Basketball League (NBL).
Save Our Lambton Ovals member Jacqui Rosewood said she was unsure if some of the issues raised could be addressed.
"It's a bit of a minefield. The line Newcastle Basketball has held with the media to this point is that there are just a few little things they have to fix up, and we know there are more than a few little things," she said.
"We can't see how they can address some of those issues, but they seemingly are still trying.
"I just think there are so many issues, the general feeling is that it's just not workable there."
Newcastle Basketball was awarded a $25 million grant from the previous state Liberal government for the project in 2019, and if approved, it is expected to take two and a half years to build.
Newcastle Basketball general manager Sara Jiear said the project will break down barriers to participation in sports and physical activity.
"It will support a range of sports including basketball, volleyball, badminton, netball, futsal and pickleball," she said.
"The facility is designed to be fully accessible and inclusive, ensuring people of all ages and abilities can be physically and socially active in a community atmosphere."
Newcastle Basketball said the department will review the response to submissions before taking the next step in the process.
The response to submissions is not yet publicly available.
Submissions closed in November last year.
