Flood risks, traffic jams and questions over public access have emerged as sticking points for Newcastle's proposed Hunter Indoor Sports Centre, with agencies calling for more answers before the project moves ahead.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has requested more information about the controversial $90 million proposal from Newcastle Basketball after reviewing feedback from government agencies, City of Newcastle (CN) and the community.
The request follows a series of concerns raised about how the proposed indoor sports complex would operate alongside McDonald Jones Stadium, manage extreme weather events and affect surrounding traffic.
Flood safety has emerged as a key issue, with the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) warning the proposal could increase risks during an extreme event.
The SES said modelling indicated flood velocities could increase by more than 80 per cent in some areas during an extreme, and rare, event, possibly increasing risks to life on the site, surrounding areas and Turton Road.
The agency raised concerns about a proposed plan to rely on shelter-in-place arrangements and private flood warning systems, arguing those measures are not fail-safe and people should not be directed to enter floodwaters as part of an emergency response.
"The suggestion for people to navigate medium hazard floodwaters is unacceptable, as it can put people's lives at significant risk, and any such suggestions must be removed from the flood emergency response plan," the SES said.
"Development strategies relying on an assumption that mass rescue may be possible where evacuation either fails or is not implemented are not acceptable to the SES."
The department has asked Newcastle Basketball for further detail on how long people may need to shelter on-site during a flood, when venue operations would stop if access along Turton Road was cut, and how the site's flood response measures would operate.
In high-hazard flooding, the SES said the site and its surrounds could be inundated for six to nine hours.
Clarification was also requested around the operation of the site's entrance gate, after inconsistencies were raised about whether it would be automatic, remote-controlled or manually operated.
Transport for NSW (TFNSW) raised its own concerns about how the proposal might affect surrounding roads, particularly when events at the centre clash with those at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The agency has asked for more information about how venues will coordinate conflicting events, manage road closures, communicate with each other and handle pedestrian and car movements in peak periods.
"There is no communication plan or schedule for how venues will manage conflicting events and times," TFNSW said.
TFNSW also questioned how vehicles leaving the indoor sports centre would be managed when Turton Road is closed during major stadium events and whether enough measures were in place to prevent a pile-up.
"There is no specific mention of conflict with McDonald Jones Stadium events and how this risk will be planned and managed," the agency said.
City of Newcastle's advice identified several unresolved issues, arguing the development should be subject to conditions addressing flood impacts, traffic, active transport upgrades and bus access.
The council said flood modelling showed the development could increase peak flood levels by between 50mm and 100mm for some upstream properties during a rare, extreme event.
"This exceeds CN's suggested limit of 50 mm for off-site impacts," the council said.
The council also maintained that the project should not be exempt from development contributions, recommending the developer pay almost $952,000 towards transport and community infrastructure.
It also recommended upgrades to active transport offerings around the site, including wider shared paths, improvements to the existing pedestrian bridge and a raised crossing at Monash Road.
The council also supported preparing a traffic management plan for larger events.
The proposal sits on Crown land within the Wallarah and Blackley Ovals site.
Crown land has to be managed for the benefit of the public, including maintaining public access and use.
Crown Lands raised concerns about whether replacing open playing fields with a large, indoor facility would maintain significant public benefit.
"While the proposal is broadly consistent with the recreation purpose of the reserve, the scale of built development and the associated change in land use intensity, access arrangements and operational model have the potential to shift the use of the land toward a more exclusive or commercially-managed facility," Crown Lands' advice said.
Heritage NSW also provided advice, arguing previous concerns about potential archaeological deposits had not been fully addressed in updated reports.
After undertaking its own assessment and reviewing nearby developments, Heritage NSW said proposed mitigation measures, including heritage inductions and an unexpected finds protocol would be accepted.
Hunter Indoor Sports Centre project consultant Simon Haire said they would be working through the requests and would provide the information to the department as soon as practical.
The department has given Newcastle Basketball until August 31 to provide the requested information or advise if it will not be provided.
