Lane Cove West Data Centre

To summarise, I found the reported environmental Impact of the project deficient in several aspects. I base my remarks on observations on site, and on a full reading of the submission provided for public comment. In broad terms the proposal challenges issues of location and scale; it intrudes below the sandstone cliff line. It allows for storage of a large amount (1 million litres) of hydrocarbons on a sit with recognised fire risk. No reference is given to handling concentrated runoff, nor the diversion of drainage to swamps on the river. The references to landscaping in the plans do not seem to be in harmony with the practices of the Lane Cove Council in remnant bushland recovery and management. The reference to cultural heritage is superficial. The history of illegal dumping of potentially hazardous waste needs a more positive statement in the EIS. The site functions as a corridor for reptiles and small mammals; for which this below cliff sheltered bushland presents preferred habitat; the prior existence of native grassland is not explored. Public consultation allowed for excluded key players, including those using, restoring and managing the riverside tracks and the attached bushland remnants. Planting trees and shrubs within a perimeter fence bears little relation to council and volunteer lead effort to conserve rich biodiversitypersisting in Lane Cove's gullies and mangrove communities. Industrial landscaping was pioneered at the lower Stringybark; it extends beyond the cosmetic. This is an opportunity for integrating site landscaping into valley and corridor management plans, albeit challenged in this case by the anomalous allowance of large scale industrial activity so close to undisturbed foreshore zones .

While I do not object to the location of a data centre in this area, per se, as it seems a land use compatible with the surrounding area, this proposal is unsuitable for this site and I would like to register objections to the existing proposal on several important grounds:
1. Bulk, height and scale and consequent landscape impacts in a sensitive area
2. Removal of native vegetation patches and other impact on native vegetation in a wildlife corridor and adjacent to a threatened ecological community
3. Actual and potential impacts of a cut and fill operation on both on the site and on threatened ecological communities downslope.
PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENT FOR DETAILS.

Updated PDF file, which supersedes the previous version.

Objection to the State Significant Development for I Sirius Road Lane Cove west -SSD 9971