Julius Avenue Data Centre

In 1999 my first project as a site engineer with lend lease was to build the Binary Centre some blocks up from the proposed Julius Centre. Fast forward 25 years and I look back with some shame at having been involved in that project. Back then, we did not know so much about climate change and how retaining forests in urban area would not only become vital but also so difficult to achieve because of the impact of urban heat, traffic, water diversion, weeds and pollutants on plants and animals. Some people did know though. And there was significant outcry at the time. So I just cannot believe that government is still allowing development zones in this business park to come this close to the river. Any person who has walked around the lane cove river at this point cannot fail to notice that the buildings are far too close to the river and that it would be preferable if a far greater depth of native forest ( not planted landscaping) is maintained to preserve a natural corridor and to enable the biodiversity around this very significant waterway to be maintained. The forests around waterways are very hospitable places for many plants and animals to live. They are treasure troves to be maintained for future generations and due to climate change they cannot be replaced once they are lost as the conditions that ushered their growth over thousands of years will never happen again in the future as we get hotter and the rainfall changes and surrounding buildings impact water patterns, heat, shading, wind, air quality and seed/insect/ animal pathways. If bushfire regulations are driving the need to remove this amount of exisiting vegetation, this site should not be permitted to have such a large footprint of devslopment and/or the type of development on the site should not require this level bushfire risk reduction. Ideally Council should be looking to buy back some of this land or impose a much wider biodiversity corridor along the river. It is simply horrifying that in 2025 this would be contemplated along the Lane Cove River

I strongly object to this project as the construction will result in the removal of 509 trees that are part of the important habitat corridor next to Lane Cove National Park and the Great North Walk. It will also result in increased urban heat island effects, loss of animal habitat, bushfire risk and noise pollution. Habitats for three threatened fauna species are at risk, namely: Large-eared Pied Bat Chalinolobus dwyeri, Little Bent-winged Bat Miniopterus australis and Large Bent-winged Bat Miniopterus orianae oceanensis, and four threatened plant species are at risk, being Darwinia biflora, Deyeuxia appressa, Hibbertia spanantha and Rhizanthella slateri.

Being a 24 /7 open place with backup generators i object to constant 24/7 operation also the noise associated with cars coming and going also backup generators is not acceptable.

If this plan goes ahead it will result in the removal of 509 trees (Page 9 of EIS - Julius Avenue Data Centre 240625) that are part of the important habitat corridor right next to the Park and the Great North Walk near Fairyland.
Heat island effects, loss of animal habitat, bushfire risk and noise are other issues.
There is loss of habitat for three threatened fauna species, namely: Large-eared Pied Bat Chalinolobus dwyeri, Little Bent-winged Bat Miniopterus australis and Large Bent-winged Bat Miniopterus orianae oceanensis, and four threatened plant species, being Darwinia biflora, Deyeuxia appressa, Hibbertia spanantha and Rhizanthella slateri.

The proposal will threaten the already delicate native habitat of many species including:
Large-eared Pied Bat Chalinolobus dwyeri, Little Bent-winged Bat Miniopterus australis Large Bent-winged Bat Miniopterus orianae oceanensis
four threatened plant species, Darwinia biflora, Deyeuxia appressa, Hibbertia spanantha and Rhizanthella slateri

Adjacent to Lane Cove National Park, this development will destroy a vital green space in North Ryde/Macquarie Park where there are high residential densities. It will increase the heat island effect and noise.
It is in a bushfire risk area.
The removal of so many trees will impact on native animal corridors and the biodiversity of the area.

A major data centre development is being proposed in North Ryde, near the Julius Avenue entrance to the Great North Walk. If approved, this project would lead to the removal of 509 trees and impact 1.2 hectares of Sydney Coastal Enriched Sandstone Forest—a critically endangered ecological community.
The site is also recognised as a habitat for three threatened animal species and four threatened plant species, all of which could be further endangered.
Even the development’s own Biodiversity Development Assessment Report (BDAR) acknowledges the potential for serious and irreversible impacts on local biodiversity.
Beyond the environmental damage, data centres are known to produce constant mechanical noise from cooling systems and backup generators. This would disrupt the tranquillity of Lane Cove National Park, disturb native wildlife, and negatively affect bushwalkers and others who value the area’s peace and natural setting.
It’s also worth noting that the NSW Government rezoned the Macquarie Park and North Ryde area to improve housing and amenity. How is a data centre improving housing and amenity? According to the Macquarie Park Design Guide (available here: https://pp.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/.../macquarie-park...), the area affected by this proposal falls within a designated landscape setback—meant to retain and reinforce the green character with mature vegetation.
The current development proposal, which involves significant tree clearing in this setback, appears to directly contradict the NSW Government’s own planning and climate change policies.
There is also another data centre development announced recently to be built on Talavera Rd. Does there need to be 2 data centres built in such close proximity to each other? Urban heat island in North Ryde for sure!
Thank you for your consideration on this matter.
The site should be just left as it is and added to Lane Cove National Park instead.

I’m writing to object to the proposed data centre near the Julius Avenue entrance to the Great North Walk in North Ryde.

This development would involve cutting down 509 trees and clearing 1.2 hectares of Sydney Coastal Enriched Sandstone Forest, which is a Critically Endangered Ecological Community. The area is also known to support three threatened animal species and four threatened plant species. Even the developer’s own Biodiversity Assessment acknowledges the potential for serious and irreversible damage to the area’s ecosystems. That level of impact is simply not acceptable.

On top of the biodiversity damage, aren't data centres very noisy essentially operating like giant computers with continuous cooling systems? This would seriously affect the peace and quiet of Lane Cove National Park, making the experience worse for local residents, visitors, and people who use the Great North Walk. Excessive noise could also impact the health and wellbeing of native animals, many of which rely on quiet environments for feeding, breeding, and shelter.

Also, didn’t the NSW Government rezone Macquarie Park and North Ryde last year to allow for more housing and to improve amenity? I read that the Biodiversity Conservation branch recommended keeping and strengthening the existing green setbacks with mature planting. Letting a development go ahead that removes so many trees goes against that recommendation and could set a worrying precedent for future projects. It also directly affects the natural beauty and value of the Great North Walk.

Finally, cutting down hundreds of mature trees will make it harder to fight climate change. These trees store carbon and help cool the local area. We should be protecting our urban canopy, not clearing it. Approving this development would go against the government’s own climate and sustainability goals.

For all these reasons, I ask that this development application be refused. It doesn’t align with the environmental values, planning goals, or community expectations for the area.

I strongly object to the clearing of trees and bushland in this area because of the detrimental effect it will have on Lane Cove National Park. There is increasing evidence that the ecological health of National Parks reflects their surrounding environment. Also habitat stepping stones are vital for the survival of our declining wildlife. There is such little bushland left in the area that clearing this patch will have a significant impact on the habitat quality of the National Park and survivability of local biodiversity.

The environmental impact to the area is unjustifiable considering the expanse of vegetation and trees that is being cleared. Impact of the aesthetic pleasures of Lane Cove National Park and impact on Fauna species including threatened which would be utilising the area.

I wish to object to the removal of a significant number of trees on this site, adjacent to Lane Cove National Park. This is also a habitat corridor and I have persally seen wallabies and echidna in this bushland while using the walking trails. The development in the area has been significant and this is the only remnant bushland left in the vicinity. I was told (as a staff member at CSIRO) that this bushland was ro remain when the site was subdivided. The data centre footprint should be adjusted to achieve the floorspace vertically. It appears to be a case of greedy developers, with no appreciation or willingness to protect our environment. I support the development in a modified format to protect the remaining bushland.

The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Assessment and Mitigation Plan appears to show the project to have scope 1 and 2 emissions exceeding 100,000 t CO2-e per year in the first year, yet there is no independent review per the requirements in the NSW Guide for Large Emitters. There are many sections missing from the Plan which are required per the NSW Guide for Large Emitters, for example: "Describe, in tabulated form, scope 1 and 2 emissions for each financial year over the project life, based on maximum capacity and planned operational throughput for each stage of the project and each scenario".