Project Mars Data Centre

I strongly object to the proposed data centre next to Blackman Park. It feels completely out of place to have such a large industrial facility so close to homes, a school, and a much-loved local park. I’m really concerned about the constant noise, increased traffic, and pollution from the generators, as well as the loss of trees and green space that so many people rely on. The long construction period and risks involved, like asbestos removal, also add to the worry. This area is a community space where families live, children go to school, and people come to enjoy the outdoors — and this development would change that in a way that doesn’t feel right or fair for those who live here.

I am very concerned about :
- loss of wildlife due to excessive vibration and habitat removal, including 90 trees
- Loss of green space
- Risk associated with removal of asbestos
- Ongoing noise and dust from extensive and prolonged demolition and excavation
- Excessive daily water usage
- Exessive fuel usage
- Reduced enjoyment of blackmore park
- Increase in traffic, less parking, noise pollution
- Air pollution and emission from +- 50 diesel generators
- Setting a precended for more datacentres built close to homes, parks and recreational spaces in Sydney and the North Shore

Re: Proposed Goodman Data Centre Development – Mars Road, Lane Cove West

To Whom It May Concern,

I am a 42-year-old mother and local resident of the Lane Cove area, and I am writing to formally express my concerns regarding the proposed Goodman data centre development at Mars Road, Lane Cove West.

As a parent raising children in this community, my primary concern is the long-term wellbeing, health, and safety of local families. While I recognise the importance of digital infrastructure and economic development, I believe this proposal raises several significant issues that warrant careful consideration before any approval is granted.


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⚡ Electricity Demand, Brownouts, and Power Outages

Recent community experiences provide practical evidence of the pressures on local infrastructure. The proposed data centre’s substantial electricity requirements are deeply concerning. Our community has already experienced several electrical power outages, demonstrating that the local electricity network is under strain. By way of recent example, during a period in 2025, residents experienced multiple disruptions, including a planned outage on 2 September 2025, a major outage on 26 September 2025, an overnight outage on 3 December 2025, and an evening outage on 7 December 2025.

In addition, several traffic light failures occurred at key intersections during the same period, including Mowbray Road and Centennial Avenue (26 September 2025), Osborne Road and Pacific Highway (26 September 2025), and Epping Road and Longueville Road (25 November 2025), with repeated faults on 27 November 2025 and five confirmed failures on 28 November 2025. These incidents are not intended to represent a complete or exhaustive list, but rather serve as recent illustrative examples of the frequency and nature of infrastructure disruptions experienced by the community.

This pattern raises serious concerns that the significant and continuous electricity demand of the proposed data centre could further increase the likelihood of both brownouts (voltage reductions) and additional power outages, affecting homes, schools, essential services, and residents who rely on life-critical medical equipment.


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💧 Water Supply and Sustainability

Data centres typically require significant volumes of water for cooling, raising serious concerns about the capacity and reliability of existing infrastructure. Our community has recently experienced a major multi-day water outage associated with failures at the West Ryde pumping station, which relies on ageing infrastructure. This incident highlighted the vulnerability of the existing water supply network and demonstrated that parts of the system have required patching rather than comprehensive upgrades.

Media coverage at the time, including reporting by The Sydney Morning Herald in March 2026, documented the widespread disruption and the urgent need for water conservation measures. This event underscores the importance of ensuring that any additional demand from the proposed development does not place further strain on already ageing water infrastructure. I respectfully request that the proponent demonstrate that sufficient capacity exists and that sustainable water management practices—such as the use of recycled or non-potable water—be mandated.


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🔊 Noise Pollution and Community Amenity

The continuous operation of cooling systems, transformers, and the periodic testing of diesel generators raises serious concerns about noise pollution. Persistent low-frequency noise can significantly affect sleep quality, mental health, and overall wellbeing. With residential areas located close to the proposed site, I am worried about the long-term impact on families, including my own children.

Blackman Park is an essential recreational space for the Lane Cove community and is frequently used by families for sport and extracurricular activities. As a 42-year-old mother and local resident, my children regularly participate in activities such as soccer, touch rugby, and Scouts at this location. The proximity of the proposed data centre raises concerns about potential noise, air quality, and overall environmental impacts on an area heavily used by children and families. Any increase in industrial activity, persistent low-frequency noise, or emissions from diesel backup generators could adversely affect the health, safety, and enjoyment of those who rely on this important community asset. Protecting the amenity and wellbeing of community spaces such as Blackman Park should be a key consideration in the assessment of this development.

I strongly urge the implementation of stringent and enforceable noise limits, along with ongoing monitoring and effective mitigation measures such as acoustic barriers.


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🌫️ Air Quality and Health Impacts

The reliance on diesel backup generators introduces the risk of air pollution, including particulate matter and other harmful emissions. As a parent, I am particularly concerned about the potential health impacts on children and other vulnerable members of the community. I encourage the consideration of cleaner alternatives, such as battery energy storage systems and renewable energy solutions, to minimise these risks.


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📊 Cumulative Impact of Multiple Data Centres

Another key concern is the cumulative impact of multiple data centre developments within the Lane Cove West area. The combined effects on electricity demand, water consumption, traffic, noise, and environmental quality may be substantial. I believe a comprehensive cumulative impact assessment is essential to fully understand the broader implications for our community and to ensure that local infrastructure can sustainably support these developments.


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🚧 Traffic and Safety

The construction and operation of the facility are likely to increase heavy vehicle movements, leading to congestion and potential safety risks for pedestrians and cyclists. As a mother, road safety is of paramount importance. I request that detailed traffic management and safety plans be developed and implemented to protect residents, particularly children travelling to and from school and community facilities.


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🌿 Community Consultation and Transparency

Finally, I believe that meaningful and ongoing community consultation is essential. Residents should be kept fully informed and given genuine opportunities to provide input throughout the planning and assessment process. Transparency will help build trust and ensure that community concerns are appropriately addressed.


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✅ Conclusion

In conclusion, while I recognise the economic and technological benefits that data centres can bring, I respectfully request that decision-makers carefully consider the potential impacts on electricity reliability, water supply, noise, air quality, traffic, and the cumulative effects of similar developments in the area. I urge the NSW Government to ensure that any approval of this project is contingent upon robust safeguards, comprehensive impact assessments, and enforceable mitigation measures that prioritise the health, safety, and quality of life of local residents.

Thank you for considering my submission.

I am writing to strongly object to the proposed Project Mars Data Centre at 12 Mars Road, Lane Cove West.

My family and I live locally in Wood Street and we chose this area as a place to raise our young family because of its quiet, residential character, access to green space, and proximity to Lane Cove West Public School. This proposal puts all of that at risk.

This development is far too close to established homes and Lane Cove West Public School. The information states it is 50m from residential areas, but having measured, is is in fact much closer, in some places only 8m from residential back yard fences. Distance assessments should be to property boundaries, not just the house. We have the right to enjoy our back gardens. Yes that is an industrial zone, but it fails to address the fact that it interfaces with homes and Blackman Park.

As a parent, I am deeply concerned about placing a large-scale industrial facility so close to where children live and learn every day. A data centre of this size and intensity does not belong in a family-oriented suburb.

Our homes are not designed to buffer industrial impacts. Children should not have to learn or play in an environment affected by constant background noise, construction disruption, and industrial activity. My children also play soccer at Blackman Park and do Acro Gymnastics (at North Shore Acro based in the scout hall). So not only would there home life and school life be disrupted by these developments, there sporting activities would also be impacted by the dust and noise of the development.

The proposal involves the removal of approximately 90 mature trees.

This is devastating. These are not just trees — they are part of the character of our neighbourhood. They provide shade, reduce heat, support wildlife, and create the green environment that families like ours rely on for wellbeing.

Losing this many mature trees will permanently change the feel of the area and make it hotter, harsher, and less liveable for residents and children.

The construction period is expected to last years, involving demolition, excavation, and heavy construction activity.

For families like ours, this means:

Constant noise during the day. My husband works from home full time (Wood Street)
Dust and reduced air quality
Safety concerns with increased heavy vehicle movements
Disruption to children’s routines, sleep, and schooling

It is simply unreasonable to subject nearby residents and school children to years of intensive construction at this scale. The low frequency noise impacts are not robustly addressed and claims of no sleep disturbance are not supported by data. Noise modelling relies on selective receiver locations not clearly the closest homes. The noise impacts are no conclusively demonstrated as acceptable.


Once built, the data centre will operate 24 hours a day, every day.

This means:

Continuous humming noise from cooling systems
Sudden loud testing of diesel generators
Ongoing industrial activity in what is currently a quiet area

This kind of constant background noise will affect sleep, stress levels, and overall wellbeing — especially for families with young children.

There are also concerns about air quality and pollution associated with backup generators and energy use. The is potential cumulative impacts with other data centres in the areas and combined worse case scenarios are not fully assessed.

We are deeply worried about what this will mean for our children’s health and quality of life over the long term. I have concerns over the air quality modelling, as it is not clearly demonstrated that the closest homes and school were assessed as worst case receptors.

Our area is already facing increasing pressure from multiple large-scale developments. The ongoing Sydney Water works for the other data centre has been hugely disruptive. It has gone on for well over 6 month with no sign of an end in sight. The traffic control has been woeful, with incompetent workers allowing traffic through when it should be stopped. I hate to think what work would be involved in increasing water and electricity to the proposed data centre and the years of upheaval this would cause in the local area.

At some point, there needs to be a limit. The concentration of data centres in this area is changing the character of Lane Cove West into an industrial precinct, which is not what it was intended to be. The visual and design impacts do not adequately represent views from adjacent residential properties and understated the real impact of scale, height and proximity. The proposal relies heavily on approval without critical information being finalised.

Families should not bear the burden of this type of overdevelopment and for no long term benefit to the area, relative to the scale of impact.

This proposal is not just a planning issue — it is a community and family issue.

We chose to live here to raise our children in a safe and green environment. This development threatens that in a very real and lasting way.

To sum up, this development is
1. too large and too close to homes
2. has confirmed air quality excedences and unresolved noise impacts
3. does not asses worst case or cumulative scenarios properly
4 relies on unresolved infrastructure
5. results in environmental and community impacts

For these reasons, I strongly object to the Project Mars Data Centre and urge that it be refused.

Regards
Charlotte Moore

This project will remove over 100 jobs from the region, it only will bring a maximum of 20 jobs to the new site. More than 20. Companies will have to move the area, which will cause them to loose so much money, my company is one of them. 5 years ago we requested Goodman to trim some trees down due to hazard when strong winds, they said they could not because the trees are protected as being the habitat of Bush turkey, now they want to chop as many as 90 trees.
Blackman park is one of the best parks in the region, the huge building will be an eye sore, all the current warehouses have branded in with the vegetation and are all low level buildings.

I am a long-term resident of Wood Street, Lane Cove West and object to the proposed Project Mars Data Centre at 12 Mars Road.
This proposal involves a 90MW, 24-hour hyperscale data centre located at a highly sensitive interface with residential properties, community infrastructure and ecological land.
My objection is based on the following key concerns:
1. Inappropriate site and land-use conflict
The proposal represents a failure of land-use planning at the interface of industrial and residential land. The scale and intensity of the development is not compatible with its immediate surroundings.
2. Noise impacts and topographic amplification
The site sits within a natural amphitheatre between Mars Road, Lloyd Rees Drive and Wood Street. This creates a real risk that continuous mechanical and low-frequency noise will propagate into surrounding residential areas beyond predicted levels.
3. Uncertainty in key design elements
Critical aspects of plant, infrastructure and mitigation measures are not finalised and are deferred to later design stages. This creates unacceptable uncertainty at the time of approval.
4. Cumulative impacts
The concentration of data centres in the broader precinct raises concerns regarding cumulative noise, emissions, infrastructure demand and environmental pressure, which have not been adequately assessed.
5. Construction impacts
A construction period of up to three years represents a prolonged and significant disruption, effectively industrialising the residential interface over a sustained period.
6. Biodiversity and habitat impacts
The area functions as an active habitat corridor, including use by nocturnal species such as owls and Tawny Frogmouth. Continuous night-time operation, lighting and tree loss pose risks to this environment.
7. Impact on the Lane Cove Community Nursery
The nursery is a community-driven environmental asset supporting local biodiversity. Its proximity to the proposed development creates risks relating to noise, dust, light spill and long-term viability.
8. Landscape and environmental performance
The proposed landscape design does not demonstrate functional performance in terms of screening, sediment control, slope stabilisation or interface buffering.
9. Sediment and runoff risk
The site slopes toward bushland and habitat areas. The reliance on deferred sediment control measures creates uncertainty and risk of environmental harm.
10. Overall planning concern
The cumulative effect of these issues results in an outcome that is not appropriate for this location and cannot be adequately mitigated through conditions alone.

Request
I respectfully request that the proposal be refused.
If not refused, the project should be subject to significantly more rigorous assessment and enforceable conditions addressing noise, environmental impact, construction management, ecological protection and community interface.

To Whom It May Concern,

I would like to express my objection to the proposed Project Mars Data Centre.

This proposed data centre will be built on a block of land which is in close proximity (less than 20m) from homes and parkland. Less than 20m away from the proposed data centre is Blackman Park, which is a park used every day of the week by:
1. Schools, both local and from further suburbs such as North Sydney, to hold sporting events for students;
2. Local sporting clubs such as Lane Cove Cricket Club, Soccer clubs and others;
3. Residents, including many families and children who use the park for sports, walking dogs, bushwalking, kayaking and running.
There is also a tennis club with tennis courts which is used daily, as well as the home of the Lane Cove Scouts based at Blackman Park.
The construction of the data centre will cause noise for the entire duration of the three years of its construction, which will be clearly audible only metres away at the Park and residential streets of Lane Cove. Such noise pollution will obviously adversely impact the ability for schools, clubs and local residents to use and enjoy the park. Construction of this scale also produces material pollution, airborne and as run-off, and it is noticeable that right next to the proposed data centre is the Lane Cove River and Lane Cove National Park, home to wildlife and used for recreation by bushwalkers and kayakers.
There are also long term impacts which extend beyond construction. Data centres still produce 24/7 noise, even at night, and will be clearly noticeable from the parks and residential streets only several metres away. Children especially are more sensitive to noise than adults, and having this level of artificial disturbance 24/7 year-round in a residential neighbourhood next door to a public school and parkland is unacceptable.
The ecological damage from the three-year construction period may not be recoverable. There are numerous species in the Lane Cove area which are already vulnerable or endangered, including the grey-headed flying fox and Deane's tea tree (both listed as Vulnerable), the eastern underground orchid (Endangered), Julian's hibbertia and the brush turpentine (both Critically Endangered). Many of these threatened species already have limited population sizes and distributions.
The combination of adverse impacts on local residents, schools, sporting clubs and wildlife both during the three-year construction period and thereafter are unacceptable. This proposed data centre is too close to homes and parkland and construction should be avoided.
Yours sincerely,
Anonymous, Lane Cove West, NSW, Australia

I strongly object to the proposed development for several significant reasons, which are outlined in the accompanying document. Given its close proximity to residential properties, a school, and community facilities, I respectfully request that approval not be considered until the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the rapid expansion of data centres has concluded.

Objection to Project Mars Data Centre – 12 Mars Road, Lane Cove West
Submitted on behalf of Lane Cove Junior Rugby Union

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1. Introduction

Lane Cove Junior Rugby Union is a junior sporting club that regularly uses Blackman Park for training, competition, and community activities involving children and families from across the Lane Cove local government area.

We strongly object to the proposed data centre at 12 Mars Road. This proposal is incompatible with its immediate surroundings, particularly a major recreational precinct used by children.

Our objection is grounded in one central issue:

The proposal introduces an intensive, 24/7 industrial facility immediately adjacent to a space designed for children’s sport, play, and wellbeing.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) does not adequately demonstrate that the development can operate without materially degrading the amenity, safety, and usability of Blackman Park or exposing children to unacceptable risks.

2. Importance of Blackman Park for children’s sport

Blackman Park is a significant active recreation areas in the region. It is used extensively for:

• junior sport training and competitions;
• school activities and community programs; and
• informal play, social interaction, and outdoor recreation.

For children, the park provides a safe, open, and healthy environment; access to green space and physical activity and a setting free from heavy industrial intrusion.

The amenity of the park (its openness, quietness, and natural character) is fundamental to its function.
Any development that materially alters these qualities directly impacts children’s wellbeing and participation in sport.

3. Incompatible Location Adjacent to Children’s Recreation

The proposed development is located in a sensitive location. Large scale data centres of this intensity are more appropriately located in established heavy industrial zones with significant buffers from children’s sporting fields.

4. Risks to Children – Noise and Continuous Industrial Activity

Children using Blackman Park will be exposed to continuous industrial noise from construction, mechanical plant and continuous 24/7 operations. These noise characteristics are intrusive, difficult to ignore and more likely to affect concentration, enjoyment, and wellbeing when using Blackman Park.

For children participating in sport, this can result in reduced enjoyment of activities, difficulty communicating during games and training, and diminished overall experience of outdoor recreation.

5. Acoustic Amplification and Park Setting

The physical characteristics of Blackman Park, including its open fields and surrounding topography, may allow noise to travel further, reflect and circulate, and become more noticeable across large areas.

This means noise from the proposed development may be clearly audible across playing fields and affect large numbers of children simultaneously.

6. Air Quality and Health Risks

The proposal includes diesel backup generators, which introduce particulate emissions and nitrogen oxides.

Children are particularly sensitive to air pollution due to developing lungs and higher breathing rates during physical activity. Exposure during sport and outdoor play is therefore of heightened concern.

The proximity of these emissions to a major children’s sporting area is inappropriate and avoidable.

7. Visual impact and loss of park amenity

The proposed development is large-scale and visually dominant, industrial in appearance and significantly above typical built form in the area.

From within Blackman Park, it will present as a large structure and a visually intrusive backdrop to playing fields.

This undermines the natural and open character of the park, the sense of escape from urban intensity and the overall quality of the recreational experience

The EIS does not adequately represent the perspective of children and families using Blackman Park.

8. Cumulative Impacts on Recreational Use

The combined effects of noise, visual intrusion and air quality concerns will reduce the attractiveness and usability of the park over time.

This may lead to decreased participation in junior sport, relocation of activities to other areas, and long-term degradation of a key community asset.

These impacts are inconsistent with the protection and enhancement of community recreation facilities.

9. Lack of Demonstrated Public Benefit for the Local Community

While the proposal serves broader digital infrastructure needs, its local benefits are limited.
In contrast, the local impacts, particularly on children and community recreation, are immediate and significant. There is no clear justification for placing this burden on a community asset of this importance.

10. Conclusion

The proposed data centre represents an inappropriate and incompatible development adjacent to one of the area’s most important children’s recreational spaces.

It introduces continuous industrial activity and significant amenity impacts directly next to a setting designed for children’s health, sport, and wellbeing.

On behalf of Lane Cove Junior Rugby Union, we submit that the proposal:

• fails to adequately protect the amenity of Blackman Park;
• exposes children to unnecessary and avoidable risks; and
• is fundamentally unsuitable for its location.

Yours faithfully
Matt Brownie
President
Lane Cove Junior Rugby Union

To Whom It May Concern,
I make this submission to formally object to the above State Significant Development (SSD) application pursuant to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (EP&A Act).
While the subject land is zoned for general industrial purposes, the proposal is of a scale, intensity, and risk profile that is inconsistent with the surrounding context, including its immediate interface with low-density residential development, a primary school, environmentally sensitive bushland connected to the Lane Cove River corridor, and the public recreation area of Blackman Park.
For the reasons set out below, the application should be refused.

1. Statutory Framework and Assessment Obligations
In determining this application, the consent authority must consider (inter alia):
Section 4.15 of the EP&A Act (matters for consideration), including:
The likely impacts of the development (environmental, social, and economic)
The suitability of the site
Submissions made by the public
The public interest
The applicable Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP), including height and bulk controls
The principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD), including the precautionary principle
It is submitted that the proposal fails to satisfy these statutory requirements.

2. Non-Compliance with Height and Built Form Controls
The proposed development:
Comprises approximately 22,000m² of gross floor area
Reaches a maximum height of 28.3 metres, representing a 57% exceedance of applicable controls

Such a departure from planning controls is substantial and must be justified by demonstrable planning merit. No such justification has been adequately provided.
The excessive height and bulk:
Create unacceptable visual impacts
Are inconsistent with the existing and desired future character of the locality
Result in adverse interface impacts with adjoining residential and environmental land

Approval in these circumstances would undermine the integrity of the planning framework.

3. Incompatibility with Surrounding Land Uses and Site Unsuitability
Notwithstanding the industrial zoning, the actual context of the site is determinative.
The development is located:
Within 50 metres of residential dwellings
Approximately 160 metres from a primary school
Adjacent to sensitive bushland and riparian environments

A 24-hour, high-intensity data centre, including:
Continuous plant operation
49 diesel generators
Storage of hazardous materials
is incompatible with these surrounding uses.

Accordingly, the site is not suitable for the proposed development within the meaning of s 4.15(1)(c) of the EP&A Act.

4. Noise Impacts and Deficiencies in Acoustic Assessment
The proposal will generate:
Continuous operational noise from cooling and mechanical systems
Intermittent and potentially high-impact noise from 49 diesel generators
The acoustic assessment is deficient in that it:
Relies on assumed plant specifications rather than confirmed equipment
Does not adequately address cumulative or low-frequency noise impacts
Given the proximity to sensitive receivers (residences and a school), the likely noise impacts are significant and unacceptable.

5. Hazardous Materials and Risk to Public Safety
The proposal includes:
Storage of over 1 million litres of diesel fuel across 8 tanks
Installation of 194,000 kg of lithium batteries

These introduce material risks including:
Fire and explosion hazards
Coninuous air and greatly increse pollution from diesel emissions
Contamination risks in the event of system failure

Additionally, the site requires:
Removal of asbestos
Decommissioning of underground tanks

These factors collectively give rise to unacceptable risks to public safety, particularly given the proximity to residential and educational uses.

6. Environmental Impacts and Failure to Apply the Precautionary Principle
The development will:
Remove approximately 90 mature trees
Involve excavation of up to 8 metres

The site adjoins environmentally sensitive land connected to the Lane Cove River corridor.
There is a demonstrated risk of:
Sediment runoff
Pollution of waterways
Loss of biodiversity and habitat

Notably, a nearby data centre project resulted in damage to an endangered saltmarsh community due to inadequate sediment controls.
In circumstances of scientific uncertainty and known risk, the precautionary principle requires a conservative approach. This has not been adequately reflected in the proposal.

7. Construction Impacts
The proposed three-year construction period (Monday to Saturday) will result in:
Sustained noise and vibration
Dust and air quality impacts
Heavy vehicle traffic affecting local roads and school access
These impacts will have a significant adverse effect on residential amenity and local businesses.

8. Traffic and Infrastructure Impacts
The development will:
Generate substantial construction traffic over an extended period
Require ongoing servicing, maintenance, and fuel deliveries
In addition:
Significant water infrastructure upgrades are required to support the facility’s operational demand
These impacts have not been adequately mitigated and will place unreasonable strain on local infrastructure.

9. Cumulative Impact – Failure to Consider
There is:
One existing data centre in Lane Cove West Business Park
Three additional proposed developments
The application fails to provide a cumulative impact assessment addressing:
Combined electricity demand
Water consumption
Traffic generation
Noise impacts
Environmental stress

This omission is critical and inconsistent with proper environmental planning assessment.

10. Social and Community Impacts
The development will:
Diminish the amenity of nearby residents
Negatively affect the use and enjoyment of Blackman Park
Adversely impact the adjacent Community Nursery, a key environmental resource
Displace existing small businesses

These impacts weigh heavily against the proposal in the public interest.

11. Precedent and Public Interest
Approval of this application would:
Establish a precedent for similar large-scale developments adjacent to sensitive land uses
Undermine planning controls and community expectations

In balancing the relevant considerations under s 4.15, the proposal is not in the public interest.

Conclusion
The proposed development:
Exhibits significant non-compliance with planning controls
Is incompatible with surrounding land uses
Presents unacceptable environmental, social, and safety risks
Fails to adequately assess cumulative impacts

Request
For the reasons set out above, I respectfully request that the NSW Department of Planning:
Refuse the application; or
In the alternative, require substantial redesign and the provision of:
A comprehensive cumulative impact assessment
Verified and enforceable acoustic and environmental safeguards
Full compliance with applicable planning controls

Yours faithfully,
Adam Niland,
65 hallam Avenue Lane Cove West 2026

I object to this proposed project for the following key reasons:
Proximity and scale - The proposed building height exceeds existing planning controls, and the setbacks to residential boundaries are limited. The scale and location of the facility raise questions about compatibility with surrounding land uses.

Multiple additional hyperscale data centres are proposed within the same Lane Cove West business park.

Noise impacts - Construction noise is expected to be significant. Operational noise modelling is based on draft mechanical designs, meaning final noise levels remain uncertain. Backup diesel generators and potential low‑frequency noise require further detailed assessment.

Air quality - The proposal includes diesel generator testing and potential operation during outages. The cumulative air‑quality impacts of multiple nearby data centres have not been fully explored.

Infrastructure capacity - I understand Sydney Water and Ausgrid have not yet confirmed service capacity for the development. Key infrastructure requirements remain unresolved in the exhibited material.

Environmental impacts - The proposal involves the removal of 90 trees - a large number given residents must receive permission from council to even prune a tree! Removal will rescue natural buffers that protect vulnerable local biodiversity. Continuous lighting, heat, and activity may also influence local wildlife.

And most importantly I have major concerns with the consultation process as a small number of community members were consulted, and the exhibition period overlapped with Easter and school holidays, limiting participation from key stakeholders. Feels like this was planned by the applicant.
Thank you for considering my objections.

We strongly object to the Project Mars Data Centre proposal and any proposals of a similar nature in Lane Cove.

To Whom It May Concern,
I write to formally object to the proposed data centre development at 12 Mars Road, Lane Cove West. While the site is zoned for general industrial use, this proposal is of a scale, intensity, and risk profile that is wholly incompatible with its immediate surroundings — namely low-rise residential homes, environmental conservation land, and the heavily used community asset, Blackman Park.

This submission raises serious concerns regarding planning non-compliance, environmental degradation, public safety, community wellbeing, and the cumulative impacts of multiple data centres being concentrated within the Lane Cove West precinct.

1. Overview of the Proposal

The development application seeks approval to:
-Demolish four existing warehouses
-Construct two large data centre buildings operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week .
-Deliver a three-storey facility consuming up to 90 megawatts of power.
-Develop a built form of approximately 22,000 square metres.
-Construct buildings up to 28.3 metres in height, exceeding planning controls by 57% .

This is not a typical industrial development — it is a high-intensity, large-scale infrastructure facility being inserted into a sensitive and mixed-use area.

2. Incompatibility with Surrounding Land Uses
-Although zoned industrial, the site directly adjoins:
-Residential homes (within 50 metres)
-A primary school (within 160 metres)
-Bushland and riparian corridors connected to the Lane Cove River
-Public recreation areas, including Blackman Park
-The intensity of this proposal is fundamentally inconsistent with these adjoining uses and will result in:
-Loss of residential amenity
-Increased exposure to noise and pollution
-Safety concerns for nearby residents and school children

3. Excessive Height and Bulk

The proposed height of 28.3 metres, exceeding limits by 57%, is unacceptable.
Key concerns include:
-Visual dominance over surrounding low-rise residential areas.
-Overshadowing and loss of outlook.
-Inappropriate scale adjacent to bushland and open space.
-The placement of the tallest structures closest to homes and environmental land further exacerbates these impacts.

Approval of such a variation would significantly undermine established planning controls and set a damaging precedent.

4. Noise Impacts — Construction and Operation

-Construction Phase (Approx. 3 Years)
-Construction proposed Monday to Saturday over approximately three years
-Extensive excavation (up to 8 metres), demolition, and heavy vehicle movement

Ongoing exposure to:
-High noise levels
-Dust and airborne particulates
-Traffic congestion impacting residents and school access
-Operational Phase (24/7)
-Continuous operation of plant and cooling infrastructure
-49 diesel generators, producing:
-Persistent low-frequency background noise
-Intermittent high noise during testing and emergency use
-Of particular concern is that the noise assessment appears to rely on assumed equipment rather than confirmed specifications, making its conclusions unreliable.

The result will be a permanent and unacceptable degradation of local amenity.

5. Air Quality, Hazardous Materials, and Safety Risks

The proposal includes:
-8 diesel tanks storing over 1 million litres of fuel
-49 diesel generators
-194,000 kg of lithium batteries
These introduce substantial risks:
-Air pollution (diesel emissions including particulates and nitrogen oxides)
-Fire and explosion hazards associated with fuel and battery storage
-Toxic runoff risks in the event of spills or system failures

Additionally:
-The site requires removal of asbestos and underground tanks, posing further contamination risks during demolition.

These hazards are inappropriate in such close proximity to homes, a school, and public open space.

6. Environmental Impacts and Biodiversity Loss

The site directly borders environmentally sensitive bushland and riparian zones.
-Tree Removal
-Approximately 90 mature trees will be removed
-Loss of canopy, habitat, and urban cooling benefits
-Excavation and Sediment Risk
-Excavation of up to 8 metres
-High risk of sediment runoff into protected bushland and waterways
-A previous nearby data centre construction caused serious damage to an endangered saltmarsh community due to inadequate sediment controls. This establishes a clear and credible risk of repeat environmental harm.
-Wildlife Impacts
-Habitat destruction and fragmentation
-Displacement of native species
-Long-term ecological degradation

7. Impacts on Community Assets

Blackman Park
The development will:
-Increase surrounding noise levels
-Reduce air quality
-Diminish the recreational value of this important community space
-Community Nursery
-Located adjacent to the site, the Nursery:
-Plays a critical role in propagating native plants for bush regeneration

Is highly vulnerable to:
-Dust from construction
-Heat generated by infrastructure
-Pollution impacts
-Damage to this facility would have LGA-wide environmental consequences.

8. Water Usage and Infrastructure Strain

Data centres require significant water for cooling.
This proposal will:
-Demand substantial daily water usage
-Require major upgrades to water infrastructure

Impacts include:
-Construction disruption affecting residents and school traffic .
-Long-term pressure on local water systems.

9. Traffic and Access Impacts

During Construction:
-Heavy vehicle movements for up to three years
-Increased congestion on Mars Road and surrounding streets
-Safety risks for pedestrians and school children

Ongoing Operations:
-Regular servicing, maintenance, and fuel deliveries
-Continued traffic impacts in a residential-adjacent area

10. Economic and Social Impacts

The development will:
-Displace existing small businesses within the business park
-Create prolonged disruption discouraging remaining businesses
-Deliver limited long-term employment benefits
-This represents a poor trade-off for the significant community and environmental costs imposed.

11. Cumulative Impact — A Critical Omission

Lane Cove West is rapidly becoming a data centre cluster, with:
-One existing facility
-Three additional proposed developments

However, no cumulative impact assessment has been provided addressing:
-Total electricity demand
-Combined water usage
-Traffic and road capacity
-Noise layering effects
-Environmental stress on bushland and waterways

This omission is unacceptable and prevents informed decision-making.

12. Precedent Risk

Approval of this proposal would:
-Set a precedent for further large-scale data centres near residential and recreational areas
-Undermine planning controls
-Encourage inappropriate industrial intensification

13. Council Position and State Significance

As this is a State Significant Development, the NSW Department of Planning is the determining authority.

However, it is noted that Council has raised serious concerns, including:
-Excessive height and non-compliance with planning controls
-Inadequate and assumption-based noise modelling
-Risks to bushland and the Lane Cove River corridor
-Potential impacts on the Community Nursery
-Lack of cumulative infrastructure assessment

Community submissions are therefore critical in ensuring these concerns are fully considered.

14. Summary of Key Concerns

This proposal presents unacceptable:
-Scale and height non-compliance
-Proximity risks to homes and a school
-Noise and air pollution impacts
-Hazardous material risks
-Environmental damage and biodiversity loss
-Construction disruption over an extended period
-Infrastructure strain without adequate planning
-Failure to assess cumulative impacts

Conclusion and Request:

This proposal is not suitable for its location.
While data centres are important infrastructure, they must be:
-Located away from sensitive uses
-Designed within planning controls
-Supported by robust environmental and infrastructure assessments
This development fails to meet these standards.

I respectfully request that the NSW Department of Planning:
-Reject the application in its current form
-Require a comprehensive cumulative impact assessment of all data centres in Lane Cove West
-Enforce existing height and planning controls

Prioritise protection of:
-Residential amenity
-Environmental assets
-Community infrastructure

Thank you

I would like to strongly object to the proposal to build a data centre at 12 Mars Road in Lane Cove West.

I’m a young teenager and my house is only about 100 metres from the proposed site. I spend most of my free time at Blackman Park playing sport, training after school and on weekends, and being outdoors with my friends. That’s where I feel healthy, clear headed and happy. This large green space is also right next to the proposed site.

What’s being planned near my home and other children’s homes doesn’t feel like it has been designed with people like me in mind. A data centre might sound quiet on paper, but it runs all the time, day and night. Successful training, proper recovery, concentration at school and restful sleep all depend on having a place that feels calm and safe. If there is constant background noise, generator testing, generators running during power outages and years of construction, it will have a really negative impact on our quality of life. That’s not something we can just ignore.

I’m also really worried about air quality. What happens when the generators are running? What effect will that have on my lungs when I am training and running, and on other kids too? I did some reading and found that diesel generators release pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, fine particles (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide. These have been linked to reduced lung function, breathing problems and long term impacts on developing lungs in children and teenagers. That really worries me. I care about my fitness and my health, and I don’t think it’s fair to put that at risk.

My home already experiences power outages. So when reports say that “emergency generators will only run occasionally”, that doesn’t feel realistic to me. When the power goes out, they will run. And not just one site, but multiple data centres at once. That’s the part that worries me the most.

I also think about where we actually spend our time. Parks, ovals, walking tracks and places near the river, all very close to where this is proposed. Kids train there. We play games there. Families are there every afternoon riding bikes. My brother regularly uses the skatepark that was only just built. This isn’t an empty industrial area. It’s part of our everyday life.

It feels like decisions are being made by people who have never been here and are based only on technical reports and assumptions, not on what it’s actually like to live here or what it means for young people like me growing up here.

I’m not against technology or progress. But I don’t understand why it has to be here, so close to homes, our school and the places we use every day. Two of my close friends live less than 50 metres from the site.

This just doesn’t feel like the right place for it.

Please reject this proposal because it puts existing communities, including kids like me, second.

Objection Letter – SSD‑82052708 (Project Mars Data Centre, 12 Mars Road, Lane Cove West)
To: Department of Planning and Environment
Attention: Patrick Copas
Re: Objection to SSD‑82052708 – Project Mars Data Centre, 12 Mars Road, Lane Cove West

I am writing to object to the proposed Project Mars Data Centre at 12 Mars Road, Lane Cove West on the basis of its unresolved infrastructure, visual, environmental, noise, air quality and community impacts, as outlined in the following submission.

1. Infrastructure Impacts Not Adequately Assessed
The EIS does not provide a meaningful assessment of the cumulative impact of multiple data centres already operating or proposed in Lane Cove West. With around 40% of the industrial zone already occupied or earmarked for data centres, the absence of cumulative modelling is a significant gap.
The projected 81–90 MW electricity demand is substantial and will place additional pressure on an area that already experiences power reliability issues. Water usage impacts—particularly relating to cooling—are also not sufficiently examined, despite the site’s proximity to sensitive bushland and residential areas.

2. Height Breach and Non‑Compliance with LEP Controls
The development significantly exceeds the 18m height limit, resulting in additional overshadowing of bushland, landscaped areas and public recreation spaces. Shadow diagrams indicate material increases in shadowing over the skate park and adjoining environmental land.
The justification provided does not meet the objectives of Clause 4.3 of the Lane Cove LEP, particularly in relation to minimising visual impacts, maintaining solar access and responding appropriately to the site’s topography.

3. Visual Impact Assessment – Lack of Clear Depiction of Impacts
The Visual Impact Assessment does not provide a clear or reliable depiction of the development’s true visual impacts. The assessment lacks comprehensive photomontages from all elevations, which are essential for illustrating how the building will appear from key public and residential viewpoints. Without these, the community and decision‑makers cannot meaningfully understand the scale, bulk and visibility of the proposal.
The assessment also relies on vegetation screening without clarifying which trees will remain and which are proposed for removal, overstating the level of visual mitigation. Given the height exceedance and the prominence of the upper building mass, the conclusion of “nil to low” visual impact is not supported.

4. Noise, Air Quality and 24‑Hour Operational Pollution Impacts
The proposal raises concerns regarding operational air and noise impacts, particularly given its proximity to homes, parks, sporting facilities and nearby education facilities.
The Noise and Vibration Assessment relies on assumed rather than confirmed mechanical plant, creating uncertainty about the true operational noise profile. A facility operating continuously with large‑scale generators, chillers and cooling towers may generate persistent noise and low‑frequency vibration that have not been reliably quantified.
Using the AirTrunk data centre in the Lane Cove West Business Park as a reference point, residents located significantly farther away from that facility than those near this proposal have reported noise issues. This indicates that data centre noise can extend further than modelling often anticipates, raising concern about similar impacts here.
Air quality impacts also require further assessment. The proposal includes extensive diesel generator infrastructure, yet the EIS does not provide a detailed analysis of cumulative emissions, generator testing cycles or dispersion across nearby recreation areas, residential streets and school catchments. The site’s proximity to residential homes, Blackman Park, the skate park, tennis courts and walking tracks heightens the importance of a thorough assessment.
Given the 24‑hour operational profile and the sensitivity of surrounding land uses, the air and noise impacts remain unresolved.

5. Reduced Employment Capacity
The proposal delivers a very low level of permanent employment relative to the scale of the site and the strategic intent of the zoning. The industrial zoning in Lane Cove West is intended to support employment‑generating uses, yet the development is expected to yield only 26 permanent jobs.
This represents a limited return for a large, strategically located industrial site. Data centres are among the lowest employment‑density land uses, and allocating this land to a use that generates so few ongoing jobs does not align with long‑term economic and planning objectives for the precinct.

Conclusion
The Project Mars Data Centre presents a range of unresolved environmental, visual, infrastructure and community impacts. The EIS does not sufficiently address these issues, nor does it demonstrate that the development can operate appropriately within its sensitive context. The site is immediately surrounded by sensitive receivers, including established residential areas, heavily used recreational facilities such as Blackman Park, the skate park and tennis courts, and nearby educational facilities frequented daily by children.
Given the scale of the proposal, the 24‑hour operational profile and the proximity of these sensitive receivers, the risks and impacts are unacceptable. For these reasons, I request that the Department refuse SSD‑82052708.

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to object to the proposed data centre development adjacent to Blackman Park and in close proximity to residential homes and the local school.

My concerns are both personal and community‑wide. My children will be starting at the nearby school next year, and they will be walking from our home each day. The location of this large industrial facility — less than 160 metres from the school and only around 30 metres from homes — raises serious questions about safety, air quality, and the suitability of placing such an intensive development in a family‑oriented area.

1. Noise and 24/7 Operational Impacts

The proposal outlines continuous background noise from cooling equipment and other machinery operating day and night. This is incompatible with a quiet residential neighbourhood and a school environment where children need calm, safe surroundings to learn. The cumulative noise from 49 diesel generators, industrial fans, and other equipment will significantly degrade the amenity of nearby homes and the school.

2. Air Pollution and Health Risks

The inclusion of dozens of diesel generators and nearly 200,000 kg of lithium batteries raises legitimate concerns about emissions, air quality, and potential fire or chemical risks. My children — and many others — will be walking past this site daily. Locating such a facility so close to a school and homes is inappropriate and exposes families to unnecessary health risks.

3. Environmental and Recreational Impact on Blackman Park

My family uses Blackman Park regularly for recreation, sport, and time outdoors. The park is a vital green space for the community. The proposal threatens:

• Loss of trees and wildlife habitat
• Increased noise and pollution affecting park users
• Reduced enjoyment of the natural environment
• Long‑term degradation of an important community asset


This development is fundamentally at odds with the purpose and character of Blackman Park.

4. Construction Impacts Over 1.5 Years

The construction period — operating Monday to Saturday for around 18 months — will bring heavy traffic, dust, noise, and parking pressure to an already busy area. The risks associated with asbestos removal are particularly concerning for families with young children. This level of disruption is unreasonable for a residential neighbourhood and school zone.

5. Inappropriate Land Use

A 22,000 m² industrial building up to 23 metres high is not a minor development. It is a major industrial facility being placed in an area clearly not designed for such use. The scale, intensity, and operational requirements of the data centre are incompatible with the surrounding residential, educational, and recreational land uses.

Conclusion

For the safety of children, the wellbeing of residents, and the protection of Blackman Park, I strongly oppose this development. I urge the planning authority to reject the proposal and seek more appropriate locations for industrial‑scale data centre infrastructure.

Thank you for considering my submission.

North Shore Rowing Club submits that the Environmental Impact Statement for Project
Mars is deficient in its treatment of the Lane Cove River, . The EIS does not provide a
comprehensive description and assessment of the likely impacts of the development
and its activities on Lane Cove River. North Shore Rowing Club requests that the
Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure require the proponent to address
the following matters before the application can be properly assessed:
1. A comprehensive stormwater quality impact assessment, modelling the quantity
and chemical composition of stormwater runoff from the completed site under a range
of rainfall scenarios, and its predicted impact on the water quality of the Lane Cove
River at and below the point of discharge.
2. A detailed cooling water management plan, including a full specification of all
chemical treatment agents (biocides, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors) to be used
in cooling systems, the chemical composition of blowdown water, the volume and
frequency of blowdown discharge, and the treatment system to be used before
discharge. The plan must demonstrate that biocides and other contaminants will not
enter the stormwater network or the Lane Cove River catchment.
3. An independent hydrogeological assessment of the drainage pathway from the
site, including the bunded containment areas for diesel storage, identifying the precise
catchment drainage path and the points at which any spill or contaminated stormwater
would enter the waterway network.
4. A site-specific Emergency Spill Response Plan for diesel fuel and other hazardous
substances, including the containment measures required, the emergency response
time to contain a worst-case spill before it enters the drainage network, and an
assessment of the ecological consequences of a worst-case spill on the Lane Cove
River.
5. An aquatic ecology assessment of the Lane Cove River reaches directly influenced
by the site's catchment drainage, including a baseline survey of waterbird species,
native fish species, macroinvertebrate communities, and water quality indicators,
against which ongoing monitoring can be assessed.
6. A cumulative impact assessment of all existing and proposed data centre
developments in the Lane Cove River catchment, including the AirTrunk facility, the
proposed AirTrunk expansion, and the Julius Avenue proposal, with respect to
cumulative stormwater loading, water consumption, and contamination risk to the river.
7. A social impact assessment that specifically addresses the recreational use of the
Lane Cove River — including by North Shore Rowing Club, St Ignatius' College
Riverview Rowing Club, Sydney University Boat Club, Community Rowing Club, and
Macquarie University Rowing Club — and the potential impacts on that use from any
deterioration in river water quality, visual amenity, or ecological condition.
… …………………………………
9
8. Conditions of consent requiring real-time, continuous monitoring of stormwater
quality at the site's drainage outlets, with publicly accessible data and automatic trigger
thresholds that activate emergency response protocols and immediately notify the
EPA, Lane Cove Council, and downstream rowing clubs of any contamination event.

I am writing as a concerned resident of Lane Cove to register my strong objection to the proposed Project Mars (SSD-82052708), located next to Blackman Park, local homes, and a school.

This proposal represents an unacceptable overdevelopment that is entirely inappropriate for a location surrounded by a residential community and vital recreational space. My objections are based on the following key points:

1. Unacceptable Cumulative Impact and Industrialisation of a Residential Area:
This is not an isolated development. With up to three data centres now proposed for this precinct, our community is facing the transformation of a residential and recreational area into an industrial data hub by stealth. The cumulative impact of 24/7 noise, increased traffic, and environmental degradation from multiple such facilities will permanently impact our neighbourhood.

2. Extreme Energy Consumption and Grid Instability:
Data centres are known for their voracious energy demand. At a time when the NSW Government is issuing warnings about potential energy shortages and the fragility of the grid during peak summer and winter periods, it is fundamentally irresponsible to approve such an energy-intensive facility. This development will place a significant and unnecessary strain on our local and state-wide energy infrastructure. The inclusion of 49 diesel generators as a backup is a clear admission of this massive energy requirement and poses its own significant pollution risk.

3. Severe Environmental and Amenity Impacts:
The proposal will have a direct and irreversible negative impact on our local environment and quality of life. Specifically:

Loss of Green Space: The removal of 90 trees and the destruction of wildlife habitat is a significant loss for our local ecosystem.

Community Impact: The sheer scale of the building (at a 57% height exceedance), its proximity to homes (<50m), and the associated risks (over 1 million litres of diesel stored on-site) fundamentally compromises the safety and wellbeing of the community.

4. Construction Disruption:
The three-year construction period will bring unacceptable levels of traffic congestion, noise, and dust, alongside the significant health risks associated with the removal of asbestos, directly impacting residents and children attending the nearby school.

In summary, this proposal is the wrong development in the wrong place. It prioritises industrial interests over community wellbeing, environmental health, and the stability of our state's energy grid.

I urge the Department of Planning to listen to the community and reject this application in its entirety.

I play soccer at Blackman Park and I ride my scooter with [*friend*] at Blackman Park. [*friend*] has three wheels on his scooter but I have two. I learnt to ride my bike on there. I like it there because it’s really good. I live on the street and my street is really quiet. [*friend*] likes my house because my house is quiet. But if there is a fire the fire trucks and police will make lots of noise with their cars. But fire trucks are so cool because my favourite colour is red and I like Fireman Sam. Dad says they’re building a really really reeeeeally big building and it's going to make lots of noise and I don’t like noise because my house is quiet and I don’t like noise.

[note: words by child (5 years old), transcribed by parent, submission managed by parent, name of child’s friend removed for privacy]

OBJECTION TO STATE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION SSD-82052708
Project Mars Data Centre, 12 Mars Road, Lane Cove West
I am a resident in the vicinity of 12 Mars Road, Lane Cove West and write to formally object to the proposed Goodman data centre development. While I accept that digital infrastructure has a role to play in the modern economy, this proposal is the wrong development in the wrong location, and the impacts on our community have been seriously underweighted in how it has been presented.
1. BULK, SCALE AND HEIGHT ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA
The proposed buildings reach up to 28.3 metres in height, on a site that sits immediately next to R2 Low Density Residential zoning to the east and public recreational land to the south. The Lane Cove LEP 2008 sets an 18 metre height limit for this precinct. The applicant is seeking a Clause 4.6 variation to exceed that limit by more than 57% in certain areas.
The justification is that the sloping topography of the site makes the excess height unavoidable. This is not convincing. The slope of the land is not a surprise. It is a known characteristic of the site that any competent developer would assess before proceeding. Topographic challenges are part of designing a building, not a reason to override planning controls that exist to protect the people who live nearby. Residents in this area have always had a reasonable expectation that the height limit would be respected. This proposal asks the community to simply accept a near-30-metre industrial structure looming over a low-density neighbourhood because the developer finds the alternative less commercially attractive.
2. NOISE WILL BE CONSTANT AND THERE IS NO MITIGATION FOR THAT FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM
This facility will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, indefinitely. The mechanical cooling systems required for a data centre of this size generate continuous noise from fans, chillers, cooling towers and associated plant. Unlike a warehouse or logistics facility, there is no overnight quiet period and no weekend. The noise never stops.
The Department's own additional assessment requirements specifically call out the need to evaluate "tonality and dominant low-frequency content" from the plant and equipment. That requirement exists because the Department recognises that this type of noise is particularly problematic for nearby residents. Low frequency noise passes through walls and windows. It disturbs sleep. It is very difficult to mitigate after a building is constructed.
On top of the continuous operational noise, the facility requires large diesel back-up generators capable of powering up to 90 MVA of load. These generators require regular testing. Residents near a quiet suburban street will be subjected to the noise profile of heavy industrial generators on a recurring basis, with limited ability to predict when that will occur. Locating the generators on the western boundary provides some separation, but at this scale, there is no guarantee that attenuation will be sufficient to protect residential amenity on the eastern side of the site.
3. DIESEL EXHAUST EMISSIONS ADJACENT TO HOMES, PARKLAND AND A COMMUNITY NURSERY
The back-up generators require substantial diesel storage and will produce exhaust emissions during both testing and any actual power failure events. The Lane Cove Community Nursery is explicitly identified in the Department's additional requirements as a receiver that needs specific consideration. This is a facility used by families and children. Blackman Park to the south is used by the community for recreation year round.
The applicant describes generator use as relating to "unlikely emergency power failure events." For a facility of this scale and criticality, regular generator testing is not optional. It is a compliance requirement. Framing it as an unlikely emergency understates what residents will actually experience. Diesel exhaust in a residential and recreational setting is not an acceptable ongoing impact, regardless of how infrequently the applicant claims it will occur.
4. THE THERMAL IMPACT ON THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT HAS BEEN DOWNPLAYED
A data centre consuming up to 81 megawatts of power rejects an enormous quantity of waste heat into the surrounding environment. The Department has required the EIS to specifically evaluate the impact of that heat rejection on habitable rooms and communal open spaces, including those on neighbouring properties. That requirement was added because the standard assessment framework was not considered sufficient on its own. That should concern residents.
Blackman Park and the streets around the site are used by the community throughout the year, including during Sydney summers which are already becoming more intense. The localised heat impact of a facility of this size on the surrounding microclimate is a real and material concern, not a theoretical one. It will affect how liveable this neighbourhood is for the people who have chosen to make it their home.
5. THIS SITE IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR A DEVELOPMENT OF THIS INTENSITY
Lane Cove West is a small industrial precinct. It is not an isolated industrial corridor with large buffers and separation distances. It is surrounded on multiple sides by people's homes, public parks and community facilities. Data centres at this scale, with this level of power consumption and this profile of environmental impacts, are being built in outer metropolitan areas and purpose-designed precincts precisely because those locations provide the space and separation that a facility like this requires.
Goodman is an experienced and well-resourced developer. They had the option to pursue this project in a location that would not impose these impacts on an established residential community. The decision to proceed here reflects a commercial calculation about land values. That commercial interest should not take priority over the amenity and wellbeing of the people who live here.
6. CONSTRUCTION WILL BE DISRUPTIVE FOR YEARS
The construction phase involves demolishing four existing buildings, bulk excavating a large and significantly sloping site, and constructing three substantial new buildings. The applicant estimates 500 construction jobs, which means sustained heavy vehicle movements through a residential area for what will be a multi-year programme. All vehicle access is via Mars Road with three proposed crossovers. The surrounding streets were not designed to absorb this level of construction traffic over an extended period.
7. THE COMMUNITY HAS NOT HAD A GENUINE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE
The applicant's own pre-development application confirms they had not engaged with the Department before lodging their request for SEARs. The public exhibition runs for approximately six weeks and involves a large and complex set of documents. Six weeks is not enough time for a community to meaningfully engage with a 48-document EIS for a development of this scale and complexity.
The fact that the Department added specific additional requirements around consultation with Lane Cove Council regarding the Community Nursery suggests that even the regulator was not satisfied that adequate groundwork had been done before lodgement. Residents deserve a genuine process, not a statutory minimum.
8.
The proposed development is located in immediate proximity to Lane Cove West Public School, a highly sensitive land use. The continuous noise, potential air emissions from backup generators, and increased heavy vehicle movements associated with a mega data centre are incompatible with the health, safety, and learning environment of primary school students. This represents a clear land-use conflict and is not in the public interest.
CONCLUSION
My objection is not to data centres in principle. My objection is to this development, at this scale, in this location. The people who live near this site will bear the noise, the heat, the diesel emissions, the overshadowing and the construction disruption permanently. The applicant will not. I urge the Department to refuse this application or at minimum require substantial redesign to reduce the height, scale and operational impact to a level that is genuinely compatible with the surrounding community.