STACK SYD01 Data Centre, Erskine Park

We strongly object to this proposal based on the following points:
- Noise pollution from continuous air conditioning and backup generators.
- Excessive use of electricity which will put a strain on resources impacting supply to residents leading to blackouts and brownouts.
- Excessive use of water impacting supply to residents which is particularly concerning during water restrictions.
- Visual impact due to the size and height of the structure.
- Environmental impact, including air emissions.
- The hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries which include the potential of exploding, causing very hot fires to burn which are difficult to extinguish and can re-ignite.
This proposed facility is way too close to residents and should be re-considered in a less urban environment.

This submission is made on behalf of the Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends, a group of mature citizens who peacefully campaign for climate action and the protection of Australia’s precious water and native species and habitats. With many of us being grandparents, our greatest concern is to ensure a healthy future for the generations that come after us. We are committed to non-violence and are not aligned to any political party.

We know that the next few years will be critical for the planet because of climate change, which is already causing immense harm in this country and many others. Without decisive action by governments and communities, climate change will seriously threaten our security and livelihoods.

In light of the above, we would like to make the following submission regarding the proposed Erskine Park data centre development.

NSW is experiencing rapid growth in the development of data centres, which are intensive users of both water and energy and generate much heat, contributing to our sweltering cities. It is therefore essential that data centre developments are managed responsibly and sustainably, and that their benefits are assessed objectively and shared equitably with the communities where they are located.

We support the eight Public Interest Principles for Data Centres outlined by an alliance of civil society groups and unions, namely that to maximise public benefit and reduce public harm all new data centre developments must:

• Be powered by 100% additional renewable energy
• Strengthen grid stability
• Be appropriately sited to minimise impacts on nature and land use
• Minimise embodied emissions and maximise efficiency and circularity
• Use water resources responsibly
• Operate with transparency
• Commit to earning and delivering ongoing social licence
• Support the training and upskilling of the workforce

The water and energy usage of data centres are of particular concern to us.

It is unacceptable that vast amounts of clean drinking water are diverted for industrial use, putting pressure on water supply and prices. Data centres should be required, by strong regulation/legislation, to a) provide clear data on their expected water usage and b) use maximally water-efficient, closed-loop cooling technology or recycled waste or storm water instead of precious drinking water. Unfortunately, Sydney Water does not currently have the infrastructure for recycling waste water, and it is therefore essential that the development be required to use water-efficient technology.

The NSW Climate Commission has clearly stated NSW is failing its Paris Agreement targets and therefore its promises to the NSW electorate. The proposed scale of data centre developments will add pressure to the state’s existing energy demand, and there is a risk that without proper planning and new renewable energy capacity, the use of fossil fuels will be extended to meet these increased energy demands. Decisions to prolong the use of fossil fuel-powered energy plants, made at least partly to support data centre growth, will not only have detrimental effects on electricity costs for consumers, but will also impact the state’s climate goals. For example, The Climate Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has warned that, without significant new renewable energy and storage, data centre growth could lift NSW wholesale prices by 26% and increase grid emissions across the National Electricity Market by 14% (6 million tonnes of CO2 annually). This is even more concerning in light of the intensified cost-of-living pressure caused by the war in the Middle East.

The Government must therefore ensure that digital growth does not threaten its climate agenda. It must mandate new renewable energy sources and storage for every data centre development to ensure that they do not absorb the capacities built elsewhere in the economy. It must also examine data centre applications with particular care, as NSW Planning is the sole regulator. We note with great concern that the regulator has failed to enforce its own requirements regarding environmental plans and reports for data centres (noise verification reports, long-term environmental management plan) in other developments, in particular in Lane Cove, at the detriment of local residents. It is therefore all the more important that these large developments are assessed diligently.

The NSW Government should also mandate that data centres must fund new energy generation and storage, either co-located with the data centre itself or in partnership with new generation elsewhere. New network infrastructure costs should be met by the data centre operators and their partners – data centre applications that do not commit to funding new infrastructure should not be approved.

We, the Sydney Knitting Nannas, request that this State Significant Development be considered in line with the NSW Government’s climate goals, fair responsibility for the operational costs of data centres, and the sustained integrity of our energy and water systems. We also request that, if approved, appropriate regulations are imposed and enforced to monitor compliance.

I support the project

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

YES!

I strongly object to the proposed data center at Erskine Park.

My primary concern is the obscene amount of drinking water that will be diverted from Sydney Water's supply to sustain this project. This is grossly unacceptable. Approving such a proposal would amount to rubber-stamping a complete dereliction of care for humanity. We are facing an imminent and very real global water crisis. For years, the United Nations has warned that "by 2035, one-third of the world’s population will live in water-stressed conditions." As we approach that time, the urgency and severity of this prediction have only increased.

The UN’s Water Action Decade, 2018–2028 initiative highlights the dire situation: "A 40 percent shortfall in freshwater resources by 2030, coupled with a burgeoning world population, has the world careening towards a global water crisis." (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-action-decade/)

The NSW government must take decisive action to create barriers to entry for water-intensive industries seeking to operate in the state. Industries like the AI and data center sectors must be required to invest in research and development to implement technologies that make them self-sufficient in water use. These industries rely on water primarily for cooling purposes—they do not need to consume drinking water. It is imperative that they adopt sustainable solutions, such as closed-loop systems that recycle water continuously, rather than relying on evaporative cooling that depletes precious resources.

Sydney Water has estimated that by 2035, the data center industry alone could require up to 250 megalitres of water per day. To put this into perspective, the water demand for data centers in Sydney is forecast to exceed the total drinking water supply of Canberra within the next decade. This level of consumption is unsustainable and irresponsible.

The lazy approach of simply extracting drinking water to meet the industry’s needs is both obscene and narcissistic. It reflects a complete disregard for the broader community and the environment. The proposal, as it stands, demonstrates no meaningful commitment to addressing its contribution to the unnecessary depletion of our drinking water supply.

Data centers must shift away from water-intensive practices and embrace sustainable, energy-efficient alternatives. The NSW government has a responsibility to ensure that industries operating within the state do not exacerbate the global water crisis but instead contribute to innovative and sustainable solutions.

Please refer to the attached Sydney Water response and attachments.
If there are any questions, please contact [email protected]

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to lodge a submission regarding the proposed Stack SYD01 Data Centre development at Erskine Park,
SSD-82211208 as advertised on the NSW Planning Portal.

While I understand the importance of infrastructure development and acknowledge the potential economic benefits of this project, I wish to express serious concerns regarding the potential noise impacts, particularly during night-time hours, associated with both the construction and operation of the facility.

The scale of the proposed development, including a 450 MW operational capacity, large-scale plant and equipment, substations, cooling systems, and associated infrastructure, raises significant concerns about continuous and low-frequency noise that may affect nearby residents. Night-time noise has a disproportionate impact on community wellbeing, sleep quality, and overall health, especially for families, shift workers, and vulnerable community members.

I respectfully request that conditions of consent be imposed to ensure that all construction activities are restricted to daytime hours only, with no night-time or early morning works. Clear limits on operational noise levels at night should also be established, monitored, and strictly enforced to ensure compliance with relevant NSW noise guidelines.

I urge the consent authority to carefully consider the cumulative noise impacts of this development and to prioritise the amenity, health, and wellbeing of the surrounding residential community when determining this application.

Thank you for the opportunity to make this submission and for considering the concerns raised.

Yours sincerely,
F. Rozario

Please see attached Letter

Data Center near residential area can have severe impact in a negative way in the long run. It creates Noise Pollution, reduces Property Value and Aesthetics, can create water shortage in surrounding suburbs, can create Thermal & Chemical Pollution,
their high energy consumption can lead to local grid issues and increased electricity bills for residents, Backup diesel generators, tested regularly, can emit nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter, causing poor air quality, Substantial heat produced can affect the local environment. Data centers can severely impact local flora and fauna through significant land usage, high water consumption for cooling, and persistent noise/light pollution. Construction destroys natural habitats, while operational water usage can deplete aquifers, reducing water availability for surrounding ecosystems and threatening species like birds, bats, and aquatic life.
There are many examples Data centers in the USA have caused significant negative impacts.
Location is very close to Erskine park, Therefore, in light of the above, I strongly object to this project.

Strongly oppose this project as this would impact neighbouring suburbs heavily. This is a suburb with many young children and babies and this development will impact our air quality and compete with our resources.

I am totally against data centres- they use huge amounts of energy and water. We are now going into an el nino cycle, where droughts are common. This is not environmentally sustainable

I strongly object to this data centre as it will have irreversible impacts on residents via water usage

I protest the pollution and noise that the data centre would create.