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.

I support the project

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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