As we see new development of data centres across Australia, it’s essential to ensure that they are sustainably built and operated in the future. Instead of fossil fuels and large volumes of water we need to use solar and hydrogen. There’s no need for this type of development so close to residential property - Sydney’s crying out for housing - use areas like this for housing and push the industry of the future out of the cities.

I thought Lane cove council love their trees, why now try to remove trees for money. If this project approved then Lane cove property price gonna drop like crazy, this surburb is finished

I’m deeply concerned about the proposed data centre next to homes, a local school and Blackman Park. This is a very large industrial facility - planned less than 50 metres from houses, 160m from the public school and a childcare and right at the doorstep of Blackman Park that is used by many families and local and external communities.

The cumulative impact on power, water, traffic and safety is becoming impossible to ignore. We’ve already experienced disruption from recent infrastructure works by Interflow and there is concern about electricity reliability and the risk of further blackouts as demand continues to increase - let alone house, pollution and impacts to wildlife.


I strongly disagree with this development

My grandson plays soccer here at the playing field below and it would be a terrible shame to have this development go through.
There is a lovely atmosphere at these grounds and removing the trees which will give a sound and visual buffer to the building would be a huge loss.
Please help ensure this is minimised if the proposal goes ahead.

I am writing to formally object to the Project Mars Data Centre at 12 Mars Road, Lane Cove West (SSD-82052708).
I am a local resident and parent of an autistic child who is highly sensitive to noise and frequency. A 24/7 data centre generating constant mechanical hum, cooling drone and low-frequency vibration is not something our family can simply adapt to. This kind of continuous noise causes real distress, sleep disruption and sensory overload for my daughter. The EIS does not adequately assess the impact on residents with sensory disabilities and I am calling for an independent low-frequency noise and vibration study before any approval is granted.
I am also deeply concerned about diesel pollution. These facilities rely on large diesel generators that run during testing and outages, pumping out fine particulate matter and carcinogens classified by the WHO as Group 1. Children are the most vulnerable. There is no proper cumulative air quality assessment covering all the data centres now proposed or approved in Lane Cove West and there needs to be one.
We cannot afford to lose more trees and wildlife either. Lane Cove’s bushland and habitat corridors are precious. A facility of this scale will mean net vegetation loss, increased heat, light and noise spilling into adjoining green spaces, and real harm to native animals. Proposed landscaping is not a substitute for what will be lost.
This application also cannot be assessed in isolation. Lane Cove West is now looking at the existing AirTrunk centre, a new 140MW AirTrunk facility, the DC Alliance proposal at Mars Road, and this one. The combined impact on our community has never been properly assessed and that is simply not good enough.
I am asking the Department to refuse this application in its current form and to require independent assessments of low-frequency noise, cumulative air quality, and ecological impact across all data centre proposals in this precinct before anything is approved. The rights and health of children and residents must come before commercial interests.

To the NSW Department of Planning, regarding the Project Mars data centre,

I have lived in the Lane Cove area my whole life, and a graduate of Lane Cove West Public School. I wish to put in my objection to the development of the Project Mars data centre. I am making this objection on a number of grounds:

1. The consumption of resources and impact on the environment.
As seen in the proposal and other sources relating to this project, this data centre takes up a lot of space. Not only does its height significantly exceed Lane Cove's permitted height limits, but it also propagates native plants from significant heat from the generators. The abundance of diesel backup generators also results in reducing air quality, not only destroying trees but also creating a worse environment for both residents, students at Lane Cove West Public School, patrons at Blackman Park and surrounding facilities. The facility also uses a lot of water, reducing the availability of water for nearby residents. Considering that this is right next to hundreds of homes, a school and other businesses that need it just as much or even more, this isn't ideal to just take away resources from. If this data centre is to be built, it may make AI engines faster but at the cost of both the liveliness of the suburb and native plants.
2. The impact of noise
The facility, running 24/7, sits very close homes. With the generators constantly running, this will create a lot of noise for residents that reside within Lane Cove West, disrupting usual day-to-day activities, including operations at the school. Whilst the EIS notes that "during operation, the proposed development will comply with established noise criteria." But is this 'established noise criteria' even enough? In the United States, they hold much stricter criteria, saying that building centres must be around 60 meters away from residential areas or properties, whilst backup generators should be around 90 meters away, based on tacking these issues head on. Contrastingly, this proposal puts the data centre at a mere 16 meters away from residential dwellings. Constant running noise will cause more harm than good in the local environment, and will only disrupt usual tasks during both day and night.

As you can clearly see, I reject this decision. The very thought of it is honestly ridiculous, the greediness of corporations is on full display here, taking away from both people who are trying to live their lives, and the surrounding environment around them. It appals me that there was such little consideration for the residents living in the community. If you are to rewrite this plan, you must put the interest of both people and surrounding environment. I would like to conclude with this song, which puts my ideas into fruition in the form of a song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgepU7Ui1wQ

This will be great for jobs, technology and Australia’s future in the AI driven world. It is appropriate because it is located in an industrial zoned area.

To: Patrick Copas, Department of Planning and Environment

Subject: OBJECTION TO PROPOSED DATA CENTRE AT 12 MARS ROAD, LANE COVE WEST

Dear Mr. Copas,

I am writing to formally express my strong opposition to the Project Mars Data Centre proposal. As someone with family in this area who spends significant time in the immediate neighborhood, I am deeply concerned about the long-term impact this facility will have on the character, safety, and health of the community.

This proposal represents a heavy industrial land use that is fundamentally incompatible with the residential streets and the primary school located just 160m away.

Impacts on Living Conditions and Well-being

The nature of a data centre involves 24-hour operations supported by high-voltage equipment, massive cooling systems, and nearly 50 diesel generators. My concerns include:
Constant Noise: Unlike traditional businesses, this facility will produce a persistent, low-frequency hum. This type of ongoing background noise is known to disrupt sleep and increase stress. For the many families living on Avalon Avenue, Banksia Close, and Wood Street, this represents a permanent loss of the "quiet enjoyment" of their homes.
Air Quality: The regular testing and operation of dozens of diesel generators will introduce fuel vapors and exhaust into an area where children play and exercise.
Safety Hazards: The storage of large quantities of diesel fuel and roughly 200,000kg of lithium-ion batteries—which are notoriously difficult to extinguish once ignited—poses an unnecessary risk to a high-density residential and school zone.

Erosion of Local Character and Economy

The current zoning for this site (E4 General Industrial) is intended to encourage employment and mitigate conflict with residential areas. This project fails both tests:
Job Loss: The current small-scale offices and industrial spaces support a diverse range of local businesses. Replacing them with a massive facility that requires only 26 permanent staff is a significant net loss for local employment.
Property Values: The sheer scale of this building, combined with the removal of mature trees and the introduction of a 24-hour noise source, will undeniably make these quiet suburban streets less desirable, impacting the hard-earned equity of local homeowners.
Infrastructure Strain: I am concerned about the cumulative impact multiple data centres will have on the local power and water security, potentially driving up utility costs for residents.

Construction Disruption

A three-year construction period is an eternity for a local community. The neighborhood has already endured significant disruption from water main upgrades; adding years of heavy construction traffic, dust, and vibration directly adjacent to a school route is a major safety concern for children.

Conclusion

I am not opposed to progress, but I am opposed to the wrong development in the wrong place. A hyper-scale data centre does not belong in the middle of a neighborhood filled with young families and students. The environmental and human impacts are too great and, in my view, cannot be mitigated by simple landscaping or "preliminary" noise assessments.

I urge the Department to prioritize the health and well-being of the Lane Cove West community over commercial interests and refuse this application.

Kind regards,

Philip Doyle
Brother to local residents of Banksia Close, Lane Cove West

I totally object to the Dats Centre next to Blackman Park. It is planned to be close to school homes and parks. It will destroy trees. Create noise. Use precious resources and we will lose wildlife habitat.