Lane Cove is fast becoming one of the most concentrated data centre hubs in Australia. NSW is home to nearly 100 data centres, with over 15 of these located across Lane Cove, Ryde and WIlloughby alone and even more under construction or in planning.
Data centres consume massive amounts of energy, water and land, and around the world are impacting seriously on communities where they are located. 

Developers are planning to build a 90MW data centre at 12 Mars Road powered by 49 backup diesel generators – just metres from a primary school, a childcare centre, several recreational spaces and protected local ecosystems. 

Lane Cove residents have voiced strong concern about the scale and concentration of data centre developments planned for their suburb, and the impacts of hyperscale data centres running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, drawing enormous quantities of power and water – including on the local environment, liveability, air quality and community health. 

Data centre developments of this scale and capacity must be subject to proper scrutiny, oversight and safeguards. The NSW government must listen to the local community and ensure Project Mars is fully examined to hear the public’s concerns. 

Tell the Minister to send the Project Mars data centre development to the Independent Planning Commission for independent assessment.