Community consultations are underway for the proposed ‘Project Mars’ data centre with locals concerned their voices aren’t being heard or considered throughout the process.
Residents opposing the proposed data centre in Lane Cove West said this week’s community webinars with developer Goodman Group do little to address local’s concerns they haven’t been given a voice in the decision-making process.
‘Project Mars’ is a proposed 90-megawatt hyper-scale data centre on Mars Road in Lane Cove West which is close to homes, public recreation areas, a school and Wildlife Protection Areas, causing concern about the impact to the surrounding environment and community. The data centre would take nearly three years to build and operate around the clock.
Founding member of the community-led Lane Cove Responsible Planning Group Elizabeth Darton said residents had not been given meaningful influence over the project.
“We have no seat at the table when it comes to the major decisions that are made. And that is the big problem with these data centres,” Ms Darton said.
The group formed in response to ‘Project Mars’ and helped generate a record 375 submissions to NSW Planning, with 359 in opposition to the proposal.
“There is more scrutiny because there is more public awareness, and that’s why our group really tried to bring public awareness to what these data centres are, so the community that has to live with them are actually informed,” Ms Darton said.
Following the significant community interest, NSW Planning advised Goodman to undertake additional community consultation. In response, the company is hosting online information sessions and one-on-one meetings over this week.
However, Ms Darton remains sceptical that the additional consultations will give residents greater influence over the project.
Concerns also extend to the technical information used to assess potential impacts of ‘Project Mars’.
PhD student and Chief Technology Officer at Noizend George Tullock said noise modelling for data centres relies on outdated methodology, potentially understating the noise residents experience.
“People are complaining about these projects because [the assessments] say that they’re going to be compliant, and once it’s installed, it’s not,” Mr Tullock said.
Mr Tullock has been working the Lane Cove Responsible Planning Group to help residents understand what questions to ask Goodman during the current consultation period.
“Properly understanding the liability and the potential impact of the technology in the type of environment and noise assessments is hugely important for social cohesion,” Mr Tullock said.
