Have Your Say: Data Centre Proposed for 12 Mars Road

Published on 21 April 2026

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The Goodman Group has applied to the NSW Department of Planning to build a major data centre at 12 Mars Road, Lane Cove West. Known as "Project Mars," the proposal would demolish four existing warehouses and construct two large data centre buildings operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, consuming up to 90 megawatts of power.

This is the latest in a growing cluster of data centres targeting Lane Cove West. There is already one existing data centre in Lane Cove West with another 3 proposed - and Council has significant concerns about what this means for our community, our infrastructure, and our environment.

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What is Council doing?

Because this project exceeds the threshold for a State Significant Development, the NSW Department of Planning - not Lane Cove Council - is the decision-maker. Council's role is to act as your advocate, and we have lodged a detailed formal submission raising significant concerns, including:

  • Height — the proposal significantly exceeds Lane Cove's permitted height limits, with the tallest portions closest to residential streets and bushland
  • Noise — the 24/7 facility sits close to homes, and the noise assessment has been based on assumed equipment rather than confirmed specifications
  • Bushland and riparian land — the site adjoins protected bushland and the Lane Cove River corridor, and proposed excavation of up to 8 metres raises serious concerns about environmental damage. During construction of a nearby data centre, inadequate sediment controls caused major damage to an endangered saltmarsh community — Council is determined this must not happen again
  • Our Community Nursery — located directly adjacent to the site, the Nursery propagates native plants for bush regeneration across the whole LGA and must be protected from construction dust and heat impacts
  • Cumulative impact — no assessment has been provided on what four data centres together will demand from local water, electricity, and road networks

You can read Council's full submission here.

Your voice matters

Community submissions carry real weight in the State Government's assessment process. We encourage every resident who has concerns to make their views known directly to the Department of Planning before the exhibition period closes.

Make a submission on the NSW Planning Portal

Have your say here by 5 May 2026

Need help making a submission? Call Service NSW on 1300 305 695.

For questions, contact Council's Planning team at service@lanecove.nsw.gov.au or 9911 3555.

 

 

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