Goodman pulls $1.2 billion Sydney data centre after community backlash
Developer Goodman Group has withdrawn its $1.2 billion Project Mars data centre from Lane Cove after community opposition and changing government regulations.
Goodman Group told NSW planning authorities on Monday it would no longer build Project Mars, a three-storey data centre planned for Sydney's north shore. The decision came after intense local opposition and changes to the regulatory environment for large-scale data centres.
The project was to sit approximately 20 metres from the nearest house and 160 metres from a primary school. Local community groups fiercely opposed the project, taking umbrage with its expected impacts.
A Liberal senator publicly urged the developer to withdraw during a federal inquiry into data centres last week. The pullback reflects growing tension between federal efforts to attract AI investment and rising community resistance to data centre expansion across the country.
- $1.2 billion
- Project cost
- 160 metres
- Distance from school
- 20 metres
- Distance from nearest house
- Three-storey
- Building size
Why it mattersIt shows that community pressure can halt major infrastructure projects, and signals a shift in how Australian governments will regulate AI data centre development.
AustraliaThe decision comes as Australia balances AI investment with concerns about energy use and environmental impact; new federal data centre rules are expected in Parliament by the end of this year.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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