Plan for controversial Sydney information centre scrapped after push-back

Plans for an information centre which might have been constructed metres from individuals’s properties in a Sydney suburb have been scrapped following intense push-back by campaigners.

The information centre was being developed by Goodman Group, Australia’s greatest property firm, and would have seen it assemble a A$1.2bn (£630m; $841m), 90-megawatt facility often called Challenge Mars within the Lane Cove space.

The corporate confirmed it was withdrawing its software in a letter to the native planning authority. It follows a concerted opposition in opposition to the info centre by native residents and campaigners.

The dispute captures a wider disagreement in Australia over the function of information centres.

With the mainstreaming of generative AI lately, there was an enormous swell in demand for information centres, and Australia – with its abundance of unpolluted vitality, pure gasoline reserves, and land – has turn out to be a worldwide vacation spot for his or her development.

Nevertheless, whereas the nation’s authorities has been eager to draw funding from international AI corporations, there has additionally been stiff opposition as a result of big calls for the centres place on water and vitality provides, and the disruption they trigger native communities.

The proposal for Challenge Mars, which might have been constructed about 20 metres from the closest home within the suburb of Lane Cove, acquired 374 submissions throughout a session – with simply 9 in assist of it.

In response to native information web site Within the Cove, that is highest variety of submissions ever acquired for an information centre software, exterior.

In its letter to New South Wales Division of Planning, Goodman Group stated since beginning the planning course of in March 2025, it had “undertaken in depth technical investigations, stakeholder engagement and group session”.

“Throughout this time, the coverage and regulatory surroundings for large-scale information centre growth has developed considerably,” it stated.

It stated it had “rigorously thought of these modifications” together with the “views of the area people”, and concluded it could not proceed with the event.

The choice by Goodman Group follows an announcement by the New South Wales authorities final month that it could be introducing a fast-track programme for information centres.

The programme would enable them to be assessed inside 75 days, supplied they meet necessities round sure requirements and fund the extra provide of water and vitality.

In a message posted to the Fb web page of Lane Cove Accountable Planning Group, Anthony Roberts, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Meeting representing Lane Cove, stated it was “an enormous win for the Lane Cove West group”.

“It is a commonsense win for our group,” he stated.

“This victory sends a transparent message to different information centre builders. To seek out appropriate places earlier than placing proposals ahead.

“Information centres have an necessary function to play, however developments of this measurement and scale should be appropriately situated and deliberate with the encompassing group in thoughts.”