Microsoft unveils its proposed $350m Northern Sydney hub
Plans for a $350 million data centre at the Lane Cove Technology and Media Park on Mowbray Road have come under fire from local residents opposed to the development, with concerns about its aesthetics and the impact building work will have on the area.
Construction plans released by ARUP show the $349.6m development will feature 12 data halls along with emergency generators, electrical substations, loading docks, 13 on-site fuel storage tanks and 42 parking spaces.
The centre, which would operate 24/7, will also provide more than 150 construction jobs and up to 56 full-time roles once up and running.
If approved, construction work is expected to take two years to complete, but local residents are concerned about the impacts of the project, including noise, spoil removal, excavation works, diesel fuel usage at the site, loss of trees, handling of hazardous materials, and dust.
Lane Cove North Residents Association convenor, June Hefferan, objected to the bulk and scale of the building, saying, “I don’t understand why it’s so enormous and has to be an eyesore and such a fat block.”
In direct response to community feedback, the current proposed design is almost half the height and about a 40 per cent reduction in gross floor area than the original concept. It now also has a refreshed façade, making it fit better with the surrounding streetscape.
A spokeswoman for Microsoft insists the development will have benefits for Sydney businesses and the wider population, explaining, “It is important that we have data centres in Australia that are close to the businesses, homes and organisations that need it.
“We use more and more data at home, at work and for important services like healthcare, education, and telecommunications – we need places to store and manage that data.
“The development responds to this increasing demand and supports the continued drive for business development across Sydney and NSW.”