Arabic version: غودمان تتخلى عن مركز بيانات «بروجيكت مارس» في لين كوف

According to ABC News, Goodman Group has withdrawn its proposed $1.2 billion Project Mars data centre development in Sydney’s north shore after the plan became a focal point for local opposition to AI infrastructure.

Goodman said on Monday it had told the NSW Department of Planning it would no longer proceed with the three-storey Lane Cove project, citing “changes in regulatory environment”. The developer said it had considered regulatory changes and feedback received through the planning process, including views from the local community.

The proposed development was about 20 metres from the nearest house and 160 metres from Lane Cove West Public School. Community groups strongly opposed the plan over its expected impacts and appeared at the first hearing of a federal Senate inquiry into data centres and artificial intelligence last week.

Goodman’s general manager of developments, Ben McGilp, attended that hearing, where Liberal senator Sarah Henderson pressed him to withdraw the proposal. Sweltering Cities senior campaigner Sanaa Shah said the decision showed the scale of community resistance forming around data centres across Australia.

The withdrawal follows NSW’s introduction of a fast-track program for qualifying data centres and comes ahead of proposed federal rules. Data Centre Australia has warned that Australia could lose projects to neighbouring countries because of approval processes, supply-chain issues and social licence concerns.