Microsoft Lane Cove: mega data centre sparks fears over fire risks, parking impacts

A childcare centre is in a David and Goliath battle with global tech giant Microsoft over a huge new facility set to dominate a suburb.

Two Sydney councils and a childcare centre have hit out at plans by global technology giant Microsoft to develop a mega six storey “data centre” on the north shore.

A $129 million proposal for the futuristic facility in Lane Cove has prompted a string of objections from planners at Lane Cove and Willoughby Councils due to concerns including fire risks, building height, noise and traffic congestion.

Plans for the complex, released earlier this year, show the centre would have 16 electrical substations, a fuel tank storing 1800 tonnes of diesel as a backup energy source, and 14 data halls storing information to meet growing global demand for data storage in the online ‘cloud’.

A concept plan of the development.

The facility, to be built by ARUP, would be located on the site of the existing Lane Cove Technology and Media Park which is currently used by the adjacent Possums Corner Childcare centre for staff parking and parent pick-up and drop-offs.

Lane Cove Council has raised concerns over the 38m height of the data centre – more than double the current 18m limit – along with parking impacts on the childcare centre.

Similar objections have been flagged by Willoughby Council, which borders the site, along with the suitability of diesel storage on the bushfire prone site.

The council has called for ARUP to investigate alternative energy sources including solar power and battery storage.

The centre would be built on Mowbray Rd.

A spokeswoman for Possums Corner Childcare said the centre has had a series of meetings with Microsoft to raise its concerns over loss of parking and potential noise impacts.

“As a childcare centre we have staff and parents that use those parking spaces and if they go there’s nowhere else to park in the area. We’ll go bankrupt,” she said.

“There’s also noise – they are demolishing a massive structure and it will have an impact on everyone in the area and the homes across the road.

“Microsoft said they’re willing to working with us but are still in the planning stages. Nothing’s been finalised.”

A site plan of the complex.

Transport for NSW has meanwhile called for detailed traffic modelling to assess impacts on the congested Epping Rd / Mowbray Rd intersection while the Environment Protection Authority has requested clarification on the location and design of fuel tanks, along with noise impacts from back-up generators and air quality assessments.

The feedback comes ahead of the release of detailed plans for the project, which ARUP said would include a dangerous goods report.

A Microsoft spokesman said the company has “identified a number of areas of importance to the community” which it is considering as part of the development process.

“Although some details of the project have not been finalised, a community consultation period will follow the lodgement of our development application,” he said.

“Possums Corner Child Care Centre is an important and valued local community childcare centre. We have met with the centre and will be having further detailed discussions to address onsite parking needs.”

Possums Corner Child Care Centre is located next to the site. Photo: file.

If approved, existing buildings at the Mowbray Rd site – home to businesses ranging from a dance studio to a ukulele manufacturer – would be demolished.

Microsoft is the latest company to join the data race on the north shore with construction works continuing on a $238 million data centre by NextDC on the corner of Broadcast Way and the Pacific Hwy in Artarmon

A $216 million facility by AirTrunk was approved a site at 1 Sirius Rd in Lane Cove West in December.

The Microsoft spokesman said the on-site diesel generators will only run when needing to be tested or in power blackout scenarios as back-up, which is roughly one percent of the time.

“The generators are essential to keeping businesses and critical industries which rely on Microsoft’s cloud services online. The design and safety of the diesel fuel tanks will meet all Australian design and safety standards.”

Both Lane Cove and Willoughby councils noted the new data centre would contribute to economic development and support the development of IT infrastructure in NSW.

Microsoft said critical infrastructure and public services are now dependent upon the cloud.

“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 spokesman said.

“It is also important that we have data centres in Australia and that are close to the businesses, homes and organisations that need it.”