SYDNEY, May 4, 2026, 01:03 (AEST)
Goodman Group’s ambitious data centre project for Sydney’s Lane Cove is facing resistance just as the deadline for public feedback approaches. Over the weekend, Guardian Australia highlighted resident Daniel Bolger’s worries about what he calls the “cluster issue” — a reference to the heavy concentration of facilities. On the industry side, Data Centres Australia CEO Belinda Dennett described it as a “significant opportunity.” The article also flagged similar public unease surrounding NextDC’s M3 development in Melbourne. The Guardian
Timing’s critical, since approval windows are tight. Project Mars is flagged as a State Significant Development on the NSW planning portal, so state planners have the file. Public comment opened March 27 and closes May 5.
The stakes are high for Goodman, given that data centres—these sprawling server and network hubs—are now at the center of its growth strategy. Back in February, Goodman told the ASX that data centres made up 73% of its A$14.4 billion in development work underway. Chief Executive Greg Goodman summed it up: “Power, sites and capital are critical,” with the company aiming for customer “commitments expected in 2026.” ASX Announcements
Goodman is seeking council approval to knock down four warehouses at 12 Mars Road and put up a pair of data centre buildings, according to Lane Cove Council. The proposed centres would run around the clock, pulling as much as 90 megawatts from the grid—enough that electricity supply becomes a planning concern, not just a property one.
Still, the risks are hard to miss. Council flagged worries about noise, building height, impacts on protected bushland, and the proximity of a community nursery—not to mention the strain that four data centres could put on water, electricity, and road systems in the area. Redesigns, extra safeguards, or dragging out approvals would all slow things down, running counter to Goodman’s push to develop powered sites near big cities as quickly as possible.
Goodman isn’t the only name in the mix. According to The Cove, a Lane Cove community news site, five data centres have either been built, greenlit, or are still on the drawing board for the area—two of them are already up and running under AirTrunk, with another AirTrunk centre now under proposal, plus Goodman’s Project Mars and one more from DC Alliance.
Goodman points to limited power and urban land as backing for its expanding data-centre pipeline. According to the company’s data-centre page, Goodman has a 6.0 gigawatt global power bank. Of that, 0.7 gigawatts are stabilised and another 0.3 gigawatts are currently in progress.
Goodman remains a go-to play for data-centre exposure, but investors are showing some restraint. According to MarketScreener, 13 analysts are tracking the stock; the average recommendation is “buy,” with a target of A$34.46. Shares last closed at A$29.96. MarketScreener
Right now, it’s a procedural snag, not a money one. Goodman’s got the capital, the land, and the AI demand lined up. But Lane Cove’s challenge is whether planning and community support can actually catch up.
