We, the residents of Horsley Park and surrounding areas within Fairfield City Council, respectfully request a formal review of the State Significant Development consent for the NextDC S4 Data Centre under Section 80A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

A proposed data centre development at Horsley Park threatens to permanently alter our community's landscape while consuming vast amounts of water and energy that local residents already struggle with. This industrial-scale project would drain precious freshwater resources, contribute to urban heat islands, and disrupt existing ecosystems—all for servers located hundreds of miles away from the people who will pay for its infrastructure costs.

Why it matters:

Water stress: The centre requires approximately 80 liters per second—enough water to fill a standard bathtub every 15 seconds, continuously. In our region's current drought conditions, this represents significant strain on shared resources.
Energy demand: At peak capacity, the facility will draw megawatts of electricity from our grid, increasing costs for all ratepayers without providing direct local benefits.
Irreversible habitat loss: Construction will permanently modify or destroy native vegetation and wildlife corridors that have existed for generations.
The bottom line: This development offers minimal economic return to the community while imposing substantial environmental burdens. The land could be better used for urban redevelopment, green infrastructure, or biodiversity restoration—projects that create permanent local jobs and improve quality of life.