Proponents of the $1 billion data centre-gas station had ''exhibited deficiencies'' in 21 key areas, the ACT Planning and Land Authority preliminary assessment evaluation has found.
The authority's chief planner, Neil Savery, said the ActewAGL/TRE development had failed to provide adequate information in many areas, including the carbon footprint of the proposal, the noise impact on the nearby health treatment facility and renewable energy options.
Mr Savery stopped short of criticising the project and said the environmental impact study would address three key gaps in the information flora and fauna, heritage issues, and community health.
''It's not that anyone's done anything wrong, it's just that we don't believe there's adequate information there given the scale of the project to make a decision,'' he said.
In its 17-page assessment of the project, ACTPLA highlighted the following areas for review or further study.
Potential impact on the physical environment
Infrastructure issues, including a failure to discuss the potential impacts the project may have on the territory's ongoing gas supply and energy issues such as the carbon footprint of the proposal.
Sustainable Transport options for 200 workers were deemed to be ''an unresolved deficiency''. The evaluation says ''the PA states that the site could be serviced by bus at some stage in the future. However there is no indication if this is feasible or even likely.''
The report recommends geotechnical testing be done as part of the building approval process and the potential flood risks be assessed.
Potential impacts on the human environment
ACT Environment Protection noted there would be greater background noise for about 50 residential properties.
The authority also found the noise impact on the health facility were not adequately addressed.
The air quality modelling was found to be consistent with requirements and met nitrogen dioxide standards.
The authority found the assessment did not discuss the possibility of acid rain and identified this as a deficiency of the proposal.
The carbon footprint of the project and the omission of renewable energy options should be addressed and reasons for exclusion should be provided.
The preliminary assessment dismissed any potential for wind tunnelling ''yet the justification for this is not clear as no analysis has been provided''. The ''minor issue'' of localised heat from a gas power station was noted as a deficient in the documentation.
The authority recommended a archaeological assessment of the site to identify any Aboriginal artefacts.
The advice from ACT Health found that the health impacts of the proposal were not adequately addressed.
The authority recommended the visual impact of steam on more intense fog events be explored.
The authority found the project overlooks the potential social impact such as the operation of the equestrian park.
The likelihood and impacts of a catastrophic event are not considered.
Potential impacts on the non-human biological environment
The native vegetation on the site has the potential significance as an endangered ecological community. The authority recommended further investigation.
The authority found no discussion of water-saving devices like tanks to reuse rainwater.
The ACT Fire Brigade identified a number of deficiencies in the documentation.
Potential beneficial impacts
Commercial-in-confidenc e documents suggested a 3 per cent increase to the ACT's gross state product, with a further 0.5 per cent ongoing from operating and salary expenditure but the authority dismissed the documents, saying they were without supporting evidence.
Email a friend