Welcome to our week in review.
Proposed Data Centre – 12 Mars Road Lane Cove West Online Meeting on Impact on Bushland
On 18 March 2025, the Goodman Group lodged a SEARS application to develop a 90MW data centre campus at 12 Mars Road in Lane Cove West. It has been nicknamed Project Mars – read the background here.
Goodman are inviting local community groups with an interest in bushland care and parklands near the proposed development site to a briefing meeting.
The briefing meeting is an opportunity to hear further information about the project, address any questions you have with the project team, and provide your feedback on the proposal
Date: Wednesday, 6 August 2025
Time: 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm
Location: Via Microsoft Teams (a link to the meeting details will be provided via meeting once RSVPs have been confirmed)
RSVP by: Thursday, 31 July 2025, phone 1800 244 883 or email [email protected]
The briefing meeting will run for up to 45 minutes. The project team will provide a presentation and there will be time for Q&A with all attendees.
If you have any questions, contact the Urbis Engagement team on:
Phone: 1800 244 883
Email: [email protected]
Lane Cove Toy Library Champions Inclusivity
Toy Libraries Australia has included The Lane Cove Toy Library (TLCTL) in a video highlighting the Inclusive programme that runs at several toy libraries across Australia.
TLCTL has partnered with Luz All Abilities and Omnia Inclusive Employment Solutions to provide volunteer opportunities to people with a disability. The programme centres around providing volunteer opportunities for participants to develop their skills with a variety of tasks around the toy library.
A large part of this programme’s success at TLCTL is thanks to volunteer Karen Neville who has championed the programme and also coordinates the sessions for these amazing volunteers.
Fare-Free Travel Days On Sydney Metro & Sydney Trains
Commuters across New South Wales will enjoy two days of free travel on the Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink, Metro and Airport Link networks from Thursday 31 July to Friday 1 August 2025, as part of a government initiative aimed at thanking the public for their patience during recent rail disruptions.
The 48-hour fare-free period will see Opal readers turned off at all train and metro stations, meaning no tap on or tap off is required. For NSW TrainLink services, booked tickets are still necessary, but passengers will receive full fare refunds automatically.
However, not all transport modes are included. Travel on buses, ferries and light rail will continue to incur regular Opal charges. Commuters using those services must still tap on and off, with standard fares and transfer benefits applying as usual.
Transport for NSW confirmed the free travel days are not only a goodwill gesture but also a move to support local businesses impacted by rail delays and industrial action.
Get Ready For Secondhand Saturday
On Saturday 16 August 2025 explore Lane Cove like never before and find a secondhand treasure.
Secondhand Saturday is a new community event where you hold the garage sale and Lane Cove Council promotes it through a FREE on-line listing of garage sales being held across Lane Cove on the same day.
You can hold your own garage sale at home, or coordinate / get involved with a joint garage sale in your street, with your local school, preschool, community organisation or church. You can also get involved by visiting the garage sales in your local area to grab some great pre-loved items.
From vintage clothes to furniture, books, toys, art and more — garage sales all over Lane Cove will be full of pre-loved gems waiting to be re-homed.
The Garage Sale Map will be available from 1 August so you can start planning how to make the most of this fantastic opportunity.
There is still time to register your sale and get it on the map! All the details here.
HomeHQ Artarmon For Sale
Expressions of interest are being sought nationally and internationally for a new owner of the HomeHQ centre on Reserve Rd Artarmon. The centre was developed in 2013 and holds a host of well-known stores with everything you need to set up a home.
The centre is currently owned by listed company Growthpoint Properties Australia and US giant BlackRock and was last sold in 2018. The sale is expected to fetch around $200m.
More details in Real Commercial’s articles here and here.
Stay tuned to see what’s next for this commercial hub.
Lane Cove Laundry Temporary Closure
Due to staff leave the Lane Cove Laundry (located opposite IGA on Burns Bay Rd) will be temporarily closed from late next week.
First Fridays In The Plaza: The Art of Comic Books
On the first Friday of the month Lane Cove Council puts on free afternoon activities in the plaza. The August event is this Friday and Cockatoo Comics and Lane Cove Gallery + Creative Studios will guide you through the basics of comic illustration and zine-making.
This is an all-ages activity.
What: First Fridays
When: Friday 1 August
Time: 3.30 pm – 5.30 pm
Where: Lane Cove Plaza
How: Just turn up
Cost: FREE
Masala Diwali Paint & Chai
Are you ready for an explosion of taste, colour and creativity? Masala Kitchen has planned a special Paint & Chai event to celebrate Diwali. Check out the poster for details. Bookings here.
Lane Cove Music Present Windfall Quintet
Lane Cove Music will host Windfall Quintet with a return performance of delightful woodwind music. The program will feature a range of beautiful repertoire including dance inspired works by Beethoven, De Falla, Khachaturian and Chabrier.
What: Windfall Quintet
When: Tuesday 12 August
Time: 7.30 pm
Where: LCM Anglican Church, Rosenthal Ave Lane Cove
How: Details and tickets here
The Lane Cove Toy Library X Sydney Speech Clinic
The Lane Cove Toy Library (TLCTL) have partnered with Sydney Speech Clinic to provide parents with information on how to get the most out of playing with The Lane Cove Toy Library Toys. They have developed short, informative videos for parents and carers to watch. At this stage, they have focused on the most popular toys they use in Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy, but there will be more coming soon. There is a QR code on the toy’s label or you can go to Sydney Speech Clinic’s youtube channel.
If you are not a member of The Lane Cove Toy Library it is easy to join online and the membership fee starts at $30.00 for a quarter. Members can borrow up to five toys for a maximum of three weeks (some parents and grandparents borrow every week).
TLCTL has been open for a little over a year, and some members have borrowed over $5000 worth of toys each!
Local Dancers Excel At National Awards
Earlier in the year, dancers from Lane Cove Dance Academy were selected to represent NSW at the Lucie Saronova Memorial Awards, the Cecchetti Ballet Australia’s National Competition.
The awards, held in Adelaide on 10 July, brought together sixteen talented young dancers from across Australia who spent a day developing their skills during a demanding class observed by adjudicators. Later they performed two solos in front of Cecchetti Ballet Australia’s annual National Conference attendees.
Following adjudication Lane Cove dancers Emily Townend and Adabelle Lee were awarded Runner Up in the Gold Award and Runner Up in the Silver Award respectively.
In sharing news of the Awards Lane Cove Dance Academy noted “the time, hard work & dedication both of these girls put into their preparation really shone through in their technically brilliant & beautifully artistic performances.”
Congratulations Emily and Adabelle! – see our cover photo provided by Lane Cove Dance Academy.
Golden Goal To Secure Grand Final Spot
On Sunday, 27 July 2025, Lane Cove West FC’s U14 Division 2 team took to the field against West Pymble FC’s U14 Super League side for their Northern Suburbs Football Association Treasurer’s Shield semi-final match. It was a close game culminating in a thrilling 3-2 Golden Goal win for Lane Cove West.
The side will face Asquith FC in the grand final on Sunday 31 August 2025.
Two Lane Cove Netballers Recognised
Two Lane Cove Netball Club players have been recognised as emerging talent within the sport. Ella and Emmalee represented the Northern Suburbs Netball Association (NSNA) at the Netball NSW Junior State Titles earlier in July.
Following the event NSNA were notified of six players from their teams who “demonstrate strong potential for future development within the Netball NSW pathway. Identification is based on a range of factors including physical capabilities, positional play, and overall potential.”
Congratulations Emmalee and Ella!
Break In Attempts Bridge St/Radke Walk
A member of Lane Cove Chat by ITC posted the following warning to locals on Monday evening:
“We have just noticed 3 of our fly screens have been levered to try and open them. (It’s not birds or any animal) it’s 3 separate attempts at 3 separate windows and significant force has been used. Please lock all your doors and windows and be vigilant. Luckily whoever did this was unable to gain entry.”
North Shore Police Area Command July Update
Drug Detection – Naremburn – 28/06/2025
A 40-year-old Guildford man has been charged with proceeds of crime and drug offences after a vehicle he was driving was stopped by police.
At 8:00pm on the 28th of June, police allegedly observed a Honda Sedan proceed through an orange/amber light on Willoughby Road, Naremburn. Police stopped the vehicle a short time later and spoke with the 40-year-old Guildford man who police will allege was driving the vehicle. After speaking with the male, police had cause to search both the male and the vehicle.
During the search of the male, police will allege in court that they located $450 in cash. During a search of the vehicle, police will allege they located fifteen small clear resealable bags all containing white powder weighing 11.25 Grams. Police will allege the white powder was cocaine.
The male was arrested and conveyed to Chatswood Police Station where he was charged with “Recklessly Deal with the Proceeds of Crime”, “Possess Prohibited Drug” and “Supply Prohibited Drug > Indictable & < Commercial Quantity”.
The male was granted conditional bail and is due to appear before Hornsby Local Court on the 3rd of September.
Offensive Behaviour – Artarmon – 30/06/2025
A 33-year-old Artarmon man has been issued with a Criminal Infringement Notice.
At 5:20pm on Monday the 30 June, police received numerous calls regarding the Artarmon man acting erratically and holding an axe. Police attended immediately and located the male on Hampden Road, Artarmon. Police attempted to interact with the 33-year-old male, however he was allegedly irate and non-compliant with police. Police discharged a taser at the male which was effective. The male was placed under arrest and handcuffed.
Police requested the assistance of paramedics, who attended and assessed the male. As a result, the male was conveyed to hospital for treatment.
Police discontinued the arrest of the male, and he was issued with a $794 Criminal Infringement Notice for the offence of “Offensive Behaviour”.
Break and Enter – Naremburn / Kirribilli / St Leonards – multiple dates
A 41-year-old Woolloomooloo man has been arrested and charged with break and enter offences.
Police will allege that at 3:19am on the 30th of June, the man approached the front entry of a building on Herbert Street, Naremburn and attempted to force open the locked door and in the process caused $500 worth of damage. The Woolloomooloo man was unsuccessful in gaining access to the building and left the area.
At 6:13am on the 13th of July, police allege that the 41-year-old approached a building on Fitzroy Street, Kirribilli where he was captured on CCTV to kick the main rear door to the building, however, was unsuccessful in gaining entry. The male then allegedly kicked another door at the rear of the property, gaining entry to a storage room. He entered the room; however, this activated the building’s alarm system and he left the location.
At 4:35am on the 16th of July the 41-year-old Woolloomooloo man approached the front counter area of a fast-food restaurant in St Leonards. At the time the restaurant was closed. Police will allege in court that the man was able to gain entry to the restaurant via a window and while inside he stole items from the office area.
North Shore PAC Police attended the scene and allegedly located the male nearby on the platform of St Leonards Railway Station. Police spoke with the man and subsequently subjected him to a search. During the search police will allege they located stolen items and clothing allegedly worn by the male when he committed the above offences.
The man was arrested and conveyed to Chatswood Police Station where he was charged with “2 x Break and enter dwelling-house with intent (steal)”, “Destroy or damage property”, and “Goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen”.
The male was refused bail by police. He next appears before Hornsby Local Court on the 10th of September.
Fail to Quit & Custody of a Knife – Chatswood – 18/07/2025
A 46-year-old Artarmon man has been issued with two Criminal Infringement Notices after allegedly refusing to leave a Licensed Premises.
At 7:30pm on the 18th of July, the man entered a Licensed Premises in Chatswood CBD allegedly carrying a bottle of wine. The man asked staff to give him a wine glass, however staff believed the male was intoxicated and refused the request.
A short time later, staff allegedly saw the male pouring wine into another cup. Staff approached the male and asked him to leave the premises. Police will allege that staff asked the male a further four times to leave the premises, however he failed to do so.
At the same time, police attached to North Shore PAC were conducting a proactive foot patrol of Chatswood CBD and observed the male stumble and fall to the ground near where he had been seated out the front of the premises. Police approached the male and checked on his welfare. At the same time, staff approached police and advised police that the male had failed to leave the premises when asked. Police will allege that they requested the Artarmon man to leave the premises multiple times, however he became argumentative and refused to leave. The man was subsequently arrested by Police for failing to leave the licensed premises and was walked by police to Chatswood Police Station.
While in custody at Chatswood Police Station, the male was subjected to a search and police will allege that during the search they located a knife in a bag that was draped over his shoulder. The male was spoken to about the knife and police will allege in court that he did not have a reasonable excuse for possessing the knife in public.
The male was issued with two Criminal Infringement Notices, the first for “Excluded Person Fail to Leave Premises When Required” and the second for “Custody of a Knife in a Public Place.” Both infringements require the 46-year-old to pay $550.
Drug Detection / Goods in Custody – Mosman – 19/07/2025
A 34-year-old Horsley Park man has been issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice.
At 8:00pm on Saturday the 19th of July 2025, Police attached to State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad observed a Gold Volkswagon Toureg on Spit Road, Mosman which was allegedly travelling faster than the posted speed limit. Upon closer inspection of the vehicle, it was noticed by police that the vehicle was displaying stolen registration plates.
Police stopped the vehicle at a Service Station on Spit Road, Mosman and spoke with the driver. Police had cause to search the 34-year-old and vehicle and will allege that during the search they located a small bag of Cocaine and a pair of chrome knuckle dusters in the vehicle and $800 cash on the male.
The male was charged with “Possess prohibited drug”, “deal with the proceeds of crime” and 2 x “goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen”. The registration plates on the vehicle were seized.
The man is due to face Manly Local Court in September.
Robbery – Lindfield – 25/07/2025
A 15-year-old Hornsby girl has been charged with Robbery and Possession of prescribed restricted substance
Police allege that at 8:45pm on Friday 25th of July the Hornsby girl approached a 14-year-old girl at Lindfield Train Station and demanded that she remove her shoes and threatened to assault her if she did not comply with her demands. The 14-year-old took off her shoes and the Hornsby girl took them from her and then allegedly ran off.
Police were called and located the Hornsby girl nearby, however as police were speaking with the 15-year-old, she ran from police. Police chased the girl and arrested her a short distance away. Police searched the girl and will allege in court that they located the shoes from the victim as well as a bottle containing 12 Xanax tablets in the girl’s handbag. Police will allege in court that the girl did not have a prescription for the Xanax tablets.
She was conveyed to Chatswood Police Station where a support person was arranged for her.
She was charged with “Robbery” and “Possession of prescribed restricted substance”.
The girl was granted conditional bail and is due to face Surry Hills Children’s Court on the 19th of August.
Drug Detection – North Sydney – 25/07/2025
A 30-year-old Marrickville man has been refused bail until December after police stopped a vehicle he was allegedly driving.
At 10:30pm on Friday the 25th of July, police attached to the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were conducting stationary random drug and alcohol testing on Clarke Road, North Sydney. Police will allege that the 30-year-old Marrickville man was driving a black Mazda 3 and attempted to evade the testing site.
Police stopped the Black Mazda on Margaret Street and spoke with the Marrickville man who was the sole occupant of the vehicle. Police conducted checks on the male’s New South Wales Drivers Licence which revealed he was disqualified from driving until the 17th of September 2025. He was subjected to an oral fluid drug wipe, which allegedly returned a positive result to cocaine.
Police had cause to search the male and the vehicle and will allege in court that during the search of the male they located a plastic bag containing six small plastic resealable bags containing what Police will allege to be cocaine, and one small plastic resealable bag containing ketamine.
During a search of the vehicle police allege they located nine small plastic resealable bags containing 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), nine small plastic resealable bags containing Ketamine and fifteen small plastic resealable bags containing Cocaine. Police will also allege in court that they located a set of knuckled dusters in the glovebox.
The male was arrested and conveyed to Chatswood Police Station and during a further search of the male police allegedly located another small resealable bag containing cocaine in the male’s wallet. Further checks on the male revealed that he was currently on bail for similar offences.
The Marrickville man was charged with “Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period – 2nd offence”, “4 x Supply prohibited drug >indictable & <commercial quantity”, “2 x possess prohibited drug”, “possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit” and “breach of bail”. Further charges are likely pending results from a secondary oral drug test which has been sent for analysis in a laboratory.
The male is bail refused till the 8th of December where he will face Downing Centre Local Court.
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