Victoria
Council body demands halt to Victoria data centre approvals
A council body has called for a moratorium on Victorian data centre approvals ahead of next month's state election.
A peak body representing local councils in Victoria has called for a moratorium on new data centre planning approvals, citing a sharp rise in development applications and growing community anxiety.
The demand places immediate pressure on Victoria’s major political parties to clarify their planning policies just weeks before the state election. According to a wire report, local government advocates want a temporary halt to approvals to allow for a more comprehensive assessment of how these large-scale facilities affect local areas.
Data centres, which house the computer servers and storage systems necessary to power digital services, have become increasingly common across Victoria. However, their rapid proliferation has triggered significant local opposition, leading to the current push for a suspension of new permits.
While specific details about the locations of the contested projects have not been fully detailed, the rise in planning approvals has reportedly outpaced the development of specific state guidelines to manage their impact. Local councils are increasingly concerned about their ability to regulate the developments under current planning frameworks.
With the state election scheduled for next month, community groups and local governments are looking for commitments from both the Labor government and the Coalition. The issue is expected to become a key talking point in electorates where data centre developments are currently proposed or underway.
Neither of the major parties has yet announced a formal policy in response to the council body's demands for a moratorium.
Watch to see how the major political parties address these planning concerns as they release their official infrastructure and planning policies ahead of next month's state election.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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