THE City of Whittlesea has made its strongest comments yet about data centres, unanimously calling for a moratorium into approvals of data centre applications.
The notice of motion that was moved by Councillor Jarrod Lappin said that council were to express its disapproval of the use of the Developer Facilitation Program (DFP) to approve a data centre at 525 and 535 McDonalds Road and urged the State Government to put a hold on applications, which expressly includes an application at 165 Williamsons Road, South Morang.
The strongest comments were reserved for Mayor Lawrie Cox.
“I think it’s unfortunate from my perspective as someone who’s a life member of the Australian Labor Party, who has been an active member for over 50 years, to have to debate this type of motion,” he said.
“It is contrary to the beliefs and the interests of the party, it is contrary to the beliefs and the interests of the community and contrary to the beliefs and interests of the residents who are suffering the consequences of these types of decisions.”
“I make it very plain that I am disgusted with the decision of the planning minister’s process and she should hang her head in shame and I call it out quite openly, because the development facilitation program is not just data centres, it’s housing, it’s every process and it bypasses the fundamental beliefs of the party that I stand with for many years.
“We do not have a separate standing in the constitution, and that’s acknowledged, and that’s the way the cookie crumbles, as they say; but I’m not going to go down quietly, and quite a number of councillors throughout the state are absolutely disgusted with the process.
“The planning minister should wear the full and total responsibility for this. This process is fraught with danger because it talks about speculation developers instead of actual developers.”
In moving the motion, Cr Lappin said the DFP was no longer ‘fit for purpose’.
“This program is not fit for purpose, as it approves contentious projects with no community consultation and completely skips over local government,” he said.
“I must acknowledge that some members of our community would like to see a moratorium placed on this data centre until said legislation ensures they are safe, not evasive and not a burden to our local environment and amenity, however, as this application was approved via the DFP in 2024, this is no longer an option.
“This motion, therefore, demands the state government to assist this council and community against any detrimental impacts that may arise due to this development.
“This project was approved without taking on board any of the council’s concerns or advice about the ways to reduce adverse community impacts, and for any state or federal legislation to require as much.
“We are therefore forced to accept a project that is not up to this community or council’s expectations or high standard, so this motion is looking to bring the state government up to that standard.”
Cr Alan Lenberg said the people of South Morang simply wanted fairness and to have a say.
“I begin by acknowledging the people of South Morang. The petition now before parliament, signed by more than 4000 residents, records that many in the community first learned of these developments only after planning permits were approved, with no public notice of public consultation,” he said.
“Now, a second 200-megawatt facility is proposed at Williamsons Road through the same fast-tracked state pathway that limits the ability of council and community to influence the outcome.
“The people of South Morang are asking for something simple and fair. A genuine say in where data centres are built, while alternatives can still be considered. Not a letter telling what has already been decided.
“Their advocacy, their meetings, their signatures demanding change, that is democracy working and this council stands with them.”
Cr Aidan McLindon said a pause was needed to assess what the future looked like, comparing data centre progress to the rise of cars 100 years earlier.
“As Cr Lenberg has alluded to, this is obviously us doing our maximum capacity we can as a local government calling for the moratorium to say let’s put a handbrake on this, it’s like to say the motor vehicle all of a sudden went from horse-and-cart to petrol, and next thing you know, we whack up petrol stations everywhere, not knowing the implications of what’s going to happen, where they should be, what barriers and safeguards we need to put in place for our local residents, and what impact they are going to be long term,” he said.
“We could very well be left with huge elephants in the next 10 or 15 years, not knowing what the lifespan is, and what’s going to happen beyond the initial use.
“This demonstrates we will not be walked over by a state government that has completely lost touch with the people, and we urge the local MPs, now that we are heading towards caretaker mode at election time, and in fact all candidates, that this is a very serious matter. It’s not going to go away.”
Cr Daniela Zinni made strong comments, but stressed there was a place for data centres.
“Yes, Victoria absolutely needs investment, but should we allow local voices to be drowned out when residents feel decisions are being made over their heads? It damages confidence, not only in the planning system, but in us, local government itself,” she said.
“That trust, once lost, it is very hard to get back. I’m not opposing development, in fact, this represents an amazing investment for Australia and for the growing north. Australia has a massive opportunity.
“Our renewable energy potential, a stable government, our secure geography, the national security we have, makes us highly attractive for those global tech giants.
“Except, when we have a state government that is allowing them to come through the back door. We want to welcome innovation, but attracting investment and protecting our communities should never be competing priorities.
“Data centres of these sizes should not be near homes.”