31/7/26
A group of angry residents from a booming Melbourne suburb lodged formal objections to $1bn data centre only to be told their those objections were worthless thanks to state government planning laws.
Locals in Clyde North were already furious over what they called a covert push to build a mega $1.1bn data centre on a 53ha site that borders homes at the corner of Berwick-Cranbourne and Thompsons roads.
Now, those who lodged formal objections to the application have been dealt another blow — receiving letters from the City of Casey that told the residents that they had no legal right to challenge what council ultimately decides — not even through VCAT.
In the letter obtained by the Herald Sun, Casey said because the proposed site fell within the council’s Urban Growth Zone, the application was exempt from public notice requirements.
The council warned residents that lodging a submission “does not secure the right to apply to the Victorian Civil and Adminitrative Tribunal for a review of council’s decision”.
The letter claimed the council would assess the application on its “merits” and “consider the matters raised” by objectors as part of its assessment.
Frustrated locals took to social media to refute the council’s claims, with one user Ben Beresford stating it could be like “screaming into the void”.
Another user Kelly Baker said: “In other words, our voice or wants are non existent. They are going ahead regardless.”
A Casey spokesperson told the Herald Sun that while there was no timeline for a decision, community feedback “may” inform the council’s discussions with the applicant.
“Under the Victorian government’s Urban Growth Zone planning provisions, where an approved Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) is in place, planning applications that are generally consistent with that PSP are exempt from standard public notice requirements and third-party appeal rights,” the spokesperson said.
“In this case, the application is located within the Croskell (Employment) Precinct Structure Plan area. These requirements are established through the State planning framework, rather than the council.”
The planning loophole was another blow for locals who are demanding transparency about the impacts on the environment and ailing infrastructure in the area.
Clyde North local Siddharth Bhatia told the Herald Sun there were already issues with mobile reception and was worried about added noise pollution from the centre.
“The data centre will require a lot of water as well as power and there needs to be transparency about noise, traffic, energy use, and all the impacts on the environment,” Mr Bhatia said.
“My major question is: how would this data centre benefit local residents?”
Resident Amanda Bell was sold on the neighbourhood as a perfect place to raise her family, but her research of data centres has her worried about the potential impact on the area.
“I have been reading a lot about data centres both in Australia and internationally and no one is happy about them,” Ms Bell said.
“When we were pitched on the area, we were not expecting to have a big data centre next door potentially giving off pollution or ruining the water.”
Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association president Anthony Tassone told the Herald Sun the feedback from residents had been “overwhelmingly” negative.
“Residents aren’t just saying they don’t want a data centre,” Mr Tassone said.
“They’re asking legitimate questions about how a development of this scale could affect electricity, water, noise and the amenity of their community, and they deserve clear answers before any decision is made by the council.
“When you’re talking about a $1.1bn development alongside growing residential communities, with the potential to affect electricity and water supply along with local amenity, nothing less than the highest level of planning scrutiny is good enough.
“This isn’t an isolated industrial site. It’s in one of Australia’s fastest-growing residential communities, which is exactly why people want confidence the planning process is thorough.”
Mr Tassone pointed to the experiences of residents living near a data centre in West Footscray, who said the rapidly expanding project has the potential to wipe millions of dollars from the value of their homes.
“The experiences in West Footscray show why getting the planning process right matters,” Mr Tassone said.
“Good planning is about building community confidence, not simply meeting the minimum legal requirement.”
Casey mayor Stefan Koomen previously said councillors were set to be briefed on the proposal in the coming weeks.
“We understand there is strong community interest in this proposal and recognise that many residents have questions about what it could mean for our community.,” Mr Koomen said.
“At this stage, Councillors have not been asked to make a decision on the application, and it would be inappropriate to form a view before all relevant information has been received.
“Councillors will shortly be briefed on the proposal and the planning process, including the next steps.”
The proposal has been referred to several agencies including the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, AusNet Electricity Services, Melbourne Water, South East Water, and Fire Rescue Victoria.
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