Council’s push for the State Government to introduce an immediate moratorium on all new data centre applications and expansions was featured in The Age on Saturday 5 September.
Brimbank Mayor Cr Virginia Tachos was quoted as saying before the approval of any new data centres, the council wanted binding planning controls, mandatory sustainability standards and more involvement from councils in decisions about data centres.
“The impact data centres are having on communities and environment is too great,” Cr Tachos said.
“Our community has had enough of being Melbourne’s dumping ground for facilities nobody else wants.
“We can’t stand by and watch them being approved by the state to be built in our cities without proper consideration or consultation with our local communities and governments.
“Councils must have a seat at the table in making decisions on data centres.
“We believe before approving data centre developments, factors such as access to land, water, electricity and supporting infrastructure must be considered along with the impact centres will have on people living in surrounding areas, as well as the impact on our natural resources and the local environment.
“Council supports data centre investment in the right locations, with the right safeguards. We want a stronger partnership with Government to ensure economic growth is aligned with community wellbeing and environmental protections.”
