Opposition is mounting against plans for one of Australia’s largest AI data centres, with residents and community groups joining forces to call for the proposed development to be stopped.
The 350-hectare facility, proposed by Syncline Energy in Plumpton, would cover an area equivalent to approximately 175 MCG playing fields, raising concerns about its potential impact on Melbourne’s already under-resourced western suburbs.
Plumpton Action Group and Melton People Power are spearheading the campaign, calling for an immediate moratorium on new AI data centre developments across Victoria.
Hundreds of residents attended a community meeting hosted by the groups in September, where concerns were raised about the potential impacts on public health, fire safety, water supplies and electricity networks.
Community representatives have also taken their concerns to Canberra, appearing before a Senate inquiry into AI data centres at a hearing in Yarraville.
The campaign has received support from Socialist candidates Anneke Demanuele (Western Metropolitan) and Shania Khan (Sydenham), who have questioned whether large-scale AI facilities deliver meaningful benefits to local communities.
“Data centres are only being built for the benefit of tech company profits, not for our communities,” Ms Khan said.
Plumpton Action Group coordinator Ella Bourne said residents needed a greater say in decisions about where data centres were built and how they were regulated.
“Technology is meant to improve our lives, but data centres are extracting our water, land, and electricity,” Ms Bourne said.
“Communities deserve a say in how data centres are regulated and where they go.”
Fellow coordinator Samantha Demjancuk said residents were increasingly alarmed by the pace of data centre development across Melbourne’s west.
“We are watching our government fast-track AI data centre developments all throughout the west without considering the detrimental impacts they may have on surrounding suburbs,” she said.
“In what other circumstance is it okay to build facilities without proper regulations in place?”
The groups have also criticised the state government’s proposed Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan, arguing it fails to provide adequate safeguards for affected communities.
“As a collective, we do not think the Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan proposed by the Labor government goes far enough, nor does it protect our communities,” the groups said.
They argue that investment in Melbourne’s west should instead focus on addressing critical infrastructure and service shortages, including hospitals, affordable housing, community services and reliable public transport.
With surrounding suburbs experiencing rapid population growth, Plumpton Action Group said approving a major data centre ahead of essential community infrastructure was particularly concerning.
“Plumpton and many of its surrounding suburbs lack so much basic infrastructure, it is particularly insulting that this can be approved well in advance of a local hospital, social services, or adequate public transport in one of Australia’s fastest growing regions,” the group said.
The campaign is continuing, with both groups lobbying residents, Melton council and the state government to secure an immediate halt to all new AI data centre proposals across Victoria.
At its August meeting, Melton council previously supported calls for a pause on new data centre approvals, citing concerns about their demands on electricity, water, infrastructure and industrial land.
The state government and Syncline Energy were contacted for comment.
It fails to surprise me on how stupid some people area and many of these idiots do not even understand what they are complying about. The land is barren google maps will show and next to the rail line and train stabling yard who would want to live there anyway?
I am at a loss on how these so called “residents” or “Community Members” are approaching what is clearly a good project for the area, have no understanding if their issues as they are not clear and they reference better money to be spent on hospitals blah blah blah. No sense.