Opposition is mounting against plans for one of Australia\u2019s largest AI data centres, with residents and community groups joining forces to call for the proposed development to be stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s already under-resourced western suburbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plumpton Action Group and Melton People Power are spearheading the campaign, calling for an immediate moratorium on new AI data centre developments across Victoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community representatives have also taken their concerns to Canberra, appearing before a Senate inquiry into AI data centres at a hearing in Yarraville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cData centres are only being built for the benefit of tech company profits, not for our communities,\u201d Ms Khan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTechnology is meant to improve our lives, but data centres are extracting our water, land, and electricity,\u201d Ms Bourne said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCommunities deserve a say in how data centres are regulated and where they go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fellow coordinator Samantha Demjancuk said residents were increasingly alarmed by the pace of data centre development across Melbourne\u2019s west.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn what other circumstance is it okay to build facilities without proper regulations in place?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs 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,\u201d the groups said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They argue that investment in Melbourne\u2019s west should instead focus on addressing critical infrastructure and service shortages, including hospitals, affordable housing, community services and reliable public transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With surrounding suburbs experiencing rapid population growth, Plumpton Action Group said approving a major data centre ahead of essential community infrastructure was particularly concerning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlumpton 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\u2019s fastest growing regions,\u201d the group said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The state government and Syncline Energy were contacted for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Plumpton Action Group coordinator Ella Bourne said residents deserved a greater say in how data centres were regulated and where they were built.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90574,"featured_media":584185,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18607,12785],"tags":[20750,20751],"class_list":["post-597101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ai-news","category-data-centre","tag-plumpton","tag-syncline-energy"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t