Developer Halts Perth Datacentre Project Amid Community Concerns
Developer withdraws plans for Perth datacentre after fierce community opposition
The Guardian
Image: The Guardian
A proposed 15,000 square meter datacentre in Hazelmere, near Perth, has been withdrawn by the developer following significant community opposition. Concerns centered around the site's proximity to culturally significant areas and potential noise from emergency generators, prompting the City of Swan council to recommend rejecting the project.
- 01The proposed GreenSquare datacentre was intended to have a capacity of 120 megawatts.
- 02The City of Swan received nearly 1,900 public submissions regarding the datacentre proposal.
- 03The council's report highlighted that noise from diesel generators would exceed acceptable levels during outages.
- 04GreenSquare's CEO, Charles Penny, emphasized the need for practical planning frameworks for datacentres in Western Australia.
- 05Francesca Flynn from the Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association expressed relief over the community's successful opposition.
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The proposed 15,000 square meter datacentre by GreenSquare in Hazelmere, located 15 kilometers east of Perth, has been withdrawn due to strong community opposition. The 120-megawatt facility was intended to support cloud computing and artificial intelligence but faced backlash for its potential impact on culturally significant sites, including Aboriginal heritage locations and a nearby primary school. The City of Swan council's review attracted nearly 1,900 public submissions, leading to a recommendation to reject the proposal due to concerns over excessive noise from emergency diesel generators during outages. GreenSquare's CEO, Charles Penny, stated that the decision to withdraw was not made lightly, highlighting the need for balanced planning frameworks for datacentres in Western Australia. Community leaders, including Francesca Flynn, celebrated the withdrawal, emphasizing the importance of protecting local heritage and environmental integrity. The decision is seen as a significant victory for the Hazelmere community, with local MP Tania Lawrence acknowledging the constructive engagement of residents throughout the process.
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The withdrawal of the datacentre proposal protects the cultural and environmental integrity of the area, ensuring that future developments consider local heritage and community concerns.
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