Council calls for Campbellfield data centre proposal to be rejected

Hume City Council is urging the Victorian Government to reject the proposed Campbellfield data centre in its current form following a formal objection from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).  

The EPA has raised concerns about potential noise impacts and the cumulative effects of the proposed site layout and development. These concerns reinforce those already expressed by Council and local residents about locating a facility of this scale close to homes, schools, community facilities and health services.  

The $1.1 billion proposal includes six data halls across 22 hectares of the former Ford site, with later stages within 250 metres of homes. Once fully operational, the facility would consume up to 336 megawatts of electricity and store around seven million litres of diesel for backup generators.  

Council is calling on the Planning Minister to give significant weight to the EPA’s objection and not approve the proposal unless all environmental, safety and community concerns are independently and conclusively addressed.  

Council is also reiterating its call for an independent review into the planning, location and regulation of large-scale data centres across Victoria. The review should establish clear statewide standards governing where data centres can be located and address issues including setback requirements, noise, energy and water consumption, emissions, fuel storage, emergency management, infrastructure capacity and demonstrable community benefit. 

At its meeting on 10 August, Council unanimously endorsed a call for a moratorium on new data centre approvals across Victoria until a comprehensive regulatory framework is developed. Council has also reinforced this position through its submission to the Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into artificial intelligence and data centres. 

Council supports innovation, digital infrastructure and investment. However, developments of this scale must be planned responsibly, with appropriate safeguards and genuine community consultation. The current proposal highlights the urgent need for stronger oversight and strategic planning to ensure the benefits of data centres do not come at the expense of local communities. 

Quotes attributable to Hume City Mayor, Cr Carly Moore: 

“The EPA’s objection validates the serious concerns Council and our community have raised about the potential impact a development of this scale could have on local families and residents.” 

“Our residents should not be expected to shoulder the environmental, health and safety risks of a development of unprecedented scale without certainty about its long-term impacts and without having a meaningful voice in the decision-making process.” 

“Hume supports innovation and responsible investment, but these projects must be located in the right places, subject to the right safeguards, and deliver genuine long-term benefits for local communities.” 

“This proposal is about more than one site. It has exposed a significant gap in Victoria's planning framework for data centres, which is why Council has called for a moratorium on new approvals until clear statewide rules are established.” 

“We are not opposed to data centres. We are opposed to approving major developments before governments have determined where they should be located, how they should be regulated, and what protections communities can expect.” 

“The former Ford site has a proud history of supporting thousands of local jobs. Our community deserves transparent information, meaningful consultation and confidence that decisions about its future are being made in the public interest, not rushed through without proper scrutiny.”