Residents in Melbourne's west are pushing back against plans to expand a data centre that they say is already causing significant disruption to their suburban neighbourhood.
Expansion Plans Under Review
The Victorian Planning Department is currently considering a proposal that would allow the NextDC M3 Data Centre in West Footscray to increase its size by roughly four times. The application has been fast-tracked through a ministerial permit process but remains under evaluation.
Citizens of Tottenham, a local group representing residents within 500 metres of the facility, has voiced strong opposition. They argue the expansion would worsen existing pollution and noise problems in the area.
Residents' Concerns
Local father Sean Brown recounted the hardships caused by a previous expansion approved in 2021, including noise and traffic disruptions. On behalf of the group, Brown submitted a 120-page document to the Planning Department, claiming the proposed expansion would impact over 2,600 people living in roughly 1,000 homes near the NextDC centre. Another data centre, already approved and expected to begin construction later this year just hundreds of metres away, adds to their worries.
The affected area also includes a kindergarten, primary school, playgrounds, and sports fields. Brown described the construction as a nightmare, with constant noise from vehicles and early morning disturbances. His son was reportedly woken at 5am by a truck.
The submission details a persistent hum from the centre's cooling systems operating around the clock, forcing residents to use white noise machines in bedrooms, including children's rooms. Light pollution is so severe that midnight appears like midday, requiring blackout blinds. Local streets have been dug up repeatedly for cabling, with one street excavated at least 11 times by different contractors.
Residents also complain about diesel fumes from construction vehicles and the centre's 40 generators, which run during power outages. During a storm-related blackout earlier this year, the facility relied on generators, spewing black smoke. One resident reported that the diesel smell was so strong she rushed her child to the car to avoid triggering an asthma attack.
Community-collected air quality data indicated high levels of diesel combustion near the centre compared to other areas. Some residents have chosen to sell their homes due to the impacts.
Next Steps
A Change.org petition opposing the expansion has gathered over 2,000 signatures, noting that if approved, residents would have no right of appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, leaving only a Supreme Court review on legality.
The Victorian Government stated that the proposal is being considered on its merits and declined further comment. NextDC has been approached for comment.
