Thursday, 27 August 2026

 Kathleen MATTHEWS-WARD (Broadmeadows) (17:23): (1810) My adjournment is for the Minister for Planning, and the action I seek is an extension of the public notice period of the planning application for a data centre at the former Ford site in Campbellfield. This extension would enable time for further information to be given to the community and to be provided in different community languages. I thank the minister for meeting with me many times to pass on my concerns and the concerns of my community, and I thank her for agreeing to meet with local residents to hear from them directly. The concerns I share with residents include the impact of data centres on water and electricity, and I am very pleased that the national cabinet met yesterday to consider the introduction of compulsory requirements to address these issues.

We are also deeply concerned about the negative impact of this proposal on resident amenity, and I note that the EPA have submitted an objection to the application on the basis of excessive noise generation in their role as one of the many agencies that planning applications are referred to. I understand it can take some time for referral authorities to fully consider applications and make informed submissions to the minister before a decision is made. Public submissions also have to be considered before a decision can be made, and whilst I understand submissions remain open until the decision is made, a formal extension of the notice period would give the community some more certainty over the process and allow time for them to consider all information in their submissions, including policy changes that are currently being considered. I think this is particularly important in the surrounding suburbs, where over 70 per cent of residents do not speak English at home, and I would appreciate her consideration of this request.