CITY of Swan councillors have unanimously backed a motion calling for a local planning policy to guide future data centre applications.

Midland-Guildford ward councillor Sarah Howlett moved the notice of motion at the September 9 ordinary council meeting, asking the city’s chief executive to prepare a draft local planning policy for data centre development applications within Swan.

The motion follows the withdrawal of the proposed Hazelmere data centre earlier this year, which drew strong community opposition as reported in Swan rally opposes Hazelmere data centre.

Cr Howlett said data centres were becoming a major part of Australia’s digital infrastructure, with WA well placed to attract future investment.

“However, the scale of this investment boom is unprecedented,” she said.

“With growth of this scale comes a responsibility to put sensible guardrails in place now so we protect existing communities from incompatible land uses and ensure the long-term interests of the City of Swan are not compromised.”

The motion asks for a draft policy to address location, siting, scale and built form, with regard to potential impacts on surrounding land uses and the broader environment.

It also calls for consideration of noise impacts, mechanical plant and cooling systems, emergency and standby generators, generator testing and maintenance, acoustically treated plant rooms, low-frequency noise and cumulative noise impacts where multiple data centres are proposed in the same locality.

Other matters listed include light spill, exhaust heat, emissions and heat rejection, cultural heritage, flora and fauna, ecological values, fuel storage, refuelling frequency, fuel odour mitigation, buffers from residential areas, waterways and sensitive land uses, and end-of-use planning.

Cr Howlett said Swan should take a proactive approach in the absence of clear state government guidance.

“A local planning policy for data centre development will provide certainty for residents, industry and investors alike, while ensuring future data centre applications meet appropriate planning criteria and minimise environmental, infrastructure and amenity impacts,” she said.

“This motion is not about stopping investment. It is about ensuring investment occurs in the right places, under the right conditions and with the best interests of the City of Swan.”

Other Perth councils are also grappling with how data centres should be assessed. The City of Stirling rejected a push in August to investigate a city-wide ban, while the City of Gosnells is preparing a proposed data centre policy for community consultation later this year.

Whiteman ward councillor Hayden Miles raised a possible amendment asking the chief executive to consider federal and state government guidelines for data centres and AI infrastructure while drafting the policy.

Cr Howlett said she would not accept the amendment, saying the motion had been circulated for about two weeks so councillors could provide feedback before the meeting.

Cr Miles later withdrew the amendment.

Cr Howlett’s motion was carried unanimously.

The draft policy will return to council for consideration before public advertising and again before adoption.