THE Shire of York has backed a statewide local government advocacy push calling for stronger planning controls on data centres.

At its October ordinary council meeting, York councillors unanimously supported a recommendation seeking stronger data centre safeguards for regional communities.

The advocacy push originates from Western Australian Local Government Association’s (WALGA) draft data centre advocacy position.

WALGA released its consultation paper on October 9, identifying gaps in the state’s existing planning framework as demand for data centres grows.

The association said existing planning frameworks were not designed for modern large-scale data centres, which combine characteristics of industrial, commercial, telecommunications and utility infrastructure.

WALGA’s draft advocacy position calls for a coordinated state plan identifying suitable locations, a dedicated land use definition and a data centre planning code addressing community impact.

It also seeks better coordination of electricity, water and telecommunications infrastructure, while considering the cumulative impacts of developments on industrial land and employment areas.

Councillor Monique Hutchinson sought clarification after hearing community concerns that the shire was attempting to fast-track a data centre development.

Chief executive Alina Behan said the item concerned WALGA’s advocacy to state and federal governments rather than any development application in York.

Ms Behan said councillors had considered WALGA’s draft position at a workshop and wanted its proposed controls strengthened, particularly for regional areas.

She said the shire had also consulted experts about data centres, wind farms and renewable energy developments.

Their advice suggested a data centre was unlikely to be established in York under current conditions because of insufficient supporting infrastructure.

“We just don’t have the infrastructure to support it at this point,” she said.

The recommendation was carried 5-0.

York’s position follows similar action in the City of Swan, where councillors unanimously backed Midland-Guildford ward councillor Sarah Howlett’s motion on September 9 to develop a local planning policy for future data centre applications.

As reported in Swan backs data centre policy push (Echo News, September 11), Cr Howlett sought planning guidance addressing location, scale, noise, cooling systems, backup generators, environmental impacts and buffers from sensitive land uses.

The motion followed community opposition to a proposed GreenSquareDC facility in Hazelmere, which was withdrawn in May.

“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,” Cr Howlett said at the time.

She said the motion was not intended to stop investment but to ensure developments occurred in appropriate locations and under suitable conditions.

WALGA’s consultation paper also identifies the withdrawn Hazelmere proposal as an example of how noise impacts and community concerns can become significant factors in data centre assessments.