Mega datacentre planned for outer Melbourne will be six times bigger than a large shopping centre
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- A mega datacentre is planned for outer Melbourne and described as six times bigger than a large shopping centre, now positioned as a proposed AI hub
- More than 3,600 residents signed a petition demanding careful assessment of the project before it proceeds
- The proposal has become a flashpoint for national debate on Australia's datacentre boom, according to the report
- Locals first learned of the development through a 'friendly introduction' letter delivered to their mailboxes, suggesting developers made initial direct contact rather than a formal public consultation
Why it matters: With 3,600+ locals already signing a petition against a single proposed facility, the Melbourne project illustrates how Australia's datacentre expansion is colliding with grassroots community opposition—a tension that could shape planning rules and the pace of AI infrastructure rollout nationwide.
