Where Perth's data centre planning stands in November
A Gosnells approval, a withdrawn Hazelmere plan, a new CDC filing and a gap in the planning schemes.
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Perth’s data centre pipeline is moving through councils that, by the ABC’s account, have no land use category for it. Three projects show where things stand.
Why it matters
ABC Perth reported on 12 August that data centres are not a defined use in any Western Australian planning scheme. Planning lawyer Belinda Moharich said councils must first try to fit them into another category, often warehouse or industrial, and if nothing fits the use is “not listed” and potentially capable of approval in any zone. Gosnells mayor Terresa Lynes said her council has since developed its own policy on water use and noise. A City of Stirling motion to explore banning data centres failed four votes to eight, and there are no data centre applications in Stirling.
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The numbers
- Maddington (Gosnells): approved in September 2025, a $415 million project that will eventually be a 200MW data centre in the Maddington industrial area, per Ms Lynes.
- Hazelmere, Stirling Crescent: GreenSquareDC’s $600 million plan drew 1,890 submissions, 1,829 opposed, and was withdrawn in May, per Perth is OK!.
- Hazelmere, Bushmead Road: CDC’s application is lodged and on hold pending further information. See our report.
What’s next
Both reports say councils want state guidance. Watch for any WA Government move to define data centres as a use, and for the City of Swan opening CDC’s application for comment. Separately, a far larger off-grid proposal in the Kimberley is only at federal referral stage; see the Gingerah story.
Quick answers
What is the latest on CDC Data Centres?
A Gosnells approval, a withdrawn Hazelmere plan, a new CDC filing and a gap in the planning schemes.
What are the key numbers in this story?
Maddington data centre, approved 2025: $415m; objections to withdrawn Hazelmere plan: 1,829; WA planning schemes defining data centres, per ABC: 0.
Where does this information come from?
This story cites ABC News and Perth is OK!. Every source is linked on the page.
On the record
Putting the two reports side by side: one Perth data centre is approved (Maddington, $415 million, 200MW eventual), one proposal was withdrawn after 1,829 objections (Hazelmere), and one new application is on hold (CDC, Bushmead Road).
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