Our streets should not pay the price for data centre growth

Across Yarraville, West Footscray and the Inner West, large new high voltage poles and other electrical infrastructure are appearing in residential streets.

Residents deserve to know why this infrastructure is needed, who it is being built for, what the impacts could be, and who is paying for it.

With data centres expanding rapidly across Melbourne’s west, we need transparency about how their enormous electricity demands are shaping our local power network.

And we need a simple rule: if data centres are driving the demand, our community should not be left carrying the cost.

What could this mean for residents?

Large scale electrical infrastructure does not belong in residential streets without proper scrutiny.

Before more infrastructure is installed, residents deserve clear, independent information about potential impacts on grid stability, power bills, property rates, health and safety, neighbourhood amenity and streetscapes, noise, property values and the ability of homeowners to sell, refinance or obtain finance for affected properties. 

These impacts should be properly assessed and disclosed, not left for individual residents to discover after infrastructure has been installed outside their homes.

We are calling for:

A pause on further installation of large high voltage poles and associated infrastructure in residential streets across Yarraville, West Footscray and the Inner West while their need, alternatives and impacts are properly assessed.

Removal or relocation of inappropriate infrastructure where high voltage poles have been installed in residential areas and safer or less intrusive alternatives are available.

Full transparency about what is driving these upgrades, including the role of existing and proposed data centres and other major industrial electricity users.

Data centres to pay their fair share. Where their demand requires new or upgraded electricity infrastructure, data centre operators should bear the costs across its full lifecycle, including installation, maintenance, accelerated asset ageing and earlier replacement or decommissioning.

A genuine say for residents before major electricity infrastructure is installed in their streets, with proper notice, consultation, independent assessment and disclosure of alternatives.

This is about integrity, transparency and fairness.

The Inner West has carried the impacts of major industry and infrastructure for generations. We should not be expected to quietly absorb another round of costs, risks and disruption to support the rapid growth of a private industry.

If data centres need the power, data centres should pay for it. If our neighbourhoods are expected to carry the infrastructure, we deserve to know why, understand the impacts and have a genuine say. 

Sign the petition

Join us in calling for a pause, proper community consultation, full transparency and a fair deal for Inner West residents.