❓ Dr. Pettitt questions the appropriateness of classifying large-scale data centres as "warehouse/storage" under local government planning schemes and inquires about the government's plans for a specific data centre definition and state planning policy. The Minister confirms the current classification is appropriate and no further action is planned.
AnsweredQoN 290Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Data centres
290. Hon Dr Brad Pettitt to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Planning and Lands:
I refer to the
development application by Greensquare to build a data centre in Hazelmere.
(1) Does the government consider "warehouse/storage"
to be an appropriate category for large-scale data centres in local government
planning schemes?
(2) If yes to (1), why?
(3) If no to (1), does the government
intend to define a new use that is "data centre" or similar under "Land
use terms used in Scheme" in the model scheme template for local
government planning schemes, given that "warehouse" is not an
appropriate category?
(4) Does the WA Government intend to
create a state planning policy to guide the scale, location and water and
energy use of data centres?
(5) If yes to (4), when will this be made
public?
290. Hon Dr Brad Pettitt to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Planning and Lands:
I refer to the
development application by Greensquare to build a data centre in Hazelmere.
(1) Does the government consider "warehouse/storage"
to be an appropriate category for large-scale data centres in local government
planning schemes?
(2) If yes to (1), why?
(3) If no to (1), does the government
intend to define a new use that is "data centre" or similar under "Land
use terms used in Scheme" in the model scheme template for local
government planning schemes, given that "warehouse" is not an
appropriate category?
(4) Does the WA Government intend to
create a state planning policy to guide the scale, location and water and
energy use of data centres?
(5) If yes to (4), when will this be made
public?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. The following has been
provided to me by the Minister for Planning and Lands.
(1)–(2) Yes. The definition of "warehouse/storage"
under the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 is
considered appropriate and has been used for the assessment of development applications for data centres in Western
Australia. The Greensquare development application is currently under
consideration by the independent development assessment panel and the Minister
for Planning and Lands has no role in this process.
(3)–(5) Not applicable.
honourable member for some notice of the question. The following has been
provided to me by the Minister for Planning and Lands.
(1)–(2) Yes. The definition of "warehouse/storage"
under the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 is
considered appropriate and has been used for the assessment of development applications for data centres in Western
Australia. The Greensquare development application is currently under
consideration by the independent development assessment panel and the Minister
for Planning and Lands has no role in this process.
(3)–(5) Not applicable.
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