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# Western Sydney residents in revolt after being kept in the dark over data centre
- URL: https://redflag.org.au/article/western-sydney-residents-in-revolt-after-being-kept-in-the-dark-over-data-centre/
- Published: 2026-11-01T23:30:01.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-01T23:30:01.000Z
- Description: In their rush to appease big tech billionaires and open up Australia as a destination for hyperscale data centres, Labor governments at all levels have demonstrated how little respect they have for the people living in their so-called “safe seats”.
- Author: Alma Torlakovic
- Tags: Activism and Reports

In their rush to appease big tech billionaires and open up Australia as a destination for hyperscale data centres, Labor governments at all levels have demonstrated how little respect they have for the people living in their so-called “safe seats”. This is most obvious in the diverse communities of Western Sydney, where the state government has rushed to approve a dozen of these polluting, energy-intensive monstrosities.

Labor has relied on the same blueprint for each recent approval: declare the data centre as a “state significant development”, don’t let the residents know and hope that nobody checks the website for the development proposals. They have gone as far as overselling the projects on behalf of the companies, claiming that they will create jobs for the community, downplaying the hazards involved or regurgitating the idea that these are not much different from a storage warehouse.

This strategy has backfired in Guildford in Sydney’s western suburbs, where a community campaign is brewing over the state government’s approval of a $1.1 billion hyperscale data centre right next to a sports field and homes. Residents are outraged that they've been left in the dark about the 7.2-hectare data centre that will cause 24/7 noise, raise energy bills, emit carcinogenic fumes, lower people's house prices and have a huge impact on water usage and carbon emissions. We are determined to stop it, as other communities have.

An information session organised by Cumberland City Council on 24 October to address the growing community backlash to the project turned into an angry row as 100 local residents turned on council officials, the mayor and local Labor MP, Julia Finn. Residents accused them of leaving them in the dark about the project, with most only learning of the 68-megawatt data centre plans in their neighbourhood during the past fortnight. Finn, who claimed that letters had been sent to residents, was booed down by angry constituents who said that no such thing had happened.

Robyn Hann, who is spearheading the action group to stop the data centre build, said:

> “We went to the \[council\] information session hoping to learn more and have our concerns addressed regarding health, water, pollution, 24/7 noise, house prices and other issues. Instead, we got smoke and mirrors … I felt we were completely ignored.”

One woman summed it up, telling the meeting that she had lived in the area and worked hard for 30 years to pay off her home and build a life, only to be blindsided by this project.

Western Sydney residents are sick and tired of being taken for granted by the Labour Party and being the dumping ground for polluting industries. I have published a [petition](https://www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/stop-the-project-pluto-data-centre-in-guildford-west?ref=redflag.org.au) to demand that the Cumberland City Council and the NSW government put an immediate stop to this project. It has already gathered over 4,000 signatures. 

Goodman Group, the company behind the proposed data centre, recently had to withdraw plans to build a data centre in Lane Cove following community opposition. Gregory Goodman, CEO of Goodman Group, has added a $20 million penthouse in Double Bay to his suite of multi-million-dollar mansions in upmarket Woollahra. He’s certainly not building a data centre next to any of his luxury properties.

Since the initial council information session, community pressure has forced the council to adopt a more moderate stance. It says that it will explore legal avenues to challenge the development. At federal level, sensing widespread hostility to mega data centres, the Albanese government has announced plans to ban them in residential areas in city suburbs. But these regulations will not apply to existing approvals. 

And we cannot leave things in the hands of the politicians and bureaucrats because the law is stacked in favour of big business. We must continue to pressure the state government and local Labor member. 

A community forum on 26 October organised by independent councillor Ahmed Ouf to oppose the project drew 200 people at Guildford Leagues Club. A similar number showed up to the council meeting on 28 October to register their opposition to the proposal.

NSW Socialists have played a central role in this campaign. We have doorknocked thousands of homes in the area, gathering signatures for the petition, talking to local residents.

The NSW government and Julia Finn could intervene to stop this project if they wanted. But they’re more interested in appeasing tech billionaires. That’s just one more reason we plan to take this fight to the next state election and vote Finn out.

**Alma Torlakovic* is the NSW Socialists candidate for Western Sydney’s Granville in the upcoming 2027 state election.*