Overview
- The City of Stirling voted down a notice of motion on Tuesday, August 12, 2026, by an 8–4 margin after about 45 minutes of debate on whether to probe classifying data centres as a prohibited land use.
- Councillor Suzanne Migdale moved the motion arguing that large data centres can strain local electricity and water supplies and cause noise and emissions, while opponents said existing industrial zones and smaller facilities in Stirling have caused no complaints.
- Planners warned that Western Australia planning schemes do not specifically define data centres and that councils often treat them as warehouses or industrial uses, creating legal uncertainty when assessing applications.
- Other Perth councils are already approving or setting local rules for big projects, for example Gosnells approved a $415 million, eventual 200-megawatt data centre in Maddington, showing the sector is moving forward even as Stirling holds off.
- Local officers said they will await the federal government’s expected national standards for AI-related infrastructure, which could require developers to underwrite new power, pay full connection costs and meet water-efficiency tests, because targeted rules are likely to be more effective than blanket bans.