Citizens of Tottenham \u2014 a group of residents living within 500m of what they say is already a \u201cmonolithic\u201d centre \u2014 is standing against the planned expansion, saying it would only exacerbate pollution and noise issues in their suburban area.<\/p>\n
Local father Sean Brown said the noise and traffic disruptions from a prior expansion, approved in 2021, had already caused headaches for residents.<\/p>\n
Brown authored a 120-page submission to the Planning Department on behalf of Citizens of Tottenham, claiming the proposed further expansion would affect more than 2,600 people who live in about 1000 homes within 500m of the NextDC centre \u2014 as well as another, already approved data, centre for another tech company which is expected to break ground later this year just hundreds of metres away.<\/p>\n
A kindergarten, primary school, playgrounds and sports fields are also within the 500m boundary of either centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe construction has been a nightmare,\u201d Brown told 7NEWS.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has just led to constant noise, light and heavy vehicles going up and down our streets all the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son got woken up at about 5am today by one.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Citizens](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/033fd31725e4a70e5ce2e73b0b907382876a7de0.jpg\")
Citizens of Tottenham member Sean Brown and his family. Credit: Sean Brown<\/p>\n
The sound of construction isn\u2019t the only noise impacting residents, with Brown\u2019s submission reporting a maddeningly constant hum coming from the centre\u2019s cooling systems among a number of other issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cConstant noise from cooling systems operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, requiring the installation of white noise machines in residential bedrooms including children\u2019s rooms,\u201d the submission reads.<\/p>\n
\u201cLight pollution of sufficient intensity that residents describe midnight as appearing like midday, requiring block-out blinds in homes adjacent to the facility.<\/p>\n
\u201cRepeated excavation of local streets for power and data cabling, with the street adjacent to the facility having been excavated on at least 11 occasions by multiple contractors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Locals also claim construction vehicles and equipment have led to a lingering smell of diesel, aggravated by the 40-odd generators used to maintain a level power supply at the centre if the power grid cannot provide enough.<\/p>\n
The data centre had to run off the generators when a storm caused a blackout earlier this year, spewing black smoke into the air according to Brown.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the stacks, it was just belching black smoke,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t believe what I was seeing, it was a shocker.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/e6682624d6cdbf03c0aec014f1432ad8fa0256ad.jpg\")
The group is trying to stop a fast-tracked proposal to expand NextDC M3 data centre in West Footscray. Credit: Sean Brown<\/p>\n
Another local said in the submission that, on the morning of the blackout, the smell of diesel was so intense she had to rush her child from the house to the car for school drop off, fearing it would trigger an asthma attack.<\/p>\n
Brown\u2019s submission also notes data collected by locals using commercially available air quality readers to determine the amount of air pollution.<\/p>\n
While accepting the data is community driven and not perfect, Brown said a reader near the centre showed the air was \u201cheavily dominated by diesel combustion\u201d when compared with another reader kilometres away.<\/p>\n
Brown claims some residents have decided to \u201csell their homes as a direct consequence of amenity impacts\u201d from the data centre.<\/p>\n
A Change petition calling for help in opposing the expansion, and claiming they will have \u201clittle recourse\u201d if the proposal is accepted, has gathered more than 2,000 signatures.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf this permit is approved by the Planning Minister, there is no right of appeal, even to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal,\u201d the petition reads.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next step is a Supreme Court Review, which only determines legality, not outcomes for local communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
NextDC was granted permission to go through a fast-tracked ministerial permit process for the expansion through the state\u2019s Development Facilitation Program, as it would increase investment into Victoria.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery proposal is considered on its merits and as this proposal is currently under consideration it would be inappropriate to comment further,\u201d the Victorian Government told 7NEWS.com.au.<\/p>\n
NextDC was approached for comment on the opposition and concerns raised by residents.<\/p>\n