The datacentre\u2019s size and proximity to homes in Footscray has led to growing complaints from local residents, who argue the government has been too quick to approve developments without considering long-term impacts on the community.<\/p>\n
Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email<\/a><\/p>\n Some residential homes are within 15 metres of the datacentre\u2019s boundary<\/a>, which is zoned in an industrial area.<\/p>\n Earlier this month, Scroggie took what multiple lobbying sources have described as an unusual approach by personally emailing the minister and encouraging her to back the project, which is being assessed by the planning minister.<\/p>\n \u201cI refer to you correspondence on 3 September requesting that I intercede on behalf of NextDC Limited in the decision of the minister for planning \u2026\u201d Horne wrote.<\/p>\n Horne, who is a factional ally of the state premier, Ben Carroll, replied with a blunt opposition to the expansion. This is despite the state government\u2019s long-term effort to attract more datacentre investment in Victoria.<\/p>\n \u201cI do not believe that it would be appropriate for me to lend my support to the application and nor do I wish to,\u201d Horne wrote to Scroggie on Monday.<\/p>\n NextDC has since employed a former adviser to the Brumby and Bracks Labor governments, Ken McAlpine, to conduct the company\u2019s lobbying with the state government.<\/p>\n Horne\u2019s letter to Scroggie was published by Labor MP, Katie Hall, whose electorate includes the NextDC datacentre in Footscray. Hall is a long-term opponent of the datacentre\u2019s expansion.<\/p>\n
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