Swanbank mega data centre backlash grows as 1200 locals demand public say

More than 1200 people have backed a push to stop a proposed Swanbank ‘mega data centre’, with locals warning the 10-storey project would dominate nearby homes and become one of Ipswich’s tallest buildings. The petition, launched on September 25, attracted 1235 signatures within just five days as community concern grows over the scale of the Leaf Street proposal and the planning pathway being used to assess it. The Ipswich City Council is considering a 72m, 10 storey data centre at Swanbank. Campaigners argue the development is slipping through under code assessment, which means no public notification, no submission rights and no right of appeal. “Despite its unprecedented scale, it’s assessed as code assessment, a loophole denying public notification, submission rights, and appeals,” the petition states. “A 10-storey industrial tower doesn’t belong beside families, yet residents are silenced by a process designed for low-impact warehouses.” MORE: How RBA rate rise has slashed your buying power by five figures Landlord says renter can’t have baby over request ‘Most terrifying’: Aus’s creepiest train stations revealed The site of a proposed 72m, 10-storey data centre. The petition, t...