Data centres are facilities that store and process high volumes of digital information. They range in scale and energy use, but demand for large facilities with high processing power has increased significantly across Australia.
Data centres can cause noise and air pollution if risks are not properly managed.
For more information about the impacts of pollution and the laws involved, visit:
Data centres and the law
We don't determine the location of data centres. Data centre land use and development approvals are managed through Victoria’s planning system.
All businesses, including data centres, are required to comply with their environment protection obligations in accordance with the Environment Protection Act 2017 and Environment Protection Regulations 2021.
Environmental duties also apply throughout Victoria, including:
Our role in data centre regulation
Data centres require our permissions in specific circumstances. Read our industry obligations page on data centres for details.
We also enforce the law to protect human health and the environment. We may issue:
- notices for non-compliance with the law or our permissions
- fines for some offences.
Make a pollution report
You can make a report at any time.
We do not regulate the volume of power or water used by specific industries.
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