Data CentresClare BurnettFri 11 Sep 26
Dover DC Launches North Melbourne Data Centre Plans
As controversy around data centres ramps up, Dover DC has launched its latest plans for a new centre at South Morang.
Dover DC wants to build a three-storey data centre at 165 Williamsons Road in the suburb, around 20km north-east of Melbourne CBD.
Designed by Ewert Leaf, the centre would sit on an 8.6ha site of vacant rural land.
Accompanying the already-approved stage one of the data centre campus dubbed SM1A, the next stage, SM1B, would have 72,392sq m of gross floor area, including a 436sq m office.
The data centre developer submitted plans to the Victorian Department of Transport and planning in August via the Development Facilitation Program (DFP) pathway.
The site has been designated for employment under local plans, and is adjacent to the South Morang Terminal Station, AusNet’s electricity transmission centre.
The location of this facility, as well as a water supply easement, would limit other development options, the developer said.
In fact, Dover DC said it was “difficult to locate a better placed site” due to its zoning and colocation next to the AusNet utility installation.
Dover DC’s planning report said that the proposal “responds to a growing demand for data storage with increasing reliance on information technology and evolution of AI”.
The site is also close to another approved data centre campus by Dover DC at 525 and 535 McDonalds Road and 765 Plenty Road in South Morang, which was approved in 2024 despite concerns being raised by the council.
The South Morang campus sits in the City of Whittlesea Council area, which has called for the state and federal governments to establish a stronger regulatory and planning framework for data centre infrastructure.
The council said in their August meeting that there was a “lack of transparency and community consultation” in state-led planning pathways for their development, particularly the DFP.
Dover DC’s South Morang data centre has already caused backlash with the local community, reflecting national concerns from governments and the public about data centre requirements and their impact on local infrastructure.
But further data centre regulation is on the horizon, with legislation to enable a national regulatory framework expected to be introduced in early 2027.
