维多利亚州禁止在住宅区建设数据中心

澳大利亚维多利亚州政府宣布推出新的数据中心可持续发展行动计划，将对该行业实施澳大利亚最严格的监管框架1。该计划已获得内阁周一批准，首席部长本·卡罗尔将在周二正式发布1。新规定禁止数据中心在住宅区、学校、托儿所和不适合的农村地区建设，同时要求新开发项目与住宅区之间保持150米的缓冲区1。

根据新政策，数据中心必须自行采购可再生能源，并负责支付基础设施连接成本和网络升级费用1。此外，所有数据中心需使用回收水或非饮用水进行冷却1。监管框架还要求数据中心通过"本地投资保证"制度回馈社区，包括创造就业机会、提供职业培训和改善公园设施等1。

该政策的出台面临来自大型企业的挑战。NextDC公司已申请快速批准其Footscray数据中心M3的扩展计划，该项目规划覆盖10公顷、消耗225MW电力、全天候运营，其中部分住宅距数据中心边界仅15米1。与此同时，Syncline Energy计划在Plumpton开发一个覆盖350公顷、容量达2.4GW的数据中心，其规模将超过澳大利亚现有任何单个数据中心，电力消耗也将超过维多利亚州最大电站Loy Yang A1。

The Victorian government has unveiled a sustainable data centre action plan designed to impose strict controls on the industry, marking what is described as Australia's toughest regulatory framework for such facilities 1. The plan, set to be approved by cabinet on Monday with an announcement by Premier Ben Carroll on Tuesday, will prohibit new data centres from being built in residential areas, near schools and childcare facilities, and in unsuitable rural zones 1. New developments must maintain a 150-metre buffer zone between their operations and residential properties 1.

Beyond location restrictions, the regulations require data centres to source their own renewable energy, cover connection costs and network upgrade expenses, and use recycled or non-potable water for cooling 1. Operators must also contribute to local communities through a "local investment guarantee" that encompasses job creation, vocational training, and public park development 1.

The policy framework faces immediate pressure from industry expansion proposals. NextDC has applied for expedited approval to expand its Footscray M3 data centre, a project covering 10 hectares and consuming 225 megawatts of power with continuous 24-hour operations, despite some residential properties located within 15 metres of the facility's boundary 1. Meanwhile, Syncline Energy is planning a far larger development in Plumpton spanning 350 hectares with a 2.4-gigawatt capacity—exceeding the scale of any existing data centre in Australia and consuming more electricity than Victoria's largest power station, Loy Yang A 1.