Australia's Victoria state bans data centres from residential areas and requires renewable energy

On September 22, 2026, the Australian state of Victoria announced new regulations for data centres. Premier Ben Carroll introduced rules banning data centres from residential areas, requiring a 150-meter buffer zone from houses. Data centres must also bring their own renewable energy supply and use only recycled or non-drinking water for cooling. These measures address community concerns about resource use. Westpac Banking estimates data centre spending could reach A$225 billion over the next three years. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese supports national standards for data centres.