Qld government takes data centre approvals from councils to avoid 'inconsistency'

The Queensland Government is set to assume direct control over the planning and assessment of data centre applications, stripping local councils of their approval powers to streamline digital infrastructure development. This legislative shift, expected to be implemented within the coming weeks, aims to eliminate perceived inconsistencies that have reportedly hampered the rollout of critical technology hubs across the state.

Under the new framework, the state will designate data centres as projects of state-wide significance, effectively centralising the decision-making process within the Department of State Development and Infrastructure. This move follows growing pressure from industry stakeholders who have long argued that varying council regulations and lengthy approval timelines create significant hurdles for large-scale investment in the Sunshine State.

“The centralisation of planning powers represents a definitive pivot towards state-led economic strategy, prioritising digital sovereignty and infrastructure speed over traditional local government autonomy.”

While the Miles Government maintains that the overhaul will provide much-needed certainty for the technology sector, the decision is expected to draw scrutiny from local government advocates concerned about the erosion of community-level oversight. As Queensland positions itself as a primary digital hub in the Asia-Pacific, the balance between rapid infrastructure expansion and local democratic input remains a point of significant contention.