On Thursday 14 May 2026 Tania Lawrence MP advised Trillion Trees CEO Mark Hullett that the proposal for a huge data centre close to Trillion Trees in Hazelmere had been withdrawn.
Tania said: "This is a major win off the back of a community coming together.Thank you to Trillion Trees, Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association, Guildford Association, Midland Society and the many others who worked so incredibly hard on this campaign.Securing data centres and AI infrastructure will strengthen our security, support our startups and researchers. It must however be done sustainably and underpinned by a strong social licence."
The Trillion Trees community is delighted that the application has been withdrawn.
Trillion Trees' Communications and Fundraising Coordinator Kate Herren said: "The withdrawal of the development application for a huge data centre on the riverbank in Hazelmere is a great result for the environment and the community.
Hyper scale data centres that create noise, air and water pollution do not belong on the banks of a culturally significant river, near residential properties or adjacent to a primary school. This development went against the intent of the zoning in this rural residential pocket of Hazelmere, and would have destroyed the environment and the amenity for local residents and surrounding land users, including Trillion Trees.
Changes to planning frameworks are urgently needed in WA to ensure the environment and local communities are not adversely impacted by development. Data centres present their own unique environmental issues and new guard rails are urgently needed to guide rapid development in this sector.
Trees must be considered as critical infrastructure which have a key role as part of liveable cities. The role of canopy cover from large trees must be valued and protected in our warming climate. Large scale total land clearance is destroying amenity for local residents, and habitat for wildlife while heating our suburbs at an alarming rate. Our vision is for a world where everyone appreciates the value of trees."
HELENA RIVER APPEAL #
The Trillion Trees team have been custodians of the Helena River (Mandoon Bilya) for more than 40 years, working to restore the riverbanks to enhance this precious wildlife habitat that is home to dozens of different bird species, plus snake neck turtles, quenda and more.
This winter we will be planting 6500 trees, shrubs and sedges along the waters edge - and we need your help.
- The Helena River Appeal is live HERE
Even though our campaign to protect the Helena River from the development of a huge data centre has been a success, our work to heal this landscape must continue.
