Last Updated on April 7, 2026
A proposed hyperscale data center near Mandoon Bilya (Helena River) in Perth is drawing mounting opposition from Indigenous groups and environmental advocates, who warn the development could threaten a culturally and ecologically significant river system.
The project, planned for industrial land in Hazelmere within the City of Swan, has become the focus of a growing campaign to stop the project.
The Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association (BNAA), which has longstanding ties to Mandoon Bilya through its restoration initiatives, has formally opposed the proposal, arguing that it is incompatible with the site’s environmental and cultural significance. In a detailed submission to local authorities, the group said the development sits within 40 metres of the river and adjacent wetlands, raising serious concerns about long-term impacts.
Mandoon Bilya is a registered Aboriginal heritage site that is home to endangered species like snake neck turtles and black cockatoos.
“The high environmental, cultural and community significance of the river imposes a high duty of care on any development proposal in this area,” the association said in its submission.
At the heart of the dispute is the scale of the proposed facility. Plans outline a 96 to 120-megawatt data centre that would require significant water and energy resources. BNAA estimates the project could consume tens to hundreds of millions of litres of water annually.
The submission also highlights the absence of key infrastructure, including a connection to the sewer network, and warns that without proper treatment systems, saline and chemically enriched discharge from cooling processes could pose risks to the river and surrounding wetlands.
Opposition has taken shape through the “Save the Mandoon Bilya” campaign, led by Trillion Trees Australia. The campaigners are calling for the project to be rejected, emphasizing the river’s cultural importance to the Noongar peoples.
Trillion Trees Australia fundraising coordinator, Kate Herren, told The National Indigenous Times that the proposal reflects a broader failure to adequately consider Aboriginal heritage in planning decisions.
“This is a culturally significant river system that has sustained communities for generations,” Ms. Herren said.
“Placing a project of this scale in such a sensitive location raises serious concerns about how Aboriginal heritage is being valued and protected.”
BNAA has urged the City of Swan to reject the proposal in its current form, stating that it lacks sufficient technical, environmental and engineering detail to allow for informed decision-making.
“The proposal is incapable of proper technical assessment,” the group said in its statement.
They are calling for comprehensive, independently verified studies before any approval is considered.
The City of Swan has yet to issue a final decision.
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