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Council tells anti-data-centre group it cannot protest in park without event approval

Bayside Council deems planned gathering a ‘community event’, requiring application; group says it submitted police notice for what it calls a protest

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
A community group campaigning against a $2.9 billion data centre development in Sydney’s south has been told by Bayside Council it cannot hold its planned gathering in a local park on Friday evening, with the council classifying the activity as a ‘community event’ requiring prior approval.

The group, which opposes developer Stockland’s proposed 25,400-square-metre data centre at the former Kogarah Golf Club site on the Cooks River, had advertised a ‘no AI data centres’ event at Cahill Park in Wolli Creek. The event was to include speakers, a community barbecue and a 15-minute film screening. The group submitted a Form 1 notice to NSW Police informing them of the gathering, as is standard for a protest.

In correspondence seen by The Age, Bayside Council informed the group that it had not received an event application, a booking request or sufficient information to assess the proposed activity. The council stated that because the gathering involved food, a film screening and amplified sound, it fell under the definition of a community gathering requiring council approval.

“As council has not been provided with the information necessary to undertake a proper assessment, including consideration of the proposed activities, infrastructure, venue availability, park capacity, operational impacts and any other event scheduled at the site, council is unable to support the event proceeding on the advertised date,” a council staffer wrote.

The dispute raises questions about when a protest becomes an event requiring bureaucratic approval, and whether the council is seeking to restrict dissent over a major development in the area.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The outcome could set a precedent for how councils classify and regulate grassroots protests, especially those involving food and entertainment.
  • The data centre project, worth billions, is part of a broader land rush for AI infrastructure in Sydney, and community opposition may face procedural hurdles.
  • If the council successfully blocks the gathering, it may deter other groups from organising similar public demonstrations.

Background

Bayside Council in Sydney’s south is managing competing interests over the redevelopment of the former Kogarah Golf Club. Developer Stockland has proposed a large data centre on the site, a project that has drawn opposition from local residents and environmental groups concerned about noise, traffic and impact on the Cooks River. The dispute over the use of Cahill Park is the latest flashpoint in this conflict.

Key Perspectives

Community group (opposing the data centre): They see the gathering as a legitimate protest against a development they argue harms the local environment and community. They have followed standard procedures by notifying police. Bayside Council: It argues the event’s features – food, film screening, amplified sound – make it more than a simple protest, thus requiring a formal event application to manage park safety, capacity and other bookings. Skeptics: Some may view the council’s interpretation as a bureaucratic tactic to suppress dissent, particularly given the high stakes of the Stockland project.

What to Watch

  • Whether the group proceeds with the gathering as planned on Friday despite the council’s letter, and how the council responds.
  • Any statement or action from Stockland on the community opposition.
  • Legal challenge or clarification from the NSW Ombudsman or the police on the distinction between a protest and a community event.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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