Data centres are booming in Australia - but at what cost?
BBC News 1 month ago 14
Australia’s data centres have expanded rapidly and local residents are increasingly pushing back over noise, water use, and environmental impacts as more capacity is planned to support AI services. The article cites potential water use of up to 25% of Sydney’s drinking water by 2035 and notes data-centre energy demands could triple by 2030 nationwide. A new 2027 legal requirement will force large-scale data centres to underwrite power supplies, limit water use, and fund extra water infrastructure, while some community groups want a pause on further development.