Calls for data centre moratorium 'until we get the rules right'

The Conservation Council in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is urging a moratorium on any new data centres in the region until specific industry requirements are established. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential strain on the city's water supply and electricity grid due to the growth of data centres, particularly in light of the increasing use of artificial intelligence.

Currently, there are fifteen data centres in the ACT, with the first built in 2007. Simon Copland, director of the Conservation Council ACT, argues that before rushing to approve large-scale data centres, the government should first implement stricter regulations and clear rules governing their development and location. The council is particularly worried about a proposed $200 million data centre in Beard, a suburb near Canberra Airport, which, if built, would consume a significant portion of the ACT's peak energy.

The council also emphasizes the need for data centres to be situated in areas with a secure water supply and to adopt more efficient cooling methods, such as closed-loop systems, to minimize their impact on the water system. While the ACT Greens and other community groups have echoed these concerns, Chief Minister Andrew Barr maintains that the ACT already has robust planning, environmental, utility, and regulatory requirements.

However, the federal government is working on new national standards and oversight for AI data centres, including measures to reduce water use and enforce funding for power supply.