Protesters drive home message to data centre company

More than 250 protesters gathered at the South Australian Parliament on Sunday to voice their opposition to a proposed data centre in the Adelaide Hills. Quantum DC, the company behind the plans, announced earlier this week that it would pause its development at Tungkillo following a strong community backlash. The South Australian government stated that it is working on legislation to comprehensively address the rollout of data centres.

Hundreds of protesters, including members from various political parties such as the SA Liberals, Greens, One Nation, and independent federal MP Rebekha Sharkie, demonstrated their stance against Quantum DC's plans for a 1,200-megawatt AI data centre. Campaign organiser Magdalene Lippett expressed hope that the community had successfully thwarted the development.

Local farmer Kym Gladigau, who spoke at the rally, emphasized that the proposed site was ideal for food production, warning that the loss of farmland in areas like Mt Barker and Virginia would be detrimental.

Mr. Gladigau highlighted the risks associated with the data centre, including the possibility of another significant bushfire in the Adelaide Hills for which there would be no one to respond. Liberal leader Ashton Hurn agreed that the area should be reserved for farming, stressing the importance of protecting South Australia's agricultural land.

Greens leader Robert Simms called for the rejection of the Tungkillo plans and a statewide moratorium on data centres, urging the government not to make South Australia a testing ground for similar projects.

Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis expressed disappointment with the developers' approach to community engagement, noting that they had not contacted the government about the plans. He stressed that data centres are essential for Australia's future but emphasized the need for them to have minimal impact on the grid if they are to operate in South Australia. Koutsantonis added that until such an impact is achieved, data centres would not be licensed.