Under a cloud: the growing resentment against the massive datacentres sprouting across Australian cities
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- NextDC will expand the M3 data centre to 10 hectares by end‑2027, consuming 225 MW of power and housing up to 100 diesel generators.
- Sean Brown, a West Footscray resident, says the constant construction noise, hum and diesel exhaust threaten his 19‑month‑old child’s health and the neighbourhood’s peace.
- Victorian government is reviewing fast‑track planning approval that would permit the expansion despite community calls to relocate such industrial facilities farther from homes.
- Guardian Australia reports similar opposition in three states, noting that residents argue datacentre zoning ignored scale and environmental impact assessments.
Why it matters: NextDC gains 225 MW of power and 100 diesel generators by 2027, while nearby residents lose air quality and quiet, prompting health concerns and regulatory push‑back that stalls Australia’s AI infrastructure rollout.
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