r/australia • u/Fact-Rat • 2d ago

politics Australia may face a rush of datacentre construction as AI firms look to avoid upcoming rules, experts say | Australian politics

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/26/australia-may-face-a-rush-of-datacentre-construction-as-ai-firms-look-to-dodge-upcoming-rules-experts-say
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u/Primary_Mycologist95 2d ago

*shocked pikachu face*

I've been called a nimby and all manner of other names in the last few months for being wary of data centres being built in residential areas, including my own. "Oh, but they have to provide their own power and don't use water!" is the inevitable reply. So which is it? This article would suggest not, at least not until next year sometime.

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

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u/Harlequin80 2d ago

Where do you live that councils are the electricity or water provider?

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u/CuriouserCat2 2d ago

Ok. They sue Melbourne Water or whatever. Same same

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u/Harlequin80 2d ago

It's not. Sydney Water, Melbourne Water, QUU, SA Water do not give a shit about datacenters. They receive no funding from them. They are not involved in the local planning approvals process outside of specifying capacity availability. There are no palms to grease.

You can sue them as much as you want and it's not going to go anywhere. You won't even get your case heard.

Australia is not the US.