Australian State Bans Data Centres From Residential Areas
The rules would require centres to power themselves, use non-drinking water and pay network upgrade costs as community backlash grows.
- On Tuesday, Centre-left Labour Premier Ben Carroll announced new rules banning data centres from residential areas, with a mandatory 150-metre buffer zone protecting homes across Victoria.
- Campaigns against data centres have surged across Victoria as facilities proliferate to power artificial intelligence; Carroll noted they are "an enormous 21st-century infrastructure" but require guardrails to maintain social licence.
- Developers must provide their own renewable energy supply to match new demand and cover network upgrade costs, while facilities must use recycled or non-drinking water, keeping consumption below 1 per cent.
- Projects must now include mandatory community consultation, traffic management plans, and local investment guarantees; developers must train Victorians for jobs to address concerns about luring away apprentice electricians.
- These state-level rules align with principles agreed upon by national cabinet earlier this month, and Artificial Intelligence Minister Anthony Carbines expects companies like Amazon and Microsoft to continue investing despite new requirements.
11 Articles
11 Articles
‘Means nothing’: Locals fume over Ben Carroll’s MCG data centre brag
Ben Carroll’s 150m residential buffers for data centres have been slammed as “woefully insufficient”, while industry leaders warn the exclusion zones could drive billions of dollars out of Victoria.
Sydney (Australia), Sep 22 (EFE).- The Australian state of Victoria (south) will ban the construction of new data centers in residential areas and require these facilities to generate their own renewable energy, as part of a package of measures to respond to the rapid growth of infrastructure for Artificial Intelligence (IA).The government [...] The entry An Australian state prohibits the construction of new data centers in residential areas was…
One of the largest states in Australia has decided to ban the construction of data centers in residential areas, in addition to determining that these units will have to bring their own renewable energy source. The measure is part of a series of rules aimed at appeaseing citizen protests, in the midst of the explosion in demand for data centers for artificial intelligence systems (AI).
Sydney Morning Herald
Buffer zones, drinking water bans: Carroll eyes new rules for data centres
The state government has dropped its talk of a race to pursue data centres and is now instead tightening conditions for their development.
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