Hundreds of protesters have doubled down on their message to data centre company Quantum DC that its plans for a 1,200-megawatt AI data centre are not welcome in the Adelaide Hills.
It comes after the company announced it would pause its plans for the development at Tungkillo earlier this week, after deep frustration, anger and protests from the surrounding community.
At least 250 people rallied on the South Australian steps of parliament on Sunday, with various political parties including the SA Liberals, Greens, One Nation and independent federal MP Rebekha Sharkie in support of the protest group.
Campaign organiser Magdalene Lippett said the community was hopeful it had won the fight against the development.
“There has been a pause, but a pause isn’t a stop. We want this thing stopped,”
she said.
Local farmer Kym Gladigau said the proposed area was prime land for food production.
“The Adelaide Hills is a food production area, that’s what it’s all about,” Mr Gladigau said.
Kym Gladigau says there is limited prime agricultural land and the area should not be put at risk of bushfires. (ABC News: Trent Murphy)
“We’re losing farmland at Mt Barker, we’ve lost it at Virginia.
“The risk with this data centre, is that we lose that.
“If this thing goes wrong … we cannot afford another big bushfire in the Adelaide Hills, and who is going to tackle it?”
Liberal leader Ashton Hurn, who spoke at the rally, agreed the proposed area should be reserved for farming.
“We’ve got a very finite amount of prime agricultural land in South Australia … we have to fight as best we can to protect our farmers and our agricultural land,”
Ms Hurn said.
Ashton Hurn says Tunkillo is prime agricultural land that should be protected. (ABC News: Trent Murphy)
“We keep hearing that data centres are a part of our future, there are of course economic opportunities, but we also need to make sure the community is brought along for the ride as well.”
Greens leader Robert Simms said he wanted to see the Tungkillo plans rejected if they reached the government.
“That’s why Greens are moving a motion calling on the government to reject this proposal,” he said.
“We’re also calling for a statewide moratorium on data centres. We don’t want to see South Australia become the test dummy for the nation.”
An estimated 250 people were at the rally. (ABC News: Trent Murphy)
Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said he was “very disappointed” with the Tungkillo developers, referencing the company’s poor method of community engagement.
“I mean, they have behaved in a way that has really lit this fire,” he said.
Mr Koutsantonis said the developers had not approached government at all about the plans.
“I’m the energy minister and the treasurer. They’ve never spoken to me, and you would’ve thought the first door you’d knock on is the government’s,” he said.
“Data centres are an essential part of our future. There’s no world where Australia cannot have data centres.
“If we don’t have our own data centres, we’ll be price takers rather than price setters.”
Mr Koutsantonis said the government was working on developing legislation that would “comprehensively deal with the roll-out of data centres”.
“Data centres have got to have almost no impact on the grid for them to operate in South Australia, and until that time is achieved, we won’t license them.”
In response to Sunday’s protest, Quantum DC CEO Alby Tomassi said the company respected the right of community members to express their views.
“We want people to know we have heard their concerns,” Mr Tomassi said.
“That is why we have put our development application on hold and will now prepare a longer-term and more comprehensive engagement program to work through their concerns in a meaningful way.”
Source: www.abc.net.au
