Arabic version: محتجون يطالبون بإلغاء خطة مركز البيانات في تونغكيلو

According to ABC News, more than 250 people rallied on the steps of South Australia’s Parliament on Sunday, calling for Quantum DC’s proposed 1,200-megawatt AI data centre at Tungkillo in the Adelaide Hills to be scrapped.

The rally followed Quantum DC’s announcement earlier in the week that it would pause its plans after strong community backlash. Campaign organiser Magdalene Lippett said protesters did not want a temporary halt. “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 site was prime food-producing land and raised concerns about the loss of agricultural areas and bushfire risk. SA Liberal leader Ashton Hurn also said the proposed area should be protected for farming, while noting that data centres could bring economic opportunities if communities were properly included.

The SA Liberals, Greens, One Nation and independent federal MP Rebekha Sharkie supported the protest group. Greens leader Robert Simms said his party would move a motion urging the government to reject the proposal and called for a statewide moratorium on data centres.

Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said he was disappointed by Quantum DC’s community engagement and said the developers had not approached the government. He said the government was developing legislation to deal comprehensively with data-centre rollout, adding that facilities would not be licensed until they had almost no impact on South Australia’s electricity grid.