Data centres should stop riding roughshod over locals

September 29, 2026 — 5:35pm

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Data centres promise jobs and economic development but as the AI-driven fourth industrial revolution spreads across Sydney, tech titans need to take local communities along with them.

That is the clear lesson from the industrial property giant Goodman Group’s decision to back away from building an $800 million, 24/7 data centre at Lane Cove amid resident protests and concerns by utility providers Sydney Water and Ausgrid that the development would strain existing infrastructure and increase electrocution and fire risks.

It is not the only pushback to hit the booming industry: a proposal to build a data centre in North Katoomba was knocked back last June after local opposition, and Kogarah residents........

© The Sydney Morning Herald