Adelaide Hills Communities Rally Against Proposed 1,200MW AI Data Centre

Community Opposition Emerges in South Australia

Residents and local organizers in the Adelaide Hills have launched public protests against a proposed 1,200-megawatt artificial intelligence data centre in Tungkillo, located approximately 41 kilometres east of the Adelaide CBD. According to reporting by ABC News, the facility is proposed by developer Quantum DC and would span 120 hectares.

While political representatives from the Liberal Party, Greens, and One Nation addressed protesters at a recent community rally in Mannum, state government members did not attend. No formal development application has been lodged with state planning authorities.

Developer Plans and Reported Claims

Quantum DC has stated its intention to conduct community consultation before submitting any plans to the state government. The developer's reported details include:

• Power Supply: Approximately 80 per cent of electricity needs would rely on solar and wind contracts via two on-site substations connected to existing ElectraNet lines.
• Firming Capacity: An on-site gas-fired power station is planned to provide firming capacity.
• Water Usage: The company stated that the facility would utilize captured and recirculated rainwater rather than drawing from the nearby River Murray or local groundwater reserves.
• Timeline: The first stage of construction has been notionally scheduled to commence in 2028.

Quantum DC previously postponed two consultation sessions scheduled for a recent week, citing safety concerns, and rescheduled them for November 20 and 21.

Local Concerns and Political Responses

Local organizer Magdalene Lippett stated that residents have raised concerns regarding land use, water supplies, and potential noise and light pollution. While expressing openness to other local developments—such as a battery energy storage system at a nearby substation—organizers indicated they intend to pursue legal means to oppose the data centre.

Political reactions to the proposal vary across parties:

• Liberal Party: Upper house leader Nicola Centofanti emphasized the need to consider community sentiment.
• Greens: Leader Robert Simms called for a moratorium on new data centres and their inclusion in a royal commission.
• One Nation: MLC Carlos Quaremba suggested assessing the project based on risk-versus-reward.

Planning Minister Nick Champion stated that any future application would undergo a rigorous planning process evaluated either by the State Commission Assessment Panel or the minister.

How to Verify

Readers seeking verified updates can monitor official announcements from the South Australian state planning authorities regarding development applications, or review upcoming consultation schedules published by Quantum DC ahead of its planned November sessions.