Thirsty and power hungry: Australia is in the middle of a datacentre boom – but not everyone is...
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EN: The Present Continuous Tense (is/are + verb-ing) is used here to describe an ongoing trend or a situation that is currently developing and changing over a period of time.
The global demand for renewable energy is growing rapidly.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'as' is used to connect two actions happening at the same time, often implying a causal relationship where one development drives or accompanies another.
As technology advances, our daily lives become more convenient.
EN: The 'datacentre boom' in Australia reflects a global trend where the rapid rise of AI technologies (like ChatGPT) and cloud computing requires massive physical infrastructure. Australia, particularly western Sydney, has become a key hub due to its stable economy and strategic location, though it sparks local debates over high energy consumption and environmental impacts.
EN: Present Perfect Passive (has/have been + past participle) is used to describe an action that has been completed at an unspecified time before now, focusing on the recipient of the action rather than the doer.
A new library has been built in our neighborhood.
EN: Prepositional phrases of place ('for...', 'in...') are used to specify location. 'For' indicates the intended destination or site, while 'in' specifies the larger geographical area.
The concert is scheduled for the central park in eastern London.
EN: Western Sydney is one of the fastest-growing economic and urban regions in Australia. Mamre Road, located in this area, is a major industrial transport corridor undergoing significant redevelopment to support logistics, warehousing, and high-tech infrastructure like datacentres.
EN: The sentence begins with 'If approved', which is a reduced conditional clause. In English, when the subject of the conditional clause is the same as the subject of the main clause, the subject and the verb 'to be' can be omitted (e.g., 'If [it is] approved'). This is common in formal and written English to make sentences more concise.
If completed on time, the new highway will reduce travel times significantly.
EN: The term 'four-storey' is a compound adjective used to describe the noun 'buildings'. In English, when a measurement or number is used as an adjective before a noun, it is hyphenated, and the noun within the adjective (in this case, 'storey') must be in its singular form, not plural.
They are planning to build a ten-story hotel near the beach.
EN: The use of 'part of' followed by a noun phrase indicates that something is a component or member of a larger group, system, or total amount. In this sentence, 'part of an estimated 155 billion dollar investment pipeline' shows that this specific project is one of many investments.
This new software is part of our strategy to improve customer service.
EN: The preposition 'over' is used here to express duration, meaning 'during' or 'throughout the course of' a specific period of time (in this case, 'the next ten years').
The company plans to hire fifty new employees over the next two years.
EN: In business and economics, the term 'pipeline' (e.g., 'investment pipeline' or 'project pipeline') is a common metaphor. It refers to a collection of planned projects, investments, or products that are currently under development or scheduled for the future, progressing like items moving through a pipe.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'According to' is used to indicate the source of information, meaning 'as stated by' or 'on the authority of'. It is commonly followed by a noun or noun phrase.
According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
EN: The present perfect passive voice ('have been proposed') is formed using 'have/has + been + past participle'. It is used to describe an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past, where the focus is on the action's effect on the present, and the receiver of the action becomes the subject.
Several new projects have been proposed by the committee.
EN: The 'Climate Council' is a prominent, independent, crowd-funded Australian climate change communications organisation. It provides authoritative, expert advice to the Australian public on climate change and energy solutions, often acting as an independent alternative to government agencies.
EN: Partial Negation (not everyone): When 'not' is used with words like 'everyone', 'all', or 'always', it creates a partial negation, meaning 'some do, but some do not', rather than a total negation ('no one').
Not everyone agreed with the new policy.
EN: Noun Clause as Direct Object (convinced that...): The 'that' clause functions as a noun clause, acting as the object of the adjective 'convinced' (which behaves like a transitive verb here) to express what people are convinced of.
She is convinced that she made the right decision.
EN: The relative pronoun 'which' is used here to introduce a non-defining relative clause. In this context, 'which' refers back to the entire preceding clause ('Datacentres require enormous amounts of electricity and water') rather than just a single noun, adding extra information or a comment about that situation.
He passed the exam with perfect scores, which surprised everyone.
EN: The phrase 'come at a cost' is an idiomatic expression meaning to be obtained or achieved at a disadvantage, sacrifice, or expense. An adjective (like 'high' or 'environmental') is often placed before 'cost' to specify the nature or severity of the sacrifice.
Success often comes at a personal cost.
EN: The rapid growth of artificial intelligence and cloud computing has led to a global surge in datacentre construction. While they are essential for the digital economy, their massive consumption of electricity (for running servers) and water (for cooling systems) has sparked intense environmental debates worldwide, particularly in countries like Australia that face water scarcity and energy transition challenges.
EN: The present perfect tense ('have pointed out') is used here to describe an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past and has relevance to the present situation. 'Point out' is a phrasal verb meaning to direct attention to a fact.
Researchers have pointed out the potential risks of the new technology.
EN: The noun clause introduced by 'that' ('that these facilities also offer...') acts as the direct object of the verb phrase 'pointed out'. It contains a complete sentence structure (subject + verb + object).
She believes that the project will succeed.
EN: This sentence highlights a common socio-economic debate surrounding high-tech developments like datacentres. While they represent massive financial investments, they are highly automated and require very few staff to run daily, leading to tension with local communities who expect job creation in exchange for the environmental impact.
EN: Apposition (Appositive Phrase): An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that sits next to another noun to rename or describe it. In this sentence, 'the head of climate and energy economics at Oxford Economics Australia' is an appositive phrase that describes and provides more information about the subject 'Alex Hooper'. It is set off by commas.
Mr. Green, the principal of our school, will give a speech tomorrow.
EN: Correlative Conjunctions (both... and...): This paired conjunction is used to join two grammatical elements of equal importance (nouns, adjectives, verbs, etc.). It emphasizes that both elements are included. In this sentence, it connects the two nouns 'opportunities' and 'risks'.
The hotel is both comfortable and cheap.
EN: Oxford Economics is a leader in global forecasting and quantitative analysis. Its Australian branch, Oxford Economics Australia, provides crucial economic analysis and advice to businesses and governments, making its experts highly influential in national debates regarding infrastructure and climate policy.
EN: The structure 'There are + plural noun' is used to state the existence of more than one person, place, thing, or idea. 'There' acts as a dummy subject, while the real subject is the plural noun that follows.
There are many challenges we must face together.
EN: The phrase 'be smart about' means to act wisely, make sensible decisions, or be practical regarding a specific topic or situation. It is often followed by a noun phrase or a noun clause starting with a question word like 'how' or 'what'.
We need to be smart about how we use our limited resources.
EN: Noun Clause with 'that': The conjunction 'that' introduces a noun clause functioning as the direct object of the verb 'believes'. It connects the main subject's belief to the specific statement of what he believes. In informal English, 'that' is often omitted, but it is kept here for clarity and formal structure.
She hopes that the new policy will reduce traffic congestion.
EN: Causative Verb 'help' with Bare Infinitive: The verb 'help' can be followed by an object and then either a bare infinitive (verb without 'to') or a full infinitive (with 'to'). In this sentence, 'help Australia's economy grow' uses the bare infinitive 'grow' to describe the action being assisted.
This software can help you finish your work faster.
EN: The debate in Australia regarding datacentres highlights a global tension between rapid technological advancement (especially AI) and environmental sustainability. Australia, known for its unique ecosystems and water scarcity issues, faces critical decisions on how to allocate its natural resources to support high-energy digital infrastructure.
EN: The noun clause (or content clause) introduced by 'that' functions as the direct object of the reporting verb 'warns'. It contains a complete sentence structure (subject + verb + object) explaining what the warning is about.
She warns that the road is very slippery after the rain.
EN: The modal verb 'could' is used here to express a future possibility or potential consequence, rather than past ability. It suggests that the serious problems are a likely outcome if the condition (too much development without planning) is met.
If we don't save water now, we could face a shortage next month.
EN: The Present Perfect Tense ('has become') is used to describe an action or state that started in the past and has a connection to the present, often showing a result or a change that is relevant now.
The small town has become a popular tourist destination over the last few years.
EN: The preposition 'over' is used here to mean 'concerning' or 'about', indicating the subject matter of the debate.
There is a heated discussion over the new company policy.
EN: The term 'policymakers' refers to individuals or groups responsible for formulating policies, especially in government. In Australia, the rapid growth of technology infrastructure like datacentres has forced governments and local councils to balance economic development with environmental sustainability, making it a major national political discussion.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In 'are considered', the agent (who considers them) is omitted because it is general or obvious.
The new project is considered a major milestone for the company.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'because' is used to introduce a subordinate clause of reason, explaining why the action in the main clause occurs.
She decided to walk to work because the weather was beautiful.
EN: The structure 'balance A with B' is used to show how two different or opposing things are given equal importance or kept in a stable relationship. 'With' is a preposition, so it must be followed by a noun or a gerund (V-ing), such as 'protecting'.
It is difficult to balance a demanding career with raising a family.
EN: The modal verb 'must' expresses strong obligation or necessity. It is followed by the base form of the verb ('find'). In this sentence, 'find ways' is further described by an infinitive phrase ('to balance...'), which acts as an adjective modifying 'ways'.
EN: The relative clause 'that are made now' uses the relative pronoun 'that' to modify the noun 'The decisions'. It is in the passive voice ('are made') because the decisions are the receiver of the action, not the doer.
The rules that are established today will protect our environment.
EN: The phrase 'for decades to come' is a common temporal expression meaning 'for many future decades'. The infinitive 'to come' modifies 'decades' to project the time frame into the future.
This technology will change our lives for years to come.
EN: This sentence reflects a common theme in Australian public discourse regarding the balance between rapid technological/economic development (such as the datacentre boom) and long-term environmental sustainability. It highlights the growing awareness that policy decisions made today have profound, multi-generational impacts on the nation's resources.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
An economy that is based on digital computing technologies, including the internet, mobile technology, and data.
To be obtained or achieved only by sacrificing something of great value or experiencing significant negative consequences.
To direct someone's attention to a fact, idea, or circumstance.
Materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain.