Thirsty and power hungry: Australia is in the middle of a datacentre boom – but not everyone is...
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#1
Australia is experiencing a massive datacentre boom as companies race to build the infrastructure needed for artificial intelligence and the digital economy.
隨著各家公司爭相建造人工智慧和數位經濟所需的基礎設施，澳洲正經歷一場巨大的數據中心熱潮。
#2
A huge new facility has been planned for Mamre Road in western Sydney.
一個巨大的新設施已計劃建在雪梨西部的馬姆雷路。
#3
If approved, the 52-hectare site will include six four-storey buildings, hundreds of cooling units, and over 850 backup power generators.
如果獲得批准，這處佔地 52 公頃的用地將包括六棟四層樓的建築、數百台冷卻裝置以及超過 850 台的備用發電機。
#4
This project is part of an estimated 155 billion dollar investment pipeline over the next ten years.
這項計劃是未來十年預估達1550億美元投資管道的一部分。
#5
According to the Climate Council, about 160 datacentres are currently operating in Australia, and another 90 have been proposed.
根據氣候理事會的說法，目前大約有 160 座數據中心在澳洲營運，另外 90 座已被提議興建。
#6
However, not everyone is convinced that this boom is good for the country.
然而，並非每個人都相信這波繁榮對該國是有利的。
#7
Datacentres require enormous amounts of electricity and water, which means they come at a high environmental cost.
數據中心需要大量的電力和水，這意味著它們要付出高昂的環境代價。
#8
Critics have pointed out that these facilities also offer very few operational jobs for local communities.
批評者指出，這些設施為當地社區提供的運營工作機會也極少。
#9
Alex Hooper, the head of climate and energy economics at Oxford Economics Australia, says there are both opportunities and risks.
牛津經濟研究院澳洲分部的氣候與能源經濟學主管艾力克斯·胡珀表示，機會與風險並存。
#10
"There are huge opportunities, but we need to be smart about how much we invest," Hooper says.
「這裡有巨大的機會，但我們需要聰明地看待我們投入了多少資金，」胡珀說。
#11
He believes that the right level of datacentre investment could help Australia's economy grow.
他相信適度的數據中心投資可以幫助澳洲的經濟成長。
#12
However, he warns that too much development without careful planning could cause serious problems for the environment and energy supply.
然而，他警告說，沒有仔細規劃的過度開發可能會對環境和能源供應造成嚴重問題。
#13
The debate over datacentres has become an important topic for experts, policymakers, and governments across Australia.
關於數據中心的爭論已成為整個澳洲的專家、政策制定者和政府所關注的重要議題。
#14
These facilities are considered a key part of the modern digital economy because they store and process vast amounts of data.
這些設施被認為是現代數位經濟的關鍵部分，因為它們儲存並處理大量的數據。
#15
At the same time, the country must find ways to balance economic growth with protecting natural resources.
與此同時，該國必須尋找方法，在經濟增長與保護自然資源之間取得平衡。
#16
The decisions that are made now will shape Australia's future for decades to come.
現在所做的決定將會形塑澳洲未來數十年的發展。