B1276 words2:01News Report American AccentPublished Jun 21, 2026 · Updated Jun 21, 2026

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Australia is experiencing a massive datacentre boom as companies race to build the infrastructure needed for artificial intelligence and the digital economy.

A huge new facility has been planned for Mamre Road in western Sydney.

If approved, the 52-hectare site will include six four-storey buildings, hundreds of cooling units, and over 850 backup power generators.

This project is part of an estimated 155 billion dollar investment pipeline over the next ten years.

According to the Climate Council, about 160 datacentres are currently operating in Australia, and another 90 have been proposed.

However, not everyone is convinced that this boom is good for the country.

Datacentres require enormous amounts of electricity and water, which means they come at a high environmental cost.

Critics have pointed out that these facilities also offer very few operational jobs for local communities.

Alex Hooper, the head of climate and energy economics at Oxford Economics Australia, says there are both opportunities and risks.

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"There are huge opportunities, but we need to be smart about how much we invest," Hooper says.

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He believes that the right level of datacentre investment could help Australia's economy grow.

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However, he warns that too much development without careful planning could cause serious problems for the environment and energy supply.

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The debate over datacentres has become an important topic for experts, policymakers, and governments across Australia.

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These facilities are considered a key part of the modern digital economy because they store and process vast amounts of data.

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At the same time, the country must find ways to balance economic growth with protecting natural resources.

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The decisions that are made now will shape Australia's future for decades to come.

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Thirsty and power hungry: Australia is in the middle of a datacentre boom – but not everyone is...

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