How tall are the AI datacentre power poles that sparked a community backlash in Melbourne?
News Source
•Mon, 26 Oct 2026 14:00:44 GMT
📰 What Happened
NextDC, Australia's biggest datacentre operator, wanted to double its M3 site in west Melbourne. To get more power, provider Jemena planned to swap short timber poles for 22-metre concrete ones on suburban streets.
That upgrade is now delayed. Jemena blames safety concerns, trouble getting access to sites and community opposition. The council had not approved the tall poles. NextDC shares fell from over $9 to $5.69 last week.
🔍 The Backstory
West Footscray residents have fought the plan for months. They worry about the size of the expansion, building noise and diesel generators used during blackouts. The Guardian's chart compares the new masts with houses, trees and even a brachiosaurus.
The fight points to a wider problem. Australia is racing to build datacentres for AI, but the poles and power they need are landing in ordinary suburbs. Similar battles are playing out around the country.
🎯 Why It Matters
It shows how the AI boom is reaching ordinary streets, and how local planning fights can delay or reshape billion-dollar projects.
NextDC, Australia's biggest datacentre operator, wanted to double its M3 site in west Melbourne. To get more power, provider Jemena planned to swap short timber poles for 22-metre concrete ones on suburban streets.
That upgrade is now delayed. Jemena blames safety concerns, trouble getting access to sites and community opposition. The council had not approved the tall poles. NextDC shares fell from over $9 to $5.69 last week.
West Footscray residents have fought the plan for months. They worry about the size of the expansion, building noise and diesel generators used during blackouts. The Guardian's chart compares the new masts with houses, trees and even a brachiosaurus.
The fight points to a wider problem. Australia is racing to build datacentres for AI, but the poles and power they need are landing in ordinary suburbs. Similar battles are playing out around the country.
It shows how the AI boom is reaching ordinary streets, and how local planning fights can delay or reshape billion-dollar projects.