PORT MELBOURNE STOP THE DATA CENTRE COMMUNITY RALLY & BBQ

Dear friends,

Many of you may not realise that a giant Hyperscale AI Data Centre is being built in our neighbourhood.  

This monster will be 8 stories high and will emit constant noise and light 24 hours a day.   3.5 millions litres of diesel fuel will be stored onsite as well as 900 tonnes of lithium ion batteries.   Firefighters say that the development poses an extreme risk to local communities and that they are not equipped to put out a fire should one occur.

Volunteers at the Westgate Park have been devastated to watch as 50 trees have been felled and excavators start to flatten the site which is right next door to beautiful regenerated bushland.    What will 24/7 noise and light pollution mean to this ecosystem which has become home to numerous endangered and rare species?   And what will happen if a bushfire breaks out in Westgate Park during a hot Melbourne summer?

The NextDC Hyperscale M4 Data Centre at 127 Todd Road was quietly rushed through the approval process by the Victorian government this January with very little transparency and no proper risk management assessment.   It is one of a large number of such AI factories that threaten to derail our progress on emissions reduction because of their enormous power requirements.  There are also real concerns about the significant water use in a drying and drought prone region.   

Local community groups are coming together for a community rally.   We have invited all Albert Park electoral candidates to attend.   There will be a community BBQ, speeches, and a chance to ask questions and plan our next steps.   We are determined to achieve a pause on construction to allow for community consultation and proper risk assessment. 

Please join us at 1pm on Saturday 31st October at Westgate Park Picnic Ground.