Cessnock City Council objects to $3.7 billion data centre

Cessnock City Council has voted unanimously to lodge a formal objection to a proposed $3.7 billion data centre in Loxford. The project, proposed by AirTrunk, is planned for the former Hydro Aluminium smelter site and is expected to have a capacity of 540 megawatts.

Councillors raised several concerns regarding the state-significant development, including the impact of 24-hour low-frequency noise from air-cooled plants and backup diesel generators. The council also cited heavy demands on the local power grid and infrastructure, as well as traffic and road impacts during the construction phase.

In addition to the local objection, the council has called on the federal government to implement a moratorium on data centre approvals nationwide until comprehensive federal rules and frameworks are established.