Politics · Australia · 10 hrs ago
Conservation group urges pause on new Canberra data centres
The Conservation Council ACT is calling for a pause on new data centres until stronger rules are in place.
The territory has 15 data centres, and the group says rapid growth in artificial intelligence could bring more development.
A second $200 million centre near Canberra Airport was conditionally approved in September.
The group says the planned facilities could put pressure on the ACT’s electricity supply and water resources.
The ACT Greens and community groups also support a pause, while Chief Minister Andrew Barr has said existing requirements are rigorous.
The ACT government is developing a framework on data centre locations, standards and how proposals will be assessed, while the federal government is working on national standards that would address water use and power supply.
The Conservation Council is calling for a pause on new and expanded data centre developments in the ACT until stronger rules are in place.
The group says rapid growth could strain Canberra’s electricity grid and water supplies and affect biodiversity and the community.
Its concern includes a proposed $200 million data centre in Beard, conditionally approved in September.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has rejected the call, saying the territory already has rigorous requirements.
- Who
- The Conservation Council is urging a pause. Chief Minister Andrew Barr has dismissed the proposal.
- What
- The council wants a moratorium on new and expanded data centres in the ACT until rules are established.
- When
- The article was published on November 9, 2026. The Beard project was conditionally approved in September.
- Where
- The Australian Capital Territory, including the suburb of Beard near Canberra Airport.
- Why
- The council is concerned about data centres’ effects on energy, water, biodiversity and the community.
Conservation Council
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr
Moratorium
Conservation Council
The council wants a pause until stronger rules are in place.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr
Barr said the ACT already has rigorous planning, environmental, utility and regulatory requirements.
Environmental and resource impacts
Conservation Council
The council is concerned about pressure on the electricity grid and water supplies, as well as effects on biodiversity and the community.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr
Not stated
The first data centre in the ACT was built.
Independent ACT Senator David Pocock called for a tax on data centre operators and stronger environmental protections.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr dismissed the idea of a moratorium, saying the ACT already had rigorous requirements.
The application for the second CDC centre in Beard was submitted.
The second CDC data centre in Beard was conditionally approved.
The Conservation Council’s call for a moratorium was reported.
- Data centres in the ACT
- 15
- First ACT data centre
- Built in 2007
- Proposed Beard centre
- $200 million; three storeys and 12 data halls
- First CDC centre in Beard
- Expected total capacity of 40 megawatts
- Proposed second Beard centre
- Expected to use double the first development’s expected energy use
What people are saying
This is a point of time, given the growth of AI, that we need to stop and have a conversation about this rather than rushing to approve everything
We think that the government should be putting in a moratorium until we get the rules right about how we can develop this industry into the future.
A project like that is going to put a huge amount of strain on the [electricity] grid
the ACT already has rigorous planning, environmental, utility and regulatory requirements