Thirsty and power hungry: Australia is in the middle of a datacentre boom – but are they good for the economy?

Australia's rapid expansion of hyperscale data center infrastructure—including a proposed 52-hectare facility in western Sydney with 852 diesel backup generators—is prompting hard questions about environmental cost, water consumption, and the quality of jobs these facilities actually create. The boom is driven largely by global AI demand, yet the operational footprint offers relatively few local jobs while placing significant strain on energy grids and water supplies. The piece is a grounded reminder that AI's material infrastructure has consequences that land unevenly on local communities and ecosystems.