A proposed multi-billion-dollar artificial intelligence data centre in South Australia has sparked growing opposition from residents in the Adelaide Hills region, with community members pledging to challenge the development through every available legal avenue.
Technology infrastructure company Quantum DC has proposed constructing a 1,200-megawatt hyperscale data centre and associated energy infrastructure on Collins Road in Tungkillo, approximately 41 kilometres east of Adelaide’s CBD. Under current plans, the project’s first stage is expected to begin in 2028.
The proposal has generated significant concern among residents living in and around Mount Torrens, Tungkillo, and nearby communities, who argue the development could have major environmental and lifestyle impacts.
Community consultation sessions scheduled by Quantum DC for this week were postponed until late November following reported safety concerns. In response, residents organised their own meetings to discuss the proposal and coordinate opposition efforts.
Local campaigner Magdalene Lippett said community members remain determined to resist the project, despite the postponement of the official consultation process.
According to Lippett, residents have raised concerns about land use, water security, and the potential effects of increased noise and light pollution on the surrounding area.
“We’re not going away,” she said.
“We don’t want the data centre, we will fight it using every legal means possible.”
A protest gathering was held in Tungkillo on Thursday, followed by a larger public rally in the nearby town of Mannum on Saturday, highlighting growing grassroots opposition to the project.
Lippett said she had been in contact with Quantum DC representatives via email but claimed company officials declined invitations to attend the community-organised event.
The proposed development comes amid a global surge in demand for AI and cloud-computing infrastructure, with governments and technology companies investing heavily in large-scale data centres. However, such projects have increasingly attracted scrutiny over their environmental footprint, particularly regarding electricity consumption, water use, and impacts on rural communities.
Residents say they want greater transparency about the long-term implications of the development before any approvals are granted.
As debate over the project intensifies, the proposed Tungkillo facility is likely to become one of South Australia’s most closely watched infrastructure developments in the coming years.
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