Environs Kimberley (EK) says over 4,500 people have called on the federal environmental regulator to reject the referral of an AI data centre in the Kimberley.
EK is calling for Minister Watt to reject the referral under the EPBC Act due to its inadequate information and potentially being part of a larger action - plans to frack the Kimberley for gas.
Image: Rendered proposal, image credit Gingerah Energy
Environs Kimberley spokesperson Martin Pritchard said the Kimberley is no place for an AI mega project.
“This proposal is a wolf in sheep’s clothes. While Gingerah Energy wants to pass the project off as green, hidden in an appendix is the fact that Phase One, until at least 2032, would be fully run on gas backed up by diesel.
“And right now they don’t even know where the gas is coming from. If successful, Gingerah’s megacentre would be Australia’s third-largest data centre. It would require huge landclearing, vast water demands and unanswered questions about where the energy to power and cool it was coming from.
Mr Pritchard said the company’s continuing search for investment raised further questions about the development.
“Gingerah Energy would ultimately be putting up the bricks and mortar to rent the building to a US tech giant. AI Data Centres have a bad name globally with Google cutting down thousands of trees in Finland, Western Australians will not put up with that.” he said.
“This is an enormous proposal. The public deserves to understand exactly what is being proposed, by whom, and what it would mean for the Kimberley’s landscapes, wildlife and water.”
Image: Greater Bilby By: Damian Kelly
Lock the Gate WA spokesperson Simone van Hattem said the AI mega centre is nothing more than a ploy to create more demand for Kimberley gas.
Gingerah Energy’s partner Longreach Capital Investment owns Theia Energy, a company that has previously applied to frack.
“It’s not a coincidence that this AI megacentre would sit on top of Theia energy’s huge exploration permit.
“This is yet another application by Theia energy to do what they’ve been trying to do for years — go fracking for gas.
“Gingerah Energy must explain where its gas would come from and whether fracking could form any part of that supply. Any associated risks to groundwater and the environment must be fully examined.”
Mr Pritchard said the public response reinforced the need for transparency.
“Community after community around the world are fighting back against dodgy data centres that destroy their local environments. The Kimberley is no different.”
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