AI and Data Centre Update
With our community increasingly concerned with the prospect of a large data centre in Moss Vale, it’s important to understand what these data centres do and how they operate.
Data centres are very large computing facilities that house thousands of powerful processors (GPUs) used to train and run artificial intelligence models from ChatGPT and mobile phones to medical research.
They consume large amounts of electricity and water (for cooling) and represent billions of AUD in investment. Whilst they will create a substantial number of jobs during construction, they require only a small, highly specialised workforce once operational.
Australia is attractive to such investments because of its political stability, renewable energy resources and strong digital infrastructure.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a speech in July, made the following points:
- Australia cannot miss out on this once-in-a-generation economic opportunity
- Australia will shape this development rather than blindly accepting the big international tech companies.
- We will have mandatory Australian AI standards
- We will have national rules governing where the centres can be built
- They will have to minimise their water consumption by recycling and will have to supply their own electricity
In a recent interview, Andrew Charlton, Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and Digital Economy, goes even further, suggesting that Australia must become a major destination for AI investments. For him, AI will be a major driver of productivity and economic growth
What does it mean for the Southern Highlands project?
AI and data centres are the future, strongly backed by our Government and any future Government, whether from the left or the right.
It means that opposition to the Moss Vale data centre should focus on specific aspects of the project; we need to make sure it doesn’t affect our water and electricity supplies.
