Farm raising beef for tables around the world faces threat from data center construction

Carribee Farm in Burradoo, New South Wales, faces a threat from nearby AI data center expansion and a planned gas power plant. Paul Brackenreg and Rosalind Murphy raise about 400 beef cattle on 340 hectares, with regional beef exported to Asia, Europe and elsewhere. Residents fear pollution, water contamination and community decline, and are demanding renewable power, consultation and slower approvals. Their campaign contributed to new New South Wales and federal measures on data center energy, location and pollution.

Carribee Farm is located about 135 kilometers southwest of Sydney at an elevation of 690 meters, and its beef is certified as premium quality.

An existing data center has a capacity of 28 megawatts, while two additional buildings with combined capacity of 300 megawatts were expected to begin construction.

The planned gas power facilities have capacities of 14 megawatts, 16 megawatts and 673 megawatts, which together would form Australia's third-largest gas power plant.

About 220 people attended the first STOP THE GAS PLANT rally on May 22, while approximately 500 people attended a later public hearing.

New South Wales guidelines require new data centers to use 100 percent renewable energy, including 40 percent wind power, while the federal government announced plans to bar facilities near schools, homes and farms.

Published Oct 16, 2026 7:05 am KST

Paul Brackenreg, left, and Rosalind "Rose" Murphy, who run Carribee Farm in Burradoo in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, pose in a pasture where their cattle graze, Sept. 12. Korea Times photo by Kang Ji-su

A fierce battle over artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, which are increasingly being seen as unwanted facilities, is erupting around the world among governments, companies and local residents.

Korea, which is also moving quickly to expand AI data centers as one of the government's three megaprojects, is no exception. Where can we find clues to resolving these conflicts?

To find answers, a Hankook Ilbo reporting team traveled to Australia Aug. 7-14 for a field investigation into how the country is preparing for the future with AI data centers. Australia is seeking to make AI data centers its next major growth industry after minerals and wool. Residents are banding together to make their voices heard and searching for rules that will allow people and AI data centers to coexist.

Cattle raised by Rose and Paul rest in a pasture at their farm in Burradoo in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. Korea Times photo by Kang Ji-su

In August, winter fog in the Southern Hemisphere swallowed the morning sunlight, leaving a farm in darkness as cattle awoke to the familiar voices of an elderly couple.

"Did you have any trouble during the night?"

"Did you sleep well?"

Every morning at 7 a.m., Paul Brackenreg, 61, and Rosalind "Rose" Murphy, 70, climb into a dirt-covered buggy, a small four-wheel-drive vehicle, in the yard of their two-story wooden house. They drive between pastures and cattle sheds at their farm in Burradoo, in Australia's southeastern state of New South Wales. Paul checks on pregnant cows and hurriedly fills their feed troughs, while his wife bottle-feeds calves.

Paul and Rose own Carribee Farm, located at an elevation of 690 meters in Burradoo in the Southern Highlands, about 135 kilometers southwest of Sydney. Together with their 29-year-old son James, they raise about 400 beef cattle on 340 hectares of grassland. Beef from the region is certified as premium quality and exported to Asia, Europe and elsewhere. Korea is one of the three largest export markets for New South Wales beef, after China and the United States.

The couple's quiet, uneventful life was shattered one day in May, when Rose received a phone call from a friend.

"Rose, you're coming to the meeting right behind the farm, aren't you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"They're building an eight-story data center and a gas power plant right in front of your farm boundary. They're saying pollutants will drift onto your farm."

Rose felt as if she had been hit over the head. Only then did she discover what the dark-gray, single-story building she had seen for years through the pine trees outside the farm fence actually was: a 28-megawatt data center.

A subsidiary of a Sydney-based property company had been developing a data center campus in the Southern Highlands for five years. One building was already operating right next to the couple's farm, while construction of two more buildings, with a combined capacity of 300 megawatts, was expected to begin soon.

Paul Brackenreg and Rose Murphy who run a farm in Burradoo in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, pose at the edge of their property, Sept. 12. A dark-gray, single-story data center currently in operation is visible behind them. Korea Times photo by Kang Ji-su

Paul and Rose were bewildered. No one had ever come to explain the situation to them. Each time the local council received development applications from companies seeking to develop land around their farm, it sent the couple bundles of documents. But even after reading them, they could hardly understand what they meant.

After hearing from their friend about the data center development, they went through the documents again. Amid unfamiliar real estate terminology, they noticed words such as "data" and "artificial intelligence." Rose looked stunned.

The immediate threat facing the couple is the gas power plant planned to supply electricity to the data center. The Australian government has adopted a Bring Your Own Power approach, requiring operators to secure the electricity needed for AI data centers themselves. If all three planned plants — with capacities of 14 megawatts, 16 megawatts and 673 megawatts — are built, the project would become Australia's third-largest gas power plant.

Emissions from the plant's smokestacks could be disastrous for the farmers. Jacqui Duc, a pediatrician in the Southern Highlands, said nitrogen oxides contained in gas-fired power plant emissions can harm the respiratory system.

Rose is less worried about her own health than about the water and air her cattle will consume.

"We collect rainwater and use it as drinking water instead of relying on the municipal water supply. That means there's a possibility the cattle could drink water containing nitrogen oxides. Fine particles carried by the wind could also enter their respiratory systems. If harmful substances are detected in the tissues of slaughtered cattle, that meat won't be allowed to be sold and will have to be discarded."

Although it remains only a possibility, Paul also worries that the emissions could reduce the fertility of cows or cause calves to be born with abnormalities. Duc said exposure to nitrogen oxides also increases the risk of cancer in humans.

Paul Brackenreg drives his buggy toward the edge of his farm in Burradoo in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Sept. 12. A data center site lies just beyond the farm's fence. Korea Times photo by Kang Ji-su

Why did it have to be right behind their farm? Paul has his own theory. "This place has a lot of elderly people. We call it the 'waiting room of God.' There are also many nursing homes. Maybe they think we'll all be gone before long. And as you can see, we really don't even know what AI is."

The proportion of elderly residents in the area is 17 percent, higher than the state average of 12 percent.

The developer pressed the local council to speed up the approval process for a second gas power plant. The meeting Rose's friend had mentioned was a mediation session in which residents and companies would face each other before the Land and Environment Court.

Rose Murphy, who runs the second generation of her family's farm in Burradoo in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, looks through development approval documents sent by the local council, Sept. 12. Korea Times photo by Kang Ji-su

On the morning of May 22, Paul and Rose headed to 30 Douglas Road immediately after feeding their cattle. Residents had gathered in front of the data center site ahead of the mediation session.

It was the first official rally of the STOP THE GAS PLANT campaign launched by Heather Champion, a Greens member of the Wingecarribee Shire Council.

It was a cold, rainy Friday morning for May. Organizers had expected 50 to 100 people, but about 220 showed up. One mother even brought her newborn baby.

A campaigner with Stop the Gas Plant and an architect shows photographs from a campaign rally held in May during an AI Data Center Forum at the Moss Vale Services Club in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Sept. 9. About 220 residents gathered in front of the data center site at the time. Korea Times photo by Kang Ji-su

Residents spoke about the long-term health damage they feared would result from pollutants accumulating in the air and shouted, "Data centers must never be built this way."

The data center project threatens not only the community but also the future of the town itself. Residents worry that the area could lose its vitality if young people who move there from central Sydney in search of clean air stop coming.

Fabia Andronos, 34, who is raising a 1-year-old daughter, already regrets moving there.

Fabia's family of three moved to the area last fall, when her daughter, Willow, who was born in June last year, was 3 months old. They had lived in Melbourne's inner suburbs and dreamed of a quiet, relaxed life in a place with clean breezes year-round and no tram noise.

But just four months later, the dream turned into a nightmare.

Fabia heard from mothers with children the same age as her daughter that a data center would be built about 15 minutes, or 6 kilometers, by car from her home.

"If we'd known everything in advance, we wouldn't have considered moving here in the first place. If they build it, I think we'll leave."

Fabia also attended the May 22 campaign rally with her daughter, standing in the rain and holding a protest sign alongside Rose and other residents.

Heather Champion, a Wingecarribee Shire Council member who organized the Stop the Gas Plant campaign, speaks with the Hankook Ilbo after an AI Data Center Forum at the Moss Vale Services Club in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Sept. 9. Korea Times photo by Kang Ji-su

United community, with politicians joining fight

Residents like Paul and Rose, who learned about the planned data center and gas power plant only after the projects were already underway, decided to take collective action. They wanted to protect their living environment against the speed at which companies and governments were pushing the projects forward.

The community began a resident-led public debate. Heather and Jacqui, both mothers of young children, played leading roles in organizing a campaign against development plans that had been drawn up without adequately gathering residents' opinions.

Heather was convinced that data center construction being pushed ahead rapidly without social consent would eventually come back to haunt everyone.

"The data center boom is moving everything very quickly, with support from the state and federal governments. And it's happening before standards have even been established. If they push ahead without sufficiently consulting the community or properly listening to residents, they're going to face fierce resistance and opposition. Ultimately, it will create major problems for both industry and government."

Residents made their demands clear.

First, AI data centers should be powered entirely by renewable energy rather than gas-fired power plants.

Second, all approval procedures should be temporarily suspended, or placed under a moratorium, and the government and local communities should consult with each other first.

Residents also held a public hearing in August to share information about data centers. Silver-haired elderly people carrying canes and using walkers made their way into the auditorium. From newborn babies and preschoolers to elementary and high school students, middle-aged adults and seniors, about 500 people filled the venue.

The area has a large conservative elderly population that is not particularly active on environmental issues. But this time was different. The sheer number of people packed into the auditorium sent a powerful message to politicians.

Residents gather at an AI Data Center Community Forum at the Moss Vale Services Club in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Sept. 9. About 500 residents, including elderly people and children, attended the public hearing. Korea Times photo by Kang Ji-su

The residents' voices reached beyond the community. David Shoebridge, a Greens senator in the federal Parliament, also attended the hearing. He lent his support to the campaign, saying people needed to consider "who the winners are."

"Given that this development is being pursued in Australia, one of the driest inhabited places on Earth, data centers should not be built until clear guidelines are established," he said.

Their message is clear: They are not necessarily opposed to data centers, they simply want to slow down.

Claire Hall, who has children ages 2, 5 and 7, frequently uses AI.

"We're certainly not opposed to AI data centers themselves. We use AI even while we're running this campaign. It really helps busy mothers."

Kirstine, a campaigner with Stop the Gas Plant, speaks with the Hankuk Ilbo at the Moss Vale Services Club in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Sept. 9. Korea Times photo by Kang Ji-su

Kirstine McKay, who lives with her three children about 5 kilometers from the proposed site, also voiced her concern.

"Let me compare this situation to plastic. When plastic was first introduced to the world, everyone said, 'Oh my goodness, this is such a wonderful technology. Let's make everything out of plastic.' But now we know it's getting into our entire bodies. It's in fish and throughout our planet. And now we're trying to rein it back in. It's very, very difficult."

A chart generated by Gemini

This is not just a story about the Southern Highlands.

In Melbourne, residents were joined by state lawmaker Katie Hall of the Labor Party in opposing plans for a massive AI data center covering 10 hectares with a capacity of up to 225 megawatts. Since Labor governs both the federal government and the Australian state of Victoria, opposition has emerged from within the ruling party itself.

On the southern island state of Tasmania, more than 10,000 people signed a petition calling for a halt to new data center construction.

Heather's warning is becoming a reality across Australia.

The Australian government has also found it difficult to ignore the backlash. Australia was at the center of the data center investment boom in 2024, attracting the world's second-largest amount of AI data center investment after the United States. In December last year, the government declared its ambition to become "the largest data center market in the Asia-Pacific region," seeking to seize the opportunity.

But the United States, which experienced the boom first, has faced opposition from residents over electricity and water use and rising power bills. Australia faces the same risk. As data centers are expected to consume about 6 percent of the country's electricity supply by 2030, concerns are growing that the costs could be passed on to households through higher electricity bills.

The Australian government moved quickly to avoid following the U.S. path.

In March, the federal government released guidelines calling for "sustainable and efficient use of water and energy." But after being criticized for lacking legal force, the government announced additional measures, including a principle requiring data center operators to "self-supply" their electricity and plans to control where data centers can be located.

With residents and politicians joining forces to pressure the government, New South Wales released its Data Center Guidelines on Sept. 17, just eight days after the Moss Vale public hearing.

The guidelines included both incentives and restrictions: New data centers must operate on 100 percent renewable energy, with wind power accounting for 40 percent of that supply. Developers must bear all costs related to electricity grids and water supplies, while the world's highest standards will apply to noise and air pollution. If these principles are followed, proposals will be reviewed within 75 days.

Six days later, the federal government went a step further, announcing that it would ban data centers from being built near schools, homes and farms.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's message was clear: For the data center construction boom to continue in Australia, community support is important. That means preventing increases in energy bills, maintaining water security and selecting appropriate locations.

The Australian government plans to introduce legislation incorporating these principles in a national AI bill early next year.

Heather suggested that the Korean society needs to build solidarity around the issue.

"Ultimately, these projects cannot end well without social consent. What's important is that instead of everyone looking out only for themselves, residents and politicians come together and speak with one voice."

How we reported this story

Australia is at the center of the data center investment boom, attracting the world's second-largest amount of data center investment after the United States in 2024. At the same time, residents have succeeded in pushing the government to introduce regulations on data center locations and power supplies.

New South Wales has the largest number of data centers among Australia's eight states and territories, with a total of 104 either operating or planned.

From Aug. 7-14, a Hankook Ilbo reporting team visited Sydney, Burradoo and Moss Vale in New South Wales, reporting from two data center sites and a public hearing. The team conducted in-depth interviews with 15 people, including residents, environmental activists and local council members.

Four experts in environmental issues, urban design and AI strategy were interviewed in person or by video call about strategies for sustainable growth.

The team also reviewed official documents, including data center guidelines released by the Australian federal and New South Wales governments, as well as development applications submitted by data center developers to local councils.

The team, which did not personally witness the May 22 rally in the Southern Highlands, reported on the event based on accounts from multiple residents who attended and photographs provided by the campaign organizers.

This article by Kang Ji-su of the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

位于新南威尔士州布拉杜的卡里比农场面临着附近人工智能数据中心扩建和一座规划中的燃气发电厂的威胁。保罗·布雷肯雷格和罗莎琳德·墨菲在340公顷的土地上饲养着约400头肉牛，当地牛肉出口到亚洲、欧洲和其他地区。居民们担心污染、水污染和社区衰落，他们要求使用可再生能源，并要求进行公众咨询和放慢审批速度。他们的行动促成了新南威尔士州和联邦政府出台关于数据中心能源、选址和污染的新措施。

卡里比农场位于悉尼西南约 135 公里处，海拔 690 米，其牛肉被认证为优质牛肉。

现有的数据中心容量为 28 兆瓦，另有两栋总容量为 300 兆瓦的建筑物预计将开始建设。

计划建设的燃气发电设施装机容量分别为 14 兆瓦、16 兆瓦和 673 兆瓦，加起来将成为澳大利亚第三大燃气发电厂。

5月22日，约有220人参加了第一次“停止天然气厂”集会，随后约有500人参加了公开听证会。

新南威尔士州的指导方针要求新建数据中心必须使用 100% 可再生能源，其中 40% 必须是风能；而联邦政府则宣布计划禁止在学校、住宅和农场附近建设数据中心。

发布于2026年10月16日 上午7:05（韩国标准时间）

9月12日，在澳大利亚新南威尔士州南部高地布拉杜镇经营卡里比农场的保罗·布雷肯雷格（左）和罗莎琳德·“罗斯”·墨菲在他们的牛群吃草的牧场上合影。照片由《韩国时报》康智秀拍摄。

一场围绕人工智能（AI）数据中心的激烈争论正在世界各国政府、企业和当地居民之间爆发，这些数据中心越来越被视为不受欢迎的设施。

韩国也不例外，该国正迅速推进人工智能数据中心的建设，将其作为政府三大重点项目之一。我们该如何找到解决这些冲突的线索呢？

为了寻找答案，《韩国日报》报道团队于8月7日至14日前往澳大利亚进行实地调查，了解该国如何为未来发展人工智能数据中心做好准备。继矿产和羊毛产业之后，澳大利亚正寻求将人工智能数据中心打造为下一个主要增长产业。当地居民正团结起来，发出自己的声音，并寻求制定相关规则，以实现人与人工智能数据中心的和谐共存。

罗斯和保罗饲养的牛群在新南威尔士州南部高地布拉杜的农场牧场上休憩。（韩国时报 康智秀 摄）

八月，南半球的冬雾吞噬了清晨的阳光，农场一片漆黑，牛群被一对老夫妇熟悉的说话声唤醒。

你昨晚睡得安稳些吗？

“你睡的好吗？”

每天早上7点，61岁的保罗·布雷肯雷格和70岁的罗莎琳德·“罗斯”·墨菲都会爬进他们两层木屋院子里一辆沾满泥土的小型四驱车。他们开着车穿梭在位于澳大利亚东南部新南威尔士州布拉杜的农场牧场和牛棚之间。保罗会查看怀孕的母牛，并匆匆忙忙地给它们的食槽添满饲料，而他的妻子则在给小牛喂奶。

保罗和罗斯拥有卡里比农场，该农场位于新南威尔士州南部高地布拉杜，海拔690米，距离悉尼西南约135公里。他们与29岁的儿子詹姆斯一起，在340公顷的草地上饲养着约400头肉牛。该地区出产的牛肉品质优良，并出口到亚洲、欧洲和其他地区。韩国是新南威尔士州牛肉的三大出口市场之一，仅次于中国和美国。

这对夫妇平静无波的生活在五月的一天被打破了，当时罗斯接到了朋友的电话。

“罗斯，你是不是要来农场后面参加会议？”

“你在说什么？”

“他们正在你农场的边界正前方建造一座八层楼高的数据中心和一座燃气发电厂。他们说污染物会飘到你农场上。”

罗斯感觉自己好像被人用重物击中了头部。直到这时，她才发现多年来透过农场围栏外的松树看到的那栋深灰色单层建筑究竟是什么：一个28兆瓦的数据中心。

一家总部位于悉尼的房地产公司的子公司已经在南部高地开发一个数据中心园区五年了。其中一栋大楼已经在夫妇俩的农场旁边投入运营，另外两栋大楼的建设预计很快也将开始，总容量为300兆瓦。

9月12日，在澳大利亚新南威尔士州南部高地布拉杜经营农场的保罗·布雷肯雷格和罗斯·墨菲在自家农场边缘合影。他们身后可以看到一座正在运行的深灰色单层数据中心。照片由《韩国时报》康智秀拍摄。

保罗和罗斯感到困惑不解。从来没有人来向他们解释过情况。每次当地议会收到公司提交的开发申请，想要开发他们农场周围的土地时，都会寄给他们一大堆文件。但即使读完了，他们也几乎看不懂。

从朋友那里得知数据中心开发项目后，他们再次仔细阅读了相关文件。在一堆陌生的房地产术语中，他们注意到了“数据”和“人工智能”之类的词汇。罗斯一脸震惊。

这对夫妇面临的直接威胁是计划为数据中心供电的燃气发电厂。澳大利亚政府采取了“自带电力”（BYOP）模式，要求运营商自行解决人工智能数据中心所需的电力问题。如果计划中的三座发电厂——装机容量分别为14兆瓦、16兆瓦和673兆瓦——全部建成，该项目将成为澳大利亚第三大燃气发电厂。

该电厂烟囱排放的污染物可能对农民造成灾难性后果。南部高地的一位儿科医生杰奎·杜克表示，燃气发电厂排放的氮氧化物会损害呼吸系统。

罗斯更担心的是她的牛群将要饮用的水和呼吸的空气，而不是她自己的健康。

“我们收集雨水并将其用作饮用水，而不是依赖市政供水。这意味着牛有可能饮用含有氮氧化物的水。风携带的细颗粒物也可能进入它们的呼吸系统。如果在屠宰牛的组织中检测到有害物质，这些肉将不允许出售，必须丢弃。”

虽然目前这仅仅是一种可能性，但保罗也担心这些排放物会降低母牛的繁殖力，或者导致小牛出生时带有缺陷。杜克表示，接触氮氧化物也会增加人类患癌症的风险。

9月12日，保罗·布雷肯雷格驾驶着他的越野车驶向位于新南威尔士州南部高地布拉杜的自家农场边缘。农场围栏外不远处就是一个数据中心。照片由《韩国时报》康智秀拍摄。

为什么偏偏就在他们农场后面？保罗有他自己的解释。“这地方有很多老年人，我们都管它叫‘上帝的候客厅’。这里还有很多养老院。也许他们觉得我们过不了多久就会都走了。​​而且你也看到了，我们甚至都不知道人工智能到底是什么。”

该地区老年居民的比例为 17%，高于全州平均水平 12%。

开发商敦促地方议会加快审批第二座燃气发电厂的建设。罗斯的朋友提到的那次会议是一场调解会，届时居民和公司将在土地与环境法庭上进行对质。

9月12日，在澳大利亚新南威尔士州南部高地布拉杜镇，经营家族农场的第二代罗斯·墨菲正在查看当地议会寄来的开发审批文件。（韩国时报 康智秀 摄）

5月22日上午，保罗和罗斯喂完牛后，立即前往道格拉斯路30号。居民们聚集在数据中心前，等待调解会议的举行。

这是由温格卡里比郡议会绿党成员希瑟·钱皮恩发起的“停止天然气厂”运动的首次正式集会。

五月的一个星期五早晨，天气寒冷多雨。组织者预计会有50到100人参加，但结果来了大约220人。一位母亲甚至带着她刚出生的婴儿。

9月9日，在澳大利亚新南威尔士州南部高地莫斯维尔服务俱乐部举行的AI数据中心论坛上，“停止天然气厂”运动的一名活动人士和一名建筑师展示了5月份举行的一次竞选集会的照片。当时约有220名居民聚集在数据中心工地前。照片由《韩国时报》记者康智秀拍摄。

居民们谈到他们担心空气中污染物积聚会造成长期的健康损害，并高喊：“数据中心绝不能以这种方式建造。”

数据中心项目不仅威胁到社区，也威胁到小镇的未来。居民们担心，如果那些为了呼吸新鲜空气而从悉尼市中心搬到这里的年轻人不再来，这片地区可能会失去活力。

34岁的法比亚·安德罗诺斯（Fabia Andronos）独自抚养着一个1岁的女儿，她已经后悔搬到那里了。

去年秋天，法比亚一家三口搬到了这里。当时，她的女儿威洛（去年六月出生）三个月大。他们之前住在墨尔本的内城区，梦想着能在一个全年微风习习、没有电车噪音的地方过上安静放松的生活。

但仅仅四个月后，美梦就变成了噩梦。

法比亚从一些和她女儿同龄的孩子的母亲那里听说，一个数据中心将在距离她家大约 15 分钟车程（或 6 公里）的地方建成。

“如果我们事先知道所有情况，我们一开始就不会考虑搬到这里。如果他们真的建了，我想我们会离开。”

5月22日，法比亚和女儿一起参加了竞选集会，她冒雨与罗斯和其他居民一起举着抗议标语。

9月9日，在澳大利亚新南威尔士州南部高地莫斯维尔服务俱乐部举行的AI数据中心论坛结束后，温格卡里比郡议会成员、组织“停止天然气厂”运动的希瑟·钱皮恩接受了《韩国日报》的采访。照片由《韩国时报》康智秀拍摄。

团结的社区，政界人士也加入斗争

像保罗和罗斯这样的居民，是在数据中心和燃气发电厂项目开工后才得知此事，他们决定采取集体行动。他们希望保护自己的居住环境，抵制企业和政府为推进这些项目而采取的过快行动。

社区发起了一场由居民主导的公开辩论。希瑟和杰奎都是年轻孩子的母亲，她们在组织反对那些未经充分征求居民意见就制定的开发计划的运动中发挥了领导作用。

希瑟坚信，未经社会同意就快速推进数据中心建设，最终会给所有人带来麻烦。

“在州政府和联邦政府的支持下，数据中心的蓬勃发展正以惊人的速度推动着一切。而这一切甚至在相关标准尚未确立之前就发生了。如果他们不充分咨询社区意见或认真听取居民的意见就贸然推进，必将面临强烈的抵制和反对。最终，这将给行业和政府都带来重大问题。”

居民们明确表达了他们的诉求。

首先，人工智能数据中心应该完全由可再生能源供电，而不是由燃气发电厂供电。

第二，所有审批程序应暂时中止或暂停，政府和地方社区应先进行协商。

居民们还在8月份举行了一场公开听证会，分享有关数据中心的信息。拄着拐杖、使用助行器的银发老人走进了礼堂。从新生儿、学龄前儿童到中小学生、中年人和老年人，大约500人挤满了会场。

该地区老年人口众多，思想保守，对环境问题并不十分关注。但这次情况不同。礼堂里挤满了人，这向政客们传递了一个强有力的信息。

9月9日，新南威尔士州南部高地莫斯维尔服务俱乐部举办人工智能数据中心社区论坛，约500名居民参加，其中包括老人和儿童。韩国时报记者康智秀摄。

居民们的声音传遍了社区之外。联邦议会绿党参议员大卫·舒布里奇也出席了听证会。他表示支持这项运动，并说人们需要思考“谁才是赢家”。

“鉴于这项开发项目是在澳大利亚进行的，而澳大利亚是地球上最干旱的有人居住的地方之一，因此在制定明确的指导方针之前，不应该建设数据中心，”他说。

他们的信息很明确：他们并非一定反对数据中心，他们只是希望放慢速度。

克莱尔·霍尔有三个孩子，分别 2 岁、5 岁和 7 岁，她经常使用人工智能。

“我们当然不反对人工智能数据中心本身。事实上，我们在开展这项活动的过程中也使用了人工智能。它确实能帮助忙碌的妈妈们。”

9月9日，在新南威尔士州南部高地的莫斯维尔服务俱乐部，反对天然气厂运动的活动人士克尔斯汀接受了《韩国日报》的采访。照片由《韩国时报》的康智秀拍摄。

住在距离拟建地点约 5 公里处的 Kirstine McKay 和她的三个孩子也表达了她的担忧。

“让我把这种情况比作塑料。塑料刚问世的时候，大家都说，‘我的天哪，这真是一项了不起的技术。让我们用塑料制造一切吧。’但现在我们知道，它已经进入了我们身体的各个部位。鱼类体内有塑料，整个星球上都有塑料。现在我们正试图控制它。这非常非常困难。”

由 Gemini 生成的图表

这不仅仅是一个关于南部高地的故事。

在墨尔本，居民们与工党州议员凯蒂·霍尔一道，反对一项占地10公顷、容量高达225兆瓦的大型人工智能数据中心计划。由于工党同时执掌联邦政府和维多利亚州政府，反对的声音竟来自执政党内部。

在南部岛州塔斯马尼亚，超过 10,000 人签署了一份请愿书，呼吁停止新建数据中心。

希瑟的警告正在澳大利亚各地逐渐成为现实。

澳大利亚政府也难以忽视这些负面舆论。2024年，澳大利亚曾是数据中心投资热潮的中心，吸引了仅次于美国的全球第二大人工智能数据中心投资。去年12月，澳大利亚政府宣布其目标是成为“亚太地区最大的数据中心市场”，力图抓住这一机遇。

但率先经历数据中心热潮的美国，却因电力和水资源消耗以及不断上涨的电费而遭到居民的反对。澳大利亚也面临着同样的风险。预计到2030年，数据中心将消耗该国约6%的电力供应，人们越来越担心这些成本最终会通过更高的电费转嫁给家庭用户。

澳大利亚政府迅速采取行动，避免重蹈美国覆辙。

今年3月，联邦政府发布了指导方针，呼吁“可持续、高效地利用水和能源”。但由于缺乏法律效力而受到批评，政府宣布了更多措施，包括要求数据中心运营商“自给自足”供电的原则，以及控制数据中心选址的计划。

在居民和政界人士的联合施压下，新南威尔士州于 9 月 17 日发布了数据中心指南，距离 Moss Vale 公开听证会仅八天。

这些指导方针既包含激励措施也包含限制措施：新建数据中心必须100%使用可再生能源，其中风能占比至少40%。开发商必须承担所有与电网和供水相关的成本，同时，噪音和空气污染将遵循全球最高标准。如果遵循这些原则，提案将在75天内完成审核。

六天后，联邦政府更进一步，宣布将禁止在学校、住宅和农场附近建造数据中心。

澳大利亚总理安东尼·阿尔巴尼斯的表态很明确：要想让数据中心建设热潮在澳大利亚持续下去，社区的支持至关重要。这意味着要防止能源价格上涨、保障用水安全以及选择合适的地点。

澳大利亚政府计划于明年初推出一项国家人工智能法案，将这些原则纳入其中。

希瑟认为韩国社会需要围绕这个问题建立团结。

“归根结底，如果没有社会各界的认可，这些项目不可能顺利进行。重要的是，居民和政界人士不能各自为政，而应该团结起来，发出共同的声音。”

我们是如何报道这则新闻的

澳大利亚正处于数据中心投资热潮的中心，预计到 2024 年将吸引仅次于美国的全球第二大数据中心投资额。与此同时，当地居民成功推动政府出台了有关数据中心选址和电力供应的法规。

在澳大利亚八个州和地区中，新南威尔士州拥有最多的数据中心，共有 104 个正在运营或计划建设中。

8月7日至14日，《韩泰日报》记者团走访了新南威尔士州的悉尼、布拉杜和莫斯维尔，对两处数据中心和一场公开听证会进行了报道。记者团对包括居民、环保人士和地方议员在内的15人进行了深度采访。

我们通过面对面或视频通话的方式采访了四位环境问题、城市设计和人工智能战略方面的专家，探讨可持续发展战略。

该团队还审查了官方文件，包括澳大利亚联邦政府和新南威尔士州政府发布的数据中心指南，以及数据中心开发商向地方议会提交的开发申请。

该团队并未亲身目睹 5 月 22 日在南部高地举行的集会，而是根据多位参加集会的居民的描述以及竞选组织者提供的照片对该事件进行了报道。

本文由《韩国日报》（《韩国时报》的姊妹报）的姜智秀撰写，由人工智能生成系统翻译，并由《韩国时报》编辑。