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Australia

Tungkillo protesters demand a stop, not a pause, to 1,200MW data-centre plan

2026-11-15

Illustrative countryside hills in New Zealand, not Tungkillo or the proposed data-centre site.

At least 250 people gathered outside South Australia's parliament on 15 November to demand that Quantum DC abandon its proposed 1,200-megawatt AI data centre at Tungkillo in the Adelaide Hills. The company paused its development application earlier in the week, but organisers said a temporary hold did not settle concerns about farmland, power demand, bushfire risk and community consultation.

Organiser Magdalene Lippett said residents wanted the development stopped rather than paused. Farmer Kym Gladigau argued that the Hills' limited prime food-producing land should not be lost, pointing to farmland already disappearing around Mount Barker and Virginia. His warning about a possible bushfire was a community concern, not a finding that a fire would occur.

The rally drew support from Liberals, Greens, One Nation and independent federal MP Rebekha Sharkie. Liberal leader Ashton Hurn said economic opportunities from data centres did not remove the obligation to protect agricultural land and involve local people. Greens leader Robert Simms called for the proposal to be rejected if submitted and for a statewide moratorium. Neither demand was announced as an adopted government policy.

Energy Minister and Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis criticised the developer's engagement, saying the company had not approached him or the government about the plans. He nevertheless said Australia needed domestic data centres to avoid depending on prices set elsewhere. The government is developing legislation for the sector, and he said centres would not be licensed until their impact on the state's electricity grid was almost eliminated.

Quantum DC chief executive Alby Tomassi said the company respected the protest and had heard residents' concerns. He said holding the application would allow a longer-term, fuller engagement program. That leaves the project on hold while the company considers its next steps and the state develops its rules; the pause should not be reported as a final cancellation or an approval.

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