Stockland scraps Cooks River AI data centre after community revolt
Stockland removed a 25,400-square-metre AI data centre from its Kogarah Golf Course redevelopment. This came after 593 community submissions opposed it.
Stockland has cancelled plans for a large AI data centre at Kogarah Golf Course in Sydney. The building was four storeys tall and was part of a larger redevelopment of the golf course into a logistics and technology hub.
Community group SCRAP organised opposition to the plan. Of 665 public submissions, 593 objected.
Stockland decided to focus on the logistics hub instead. The cancellation shows wider backlash.
Goodman Group also gave up a $1.2 billion data centre in Lane Cove in September. Another 140-megawatt centre there was stopped this week.
- 25,400 square metres
- Data centre size
- 593 of 665 submissions
- Public opposition
- $12 billion
- Company valuation
- Kogarah Golf Course, Sydney
- Location
Why it mattersThe outcome shows that communities can challenge major tech projects. But governments still face pressure to balance community concerns with Australia's AI goals.
AustraliaSydney communities now have a template for opposing energy-intensive data centres, though NSW has 15 endorsed data centre projects valued at $51.89 billion still in development.
