Miners Rest residents march against 67-hectare data centre proposal
Up to 100 Miners Rest residents will march in Melbourne on Saturday against a 67-hectare data centre proposal.
Residents of Miners Rest in regional Victoria are fighting a data centre planned for the former Boral Quarry site. Developer Resi Ventures announced it in June.
Up to 100 locals will join a statewide Rally Against AI Data Centres outside the State Library in Melbourne on Saturday. Residents worry about the facility's closeness to homes and schools.
They also worry about water use from local springs, diesel backup generators, and fire risk from lithium batteries. MP Martha Haylett called for government scrutiny.
Residents learned of the plans through an Australian Stock Exchange announcement, not community discussion. The developer says the data centre will use spring water for cooling.
Local opposition splits by age. Younger residents around 18 to 28 are cautious about AI and data centres.
Those roughly 35 to 50 have shown less concern.
- 67 hectares
- Data centre site size
- up to 100 residents
- Planned march participants
- ASX announcement
- Announcement method
- Saturday, November 14
- Rally date
Why it mattersThe proposal arrived with little community consultation, raising concerns about impacts on a semi-rural area.
AustraliaVictoria's approval process for data centres has become contentious, with communities opposing facilities that could change local character and water access while boosting energy demand and infrastructure strain.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 d ago
