NextDC's Melbourne expansion stalls over 22-metre power poles
NextDC delayed doubling its west Melbourne facility after residents rejected 22-metre power poles.
NextDC wanted to expand its M3 data centre in west Melbourne. It needed more power.
The company and Jemena planned to upgrade some suburban streets with taller concrete poles. The council refused to approve the 22-metre poles.
West Footscray residents worried about three things: the scale of the expansion, construction noise, and diesel generators running during power outages. The delay hit NextDC's share price.
It fell from over $9 to $5.69 last week. The company is now looking at other options.
These include poles in industrial areas or underground power connections instead.
- 22 metres
- Pole height
- From $9 to $5.69
- Share price drop
- M3 datacentre, west Melbourne
- Location
Why it mattersCommunity opposition can block major infrastructure projects even when companies own the land, affecting expansion plans and investor confidence.
AustraliaMelbourne's ability to expand AI and data-centre capacity may be slowed by community resistance; power infrastructure upgrades face new barriers in residential areas.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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