Australia's data centres are booming, but the noise and energy consumption are raising concerns. Local residents, like Lucy, hear a constant humming from data centres just 350m from their homes. With plans for 90 more centres and over A$155bn of investment, Australia is attracting global tech giants.

However, as big tech rushes to build these centres, concerns over water supplies, energy use, and environmental impact are mounting. Experts warn that increased data centre energy demands could push power prices up and lead to a reliance on coal and gas power plants.

In Marsden Park, the biggest data centre in the Southern Hemisphere is under construction, just 100m from a local community. The Australian Energy Market Operator predicts data centre energy demands could triple by 2030, potentially driving power prices 26% higher in NSW by 2035.

While the government argues that data centres are driving renewable energy growth and creating new industries, environmentalists fear the boom will trigger a new generation of fossil fuel plants. Data centres also consume large amounts of water, which could be a significant problem in a drought-prone country.

Without significant new renewable generation and storage, Australia may struggle to meet the massive energy and water demands of new data centres, highlighting the need for a balanced approach.