Residents near Dalby, Queensland, are opposing a proposed $31bn datacentre to power Anthropic's Claude AI model, citing environmental concerns and memories of the coal seam gas boom-bust cycle. The project, planned for a 725-hectare site about 15 minutes' drive from Denver Kanowski's home outside Kogan, would be Australia's largest datacentre if built.
Community fears over energy and jobs
Kanowski, who has lived on his bush block for 70 years, says the project represents "the power of money and the power of greed and shortsighted stupidity." He adds, "I've read this book before." The site, currently a 24,000-head feedlot surrounded by gas wells, would require a peak power capacity of 2.16GW—about a quarter of total state energy demand—according to Singapore-based developer Zerra DC.
The proposal, made public last month, has sparked a petition launched by Dalby travel agent Mordechai Winters, which has been signed by more than 21,500 people, mostly from the area, in just a few weeks. Winters says he was "crushed" by the news and believes the project's benefits are exaggerated.
Parallels with coal seam gas
Cecil Plains farmer Liza Balmain, who led a long campaign against the gas industry, sees "huge similarities" between the coal seam gas era and the datacentre proposal. The gas industry brought massive change to the region, with academics later concluding its scale and pace "was likely unprecedented anywhere in the world," followed by a rapid exit that left business owners with debts.
Jo Shulman, CEO of the Environmental Defenders Office, says the group has seen a 250% increase in queries about datacentres to its free legal advice line since January. "I would say the datacentre is the new frontier," she says, adding that communities are concerned about impacts on the environment and wellbeing. She calls for a moratorium on further datacentres to avoid repeating the coal seam gas boom.
State intervention and local support
The Queensland government announced it would take over planning for datacentres from local councils, ensuring "a consistent and transparent framework across the state," according to a spokesperson for planning minister Jarrod Bleijie. Dalby mayor Andrew Smith says the project could be worth more to the community than coal seam gas, which has "diversified our economy" and "created jobs."
Premier David Crisafulli, who lobbied Anthropic during a trade mission, says the state will help the council assess the project, seeing "the same opportunity" for jobs and potentially lower power bills. Jo Sheppard, CEO of Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, calls it "a once in a generation opportunity for Western Downs region," though she notes most residents have not yet decided.
Kanowski remains opposed, saying the datacentre will contribute to an online "fantasy" world, disconnecting people from what matters. "This is not a datacentre … This is part of a network that these money-crazed idiots are planning to put all over the planet," he says.
