Sydney has emerged as a hot spot in the global data centre boom, with dozens of massive hyperscale data centres currently in construction and development. What’s driving this growth, and how is it reshaping our city? Rapid data centre growth has been met with growing community concern, mobilisation, and even calls for moratoriums on new construction. This will be a dynamic discussion to unpack the economic, environmental, political and spatial implications of data centre growth, and to discuss and debate the principles that should underpin their regulation. Speakers will explore diverse perspectives and experiences, and discuss policies that could ensure that data centre developments do not compromise other urgent priorities including social amenity, emissions reduction and sustainable growth.
Chair
Dr Sandy Burgoyne, Lecturer, University of Sydney
speakers
Professor Kurt Iveson, Professor of Urban Geography, University of Sydney
Dr Bronwyn Cumbo, Lecturer Sustainable and Inclusive Futures, UTS
Dr Anne Hurni, Research and Policy Lead, National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA)
Associate Professor Craig Jin, Head of CARlab - Computing and Audio Research Laboratory, University of Sydney
Eve Altman, Clean Energy Campaigner, Nature Conservation Council