Southern Highlands community sets new terms for data centre development

Residents of the Southern Highlands in New South Wales, Australia, presented a deliberative model to federal, state, and local representatives to establish new terms for data centre development.

This model, created through the Better Model for Data Centre Development pilot in Wingecarribee Shire, seeks to shift the focus from initial construction costs to the long-term impact on local resources and community well-being. Four organizations collaborated to develop the model.

Highlands Homegrown Economy and WinZero provided local knowledge, while Regen Labs identified ways to build community wealth from infrastructure projects. RadicalxChange managed the deliberation process using civic technology, and BWD Strategic provided an independent assessment of natural, human, social, and economic resources. The research team analyzed more than 70 sources to evaluate how data centres affect air, water, land, and social institutions. During a two-month deliberation on the Pol.is platform, 158 participants cast 4901 votes on 167 statements.

A representative group of 38 people also used quadratic voting to rank demands. The community identified clean renewable energy and water-efficient cooling as top priorities. Participants also demanded a community investment fund with binding governance over how the money is spent. The model includes seven core principles, such as transparency, fair value, and community leadership. It aims to influence upcoming national data centre standards and a Senate inquiry into AI and data centres scheduled for March 2027.

The community will release a full blueprint of the model in November.