ACT Chief Minister dismisses co-locating data centres with public pools

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr dismissed a suggestion that future data centres could be built alongside public pools to utilize their cooling water as a heat source. This proposal was part of a motion introduced by ACT Greens MLA Laura Nuttall, which called for new data centres to implement best-practice water and energy consumption. The ACT government expects a new framework on data centres to be released next year.

The debate centers on whether co-locating data centres with public pools should be considered under ACT government planning. Mr Barr stated that the best location for data centres remains in industrial zones, adding that co-locating them with public pools would encroach on community space and amenity.