AI Data Centre Scrapped Amidst Community Fury

A proposal to construct an AI data centre on the banks of the Cooks River has been abandoned, marking a significant victory for community opposition against the energy-intensive artificial intelligence industry. Stockland announced on Saturday, November 8, 2026, that it would remove the AI data centre from its redevelopment plans for Kogarah Golf Course. The company had initially proposed transforming the golf course into a large logistics and technology precinct, which included the data centre.

This decision comes after protests from the Stop the Cooks River AI Project (SCRAP), which has called for a ban on new data centres. SCRAP organiser Paddy Gibson stated this was an important victory for people power and a warning to political leaders. Stockland, however, maintained that the business decision prioritized the logistics hub, citing the site's proximity to Sydney Airport and Port Botany. Canterbury MP Sophie Cotsis welcomed the revised masterplan, anticipating improvements to local infrastructure and public spaces.

The growing community backlash presents a challenge for state and federal governments aiming to manage local concerns alongside the potential economic benefits of the AI industry. Similar AI data centre proposals in Lane Cove have also been withdrawn. Data centres are essential for AI model processing, requiring substantial energy and cooling, which has raised environmental concerns among residents and councils. The NSW planning department received overwhelming objections to the Kogarah proposal.