Community voices opposition to data centre planned near River Murray Dark Sky Reserve

Quantum DC says Tungkillo site lies more than 5km outside the internationally accredited reserve

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources3 outlets

A plan by Melbourne-based developer Quantum DC to build a hyper-scale data centre at Tungkillo, about 55 kilometres east of Adelaide, has drawn concerns from local residents and the Mid Murray Council mayor about its impact on an internationally accredited dark sky reserve, ahead of community consultation sessions later this week.

Quantum DC wants to develop the Tungkillo Compute and Energy Hub on a 220-hectare property at Tungkillo, a small town that sits just within the borders of the River Murray Dark Sky Reserve, the first internationally accredited dark sky reserve in Australia. The company says the proposed site itself is positioned more than five kilometres outside the reserve.

Resident Magdalene Lippett said locals feared the planned 1,200-megawatt development would damage the area's rolling hills and its dark sky character. "When you go out on a fine night, it feels like you could reach up into the skies and pull down a star if you wanted to," she said. "It's so clear and beautiful out here, and we really want to protect that." She said noise was a central worry, with generator sounds already carrying across the valleys and "coming into our homes, disturbing our animals".

Mid Murray Council Mayor Simone Bailey said she shared some concerns about the location but would wait for a community session later this week before taking an official position. "I have concerns, particularly about the location, but it would be irresponsible of me to make a judgement without knowing everything," she said.

Quantum DC said it chose Tungkillo because of its proximity to existing energy infrastructure and renewable energy projects under construction. Chief executive Alby Tomassi said the company wanted to consult through two community drop-in sessions before submitting a formal application. "We must understand the concerns of the community, how we can be of benefit, and how we coexist with the community for the next 30 years and beyond," he said. Specialist studies on traffic, noise, air quality, lighting, water, flora and fauna, Aboriginal heritage and bushfire are underway, he said, and their findings will be publicly available with the application. The company said the hub would be significant digital energy infrastructure for South Australia and create hundreds of jobs during construction and operation.

The South Australian government said it had not received a formal development application. A spokesperson said planning processes would require the proponent to demonstrate how it would manage energy, water, cooling and any impact on surrounding areas.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The River Murray Dark Sky Reserve is an internationally accredited, Australian-first protected area, and residents fear light and noise from a large data centre could erode its night sky values.
The proposal tests how South Australia balances growth in energy-hungry digital infrastructure with rural amenity and the area's protected dark sky values.
The outcome of community consultation and the planning process will help set a precedent for where hyper-scale data centres can be built in regional South Australia.

Background

Tungkillo is a small rural community in the Mid Murray Council area, east of Adelaide, surrounded by rolling hills. The River Murray Dark Sky Reserve is an internationally accredited area protected from light pollution and the first of its kind in Australia. Hyper-scale data centres are large computing facilities with significant power needs, and developers commonly seek sites close to energy infrastructure, which Quantum DC cited as a key reason for choosing Tungkillo.

Key Perspectives

Magdalene Lippett, Tungkillo resident: Fears the 1,200-megawatt development would hurt the area's beauty and dark sky, and says the sound of generators already carries across the hills and into homes.
Simone Bailey, Mid Murray Council Mayor: Has concerns, particularly about the location, but is waiting for the community session before making an official judgement.
Quantum DC: Says the site is more than 5km outside the reserve, was chosen for its access to energy infrastructure and renewable projects, and that it wants to coexist with the community for decades, with specialist studies underway.
South Australian government: Has not yet received a formal application, and says any planning process would require the developer to show how it manages energy, water, cooling and impacts on surrounding areas.

What to Watch

The two community drop-in sessions later this week, including whether they shift the mayor's position or the company's plans.
Whether and when Quantum DC lodges a formal development application, which would trigger the state planning and development process.
The public release of specialist studies on traffic, noise, lighting, water, flora and fauna, Aboriginal heritage and bushfire, which will inform the final design.

Sources

Community opposes proposed data centre near dark sky reserve · ABC News
Community opposes proposed data centre near dark sky reserve · ABC News
Community opposes proposed data centre near dark sky reserve · ABC News

Checked

10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 7 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe community opposes a proposed data centre near the dark sky reserve.Latest Science news: “A tight-knit regional community fears its rolling hill landscape and dark sky reputation are at risk of being tarnished if a proposed hyper-scale data centre goes ahead.”
SupportedQuantum DC says the Tungkillo site is more than 5km outside the reserve.Latest Science news: “When asked to clarify the exact location, a company spokesperson told the ABC it was positioned more than 5 kilometres outside the dark sky reserve.”
Partly supportedLocal residents and the mayor have concerns about the data centre’s impact on the reserve.Latest Science news: “Resident Magdalene Lippett said locals were worried the planned 1,200-megawatt development would infringe on the beauty of the area and its unique dark sky feature. Mid Murray Council Mayor Simone Bailey said she shared some concerns about the proposed location”
Partly supportedGenerator sounds are already carrying across the valleys, and noise from the development could enter homes and disturb animals.Latest Science news: “[Our area] is rolling valleys and hills and you can hear generators starting three hills across on any given day. The sound from these things would travel. We are worried about the sound coming into our homes, disturbing our animals.”
Partly supportedThe community consultation sessions are later this week.Latest Science news: “Mid Murray Council Mayor Simone Bailey said she shared some concerns about the proposed location, but was waiting until a community session, being held later this week, before forming an official stance on the project. ... Quantum DC chief executive Alby Tomassi said the company wanted to consult locally through two community drop-in sessions”
SupportedLippett said, “When you go out on a fine night, it feels like you could reach up into the skies and pull down a star if you wanted to,” and, “It's so clear and beautiful out here, and we really want to protect that.”Latest Science news: “"When you go out on a fine night, it feels like you could reach up into the skies and pull down a star if you wanted to," she said. "It's so clear and beautiful out here, and we really want to protect that."”
SupportedBailey said, “I have concerns, particularly about the location, but it would be irresponsible of me to make a judgement without knowing everything.”Latest Science news: “"I have concerns, particularly about the location, but it would be irresponsible of me to make a judgement without knowing everything," she said.”
SupportedTomassi said, “We must understand the concerns of the community, how we can be of benefit, and how we coexist with the community for the next 30 years and beyond.”Latest Science news: “"We must understand the concerns of the community, how we can be of benefit, and how we coexist with the community for the next 30 years and beyond," he said.”
SupportedThe planned development is 1,200 megawatts.Latest Science news: “Resident Magdalene Lippett said locals were worried the planned 1,200-megawatt development would infringe on the beauty of the area and its unique dark sky feature.”
SupportedTungkillo is just within the borders of the first internationally accredited dark sky reserve in Australia.Latest Science news: “Tungkillo is a small town just within the borders of the Australian-first River Murray Dark Sky Reserve, an internationally accredited area protected from light pollution.”