Brief
NextDC cites power‑pole protest as cause of West Footscray data‑centre delay
The data‑centre developer sought a trading halt while assessing the impact of halted high‑voltage pole installation after local residents blocked works.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Australia’s largest listed data‑centre developer, NextDC, announced a trading halt on its ASX shares on Monday, saying it needed to assess the impact of delayed power supply to its flagship M3 facility in West Footscray, Melbourne. The company linked the delay to a community blockade that halted Jemena’s high‑voltage power‑pole rollout in the suburb last month.
What happened
NextDC’s M3 data centre, currently occupying five hectares of a planned ten‑hectare site, is undergoing a $750 million expansion. To power the expansion, electricity distributor Jemena was replacing standard wooden poles with 15‑metre‑high concrete structures carrying 66,000 volts along residential streets in West Footscray and neighbouring Yarraville. In late September, local residents in Yarraville blockaded contractor trucks, parked cars to block access, ignored door‑knock attempts and filled excavation pits, effectively stopping the installation of the high‑voltage lines.
What the reports add
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, analysts at Citigroup, including Siraj Ahmed, believe the trading halt is directly related to Jemena’s pause on the power‑pole project. The outlet notes that neither Jemena nor NextDC has officially confirmed the link, but the timing suggests a connection. The article also mentions that Jemena has paused work in Yarraville to allow for further community consultation, leaving much of the high‑capacity power route unfinished.
What was said
NextDC’s company secretary, Michael Helmer, signed a letter to the ASX stating that the board had not yet met to consider the matter. The report quotes Citigroup analyst Siraj Ahmed, who told investors that the halt “likely related to electricity distributor Jemena’s pause on that project.”
How it came about
The protest follows growing community resistance to large‑scale AI‑driven data‑centre projects in Australia, echoing similar backlash documented in Felo’s earlier coverage of AI data‑centre opposition in London and other regions. The West Footscray site, adjacent to residential areas, illustrates the tension between rapid AI infrastructure expansion and local concerns over grid capacity and visual impact.
Key facts
- NextDC sought a trading halt to assess power‑supply delays for its M3 data centre. (smh.com.au)
- Jemena’s high‑voltage concrete pole installation was halted after local residents blockaded works in Yarraville. (smh.com.au)
- The M3 expansion involves a $750 million investment and will eventually cover ten hectares. (smh.com.au)
- Citigroup analyst Siraj Ahmed linked the trading halt to Jemena’s pause on the pole project. (smh.com.au)
Sources
- [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “Power pole protest delays data centre giant’s flagship Melbourne project”
