How tall are the AI datacentre power poles that sparked a community backlash in Melbourne?

In something of a David v Goliath battle, Australia’s largest datacentre operator has faced a major setback in its plans to double the size of its west Melbourne facility.

To expand the size of its M3 datacentre NextDC needs to deliver increased electricity to the site. The initial approach from the electricity provider Jemena was to upgrade power lines along some suburban streets from shorter timber poles carrying lower voltage lines to taller concrete poles capable of carrying higher voltage lines.

But the upgrade has been delayed due to safety concerns, the lack of access to sites arising from community and stakeholder opposition, and because the local council had not approved 22-metre poles.

NextDC’s share price dropped from more than $9 a share down to $5.69 a share last week. The company and Jemena are looking at other options for supplying the increased electricity needs, including alternate locations for poles through industrial zones or connecting via underground power connections.

The site has faced strong opposition from West Footscray residents. Guardian Australia reported in May that residents were concerned about the scale of the expansion, the construction noise and the potential for diesel generators being used in the event of power outages.

Notes

The size of power poles varies, mostly according to the material used and voltage requirements. I’ve used sizes reported for the streets involved in the upgrade as examples but both types can vary. The six-storey building height I’ve used is based on an example of apartments in the New South Wales pattern book, while other building heights are approximated from actual dwellings. The brachiosaurus height is averaged from various sources.