MOORABOOL Environment Group (MEG) has said it is preferable that recycled water be used to support a planned data centre just outside the shire.<\/p>\n
However, it believes questions remain about the Amazon operation’s overall environmental impact.<\/p>\n
It was announced last week that Greater Western Water’s Melton Recycled Water Plant at Mount Cottrell would supply Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) planned data centre in western Melbourne with recycled water. The water would be used to cool the data centre.<\/p>\n
“In principle, using recycled water to cool the new data centre at 54 Ferris Road, Cobblebank is preferable to using non-recycled water,” MEG said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“Use of non-recycled water for data centres has large negative environment impacts, especially given we are already experiencing a drying climate in this part of Australia.”<\/p>\n
Despite this, they said there was still a lot unknown about the centre.<\/p>\n
They said they would have to know whether the data centre would only draw from recycled water and not other sources, what other purposes the recycled water would have been used for and what water they would draw from, and whether renewable energy would power the centre.<\/p>\n
“We urge the project and planning authorities to ensure that pipelines and any other infrastructure transporting recycled water or power to the data centre are sensitively located so that they don’t compromise agricultural land or destroy valuable habitat,” they said.<\/p>\n
“This will require transparent planning and consultation processes, including genuinely taking on board community feedback.”<\/p>\n
GWW managing director Cameron FitzGerald said that the Melton plant was expected to be the first in Victoria to supply a data centre with recycled water.<\/p>\n
“We know data centres and large industrial users of water are increasingly looking for innovative ways to reduce their environmental footprint, and we’re keen to see more of them follow AWS’ lead in working with us to get connected to recycled water.”<\/p>\n
AWS head of infrastructure and energy policy, Australia and New Zealand, Matt O’Rourke, said linking a data centre to recycled water from day one of operations was a significant first for Victoria and AWS in Australia.<\/p>\n
“Working closely with Greater Western Water to deliver recycled water to our new data centre in western Melbourne will help preserve millions of litres of drinking water annually for local communities,” he said.<\/p>\n
The announcement came as GWW prepared to begin the second phase of major upgrades to Melton’s recycled water plant.<\/p>\n
Construction on the $70 million project will begin next year.<\/p>\n
Moorabool Shire Council declined to comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MOORABOOL Environment Group (MEG) has said it is preferable that recycled water be used to support a planned data centre just outside the shire. However, it believes questions remain about the Amazon operation’s overall environmental impact. It was announced last week that Greater Western Water’s Melton Recycled Water Plant at Mount Cottrell would supply Amazon […]<\/p>\n