By Dr Nicole Kowalczyk
As artificial intelligence transforms the way we live and work, the Maribyrnong River and Waterways Association (MRWA) is inviting the community to ask an important question: what does the rapid expansion of data centres and AI mean for our rivers?
On Wednesday 12 August, MRWA will host Data Centres and AI Hype – Share Your Opinion at an Open Mic, a community forum where people are invited to share their views on one of Australia’s fastest-growing industries and the choices communities face as AI infrastructure expands.
The event comes at a pivotal time for Melbourne’s west. The Maribyrnong catchment is already home to a significant concentration of data centres, with more proposed as the region continues to grow. At the same time, the Maribyrnong River and its tributaries remain one of Victoria’s most flow-stressed catchments.
Despite commitments dating back to 2006 to return water for the environment, many of these promises remain undelivered, while climate change and increasing competition for water continue to place pressure on the catchment.
While data centres are an important part of our digital future, they also require significant amounts of water and energy, further stressing the Maribyrnong River which already faces the impacts of drought, climate change and increasing demand.
As new industries emerge, they must be planned in ways that protect, not sacrifice, the health of our waterways.
The Open Mic welcomes a diversity of perspectives. Community members are encouraged to present research, personal experiences, creative works, or simply share their hopes and concerns for Australia’s digital future and its relationship with the environment.
The event is also open to those who would just like to attend and listen to the contributions of others.
With participants’ consent, presentations will be photographed and transcribed to help inform MRWA’s submission to the current Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into AI data centres.
The event forms part of MRWA’s broader advocacy calling for responsible planning of major industrial water users, including greater transparency around water use, increased use of recycled water, and ensuring that the health of rivers remains a priority in planning decisions.
Event details
Wednesday 12 August, 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm
Basement Theatre, Footscray Community Arts,
45 Moreland Street, Footscray.
Those wishing to speak at the Open Mic are invited to register in advance via the events.humanitix.com/data-centres-and-ai-hype-share-your-opinion-at-an-open-mic before 10 August, using the speaker registration form linked from the event page.
A separate Community Rally for a Data Centre Moratorium is being held on Sunday 9 August 2026 at 2pm at Hansen Reserve, West Footscray. Organised by Borderlands Cooperative and community groups including Citizens of Tottenham, the meeting is calling for a temporary pause on new approvals and construction on existing projects, until governments legislate stronger safeguards for people, communities, cultural heritage and the environment.
At the rally, you’ll hear from:
- Experts discussing data centre policy in Australia and why stronger regulation is needed
- West Footscray residents sharing what it is like to live next to a major data centre
- Community groups opposing proposed data centres in other parts of Australia
- Local political candidates running for the seat of Footscray, who will be invited to outline their position on data centre development.
Following the speeches, a short community walk will take people past the proposed site of the Perri Melbourne Data Centre and the operational NEXTDC M3 facility and proposed extension, to see the scale of the sites and hear more about its operations and proposed expansion.
