Power-pole protests stall NextDC's flagship West Footscray data centre expansion

NextDC, Australia’s largest listed data-centre operator, requested a trading halt on its ASX-listed shares to examine the consequences of a power-supply delay at its M3 facility in West Footscray. The delay is believed to stem from a recent community blockade that forced electricity distributor Jemena to pause the replacement of wooden poles with tall concrete structures carrying high-voltage lines. Residents in Yarraville and West Footscray obstructed contractor trucks, filled excavation pits and ignored door-knocks, prompting Jemena to suspend work for further consultation.

The halted power route leaves the expansion, a $750 million project covering ten hectares, without the needed grid capacity. The issue highlights tension between the Victorian government’s drive to attract AI-intensive data centres and suburban resistance, a factor that could influence the upcoming state election.