Part of the facts . Category: Traffic, Noise and Infrastructure
Horses, Noise, and What Nobody Has Studied
Right next door to the proposed Goldfinch site sits Infinity Equine — a hunter-jumper horse operation that depends on quiet, predictable conditions. Horses startle easily. They are flight animals, hardwired to react to sudden or unfamiliar sounds. And this proposal would bring noise 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for years on end.
The Noise Sources Nobody Is Talking About
An operating data centre is not silent. Massive cooling systems run around the clock. Backup generators cycle on and off. Electrical infrastructure hums continuously. During construction — which could last up to nine years across three phases — there would be heavy equipment, truck traffic, and site preparation from dawn to dusk.
The developer has claimed mitigation measures, but here is the problem: no independent noise study has been completed. Without one, we have no baseline measurements, no scenario-based modelling for construction versus operations, and no enforceable standards for what is acceptable next to a livestock operation.
Heidi Pradt’s Message to Council
Infinity Equine co-owner Heidi Pradt did not hold back at the July 7 hearing:
I do not think the applicant has demonstrated enough technical expertise — on groundwater impact, environmental impact, noise impact, impact to livestock — for this application to proceed.
She is right. The application touches on these issues, but the depth is not there — especially for the unique needs of livestock and equine operations. A residential noise standard is not the same as a standard that protects horses.
What a Proper Noise Review Looks Like
An adequate noise study should include:
- Baseline measurements taken before any construction begins
- Scenario modelling for both the construction phase and full operations
- Specific analysis of livestock and equine sensitivity — not just human residential standards
- Clear thresholds, monitoring commitments, and corrective triggers if those thresholds are exceeded
None of this has been done. And it needs to happen before, not after, council makes its final decision.
What This Means for Wheatland County
If this were a factory or an industrial park next to a horse farm, we would expect a thorough noise study before approval. A hyperscale data centre is no different. Our livestock operations, our quality of life, and our property values all depend on getting this right.
Council needs to hear that an independent, livestock-inclusive noise study is non-negotiable before this project proceeds. Reach out to your councillor, share this with your neighbours, and let us make sure every voice is heard before the next vote. We only get one chance to protect this community.