CDC Data Centres has unveiled plans for a 1.4‑gigawatt data‑centre campus on 100 hectares of council land at Gregadoo, about 15 km from Wagga Wagga, in a proposal worth A$15 billion. More than 1,000 residents have already signed a petition urging the council, state government and planning authorities to reject the project.
The site sits on land zoned for primary production, so a change in land‑use zoning would be required. Because the project is classified as a State Significant Development, the approval decision will be made at the state level rather than by the local council.
CDC estimates the campus could consume between five and seven terawatt‑hours of electricity annually, depending on capacity. The proposal includes 384 backup diesel generators, 6,400 tonnes of diesel storage, large‑scale batteries and approximately 20,160 rooftop solar panels expected to generate up to 13.1 MW under peak conditions. Water use is projected at 1.512 million litres per year, with an initial fill of 1.28 million litres, and the company plans a closed‑loop cooling system to minimise evaporation.
Supporters, including Wagga Wagga City Council, argue that construction could create hundreds of jobs and bring substantial investment to the region. The project could also attract further data‑centre developments, potentially increasing pressure on agricultural land and existing infrastructure.
The proposal is now under review by the NSW Planning Minister. The minister will decide on the state‑significant development and announce a decision in the near future.