$15b data centre next to tip could be among Australia’s largest

• CDC Data Centres has proposed a $15 billion, 1.4-gigawatt data centre near Wagga Wagga, which would be one of the largest facilities of its kind in Australia.
• The regional site was selected for its strategic access to renewable energy zones, significant existing power grid capacity, and proximity to a skilled workforce and university.
• The development involves constructing four large-scale buildings near a critical substation, with the company intending to self-fund the necessary grid connections and infrastructure upgrades.

A massive $15 billion data centre project is set to transform the regional landscape near Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. Proposed by Canberra-based CDC Data Centres, the 1.4-gigawatt facility is planned for a council-owned site in Gregadoo, located just 15 kilometres from the regional hub.

If approved, the development would rank among the largest data centres in Australia. It joins a small group of high-capacity projects, including Anthropic’s $32 billion proposal in Queensland, Syncline Energy’s 2.4-gigawatt hub in Melbourne, and a major 185-hectare site slated for development near Darwin.

CDC Chief Executive Greg Boorer identified Wagga Wagga as a premier regional location for the expansion. He noted that the area is strategically positioned between renewable energy zones and offers significant spare capacity within the existing power grid. Furthermore, the city provides access to a skilled workforce and a local university, all while remaining conveniently close to the company’s Canberra headquarters.

The proposal has been under discussion with the Wagga Wagga City Council for approximately nine months, and negotiations for the land purchase on Ashfords Road are currently progressing. In a public statement, the council described the project as a “generational economic opportunity” that could bring substantial investment and jobs to the region. However, officials also acknowledged that the community may have concerns regarding the scale and environmental impact of such a large-scale industrial facility.

Technical details from a scoping report lodged with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure reveal plans for four massive single-storey buildings, each roughly the size of a supermarket distribution centre. Because the site requires a vast amount of electricity, its proximity to Transgrid’s Wagga Wagga substation is vital. To facilitate this, CDC intends to fund its own connection and necessary network upgrades to the grid to ensure the facility is powered efficiently.

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