CDC proposes $15 billion data centre campus at Gregadoo, Wagga

CDC Data Centres chief executive Greg Boorer has answered residents’ questions on a proposed $15 billion, 1.4 GW campus at Gregadoo, Region reported on 8 October. The four-building campus at 216 Ashfords Road sits about 11 kilometres south of Wagga Wagga. It is not approved: the state significant development (SSD) application is still at the Prepare SEARs stage. For regional builders, contractors and landowners, a 1.4 GW load would test the Riverina grid and its construction workforce.

Why it matters

The NSW Planning Portal lists the project as SSD-144289240 in the Wagga Wagga City local government area. The proposal covers construction and 24/7 operation of a data centre campus and an amendment to the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010. W.Media reports the site is zoned RU1 Primary Production, where data centres are prohibited, so CDC is seeking a site-specific change.

Two petitions were launched within 24 hours of the plan becoming public, Region reports. Residents raised noise, fire risk, water use and grid pressure. Some argued the Bomen industrial precinct would suit better than rural Gregadoo.

CDC chief executive Greg Boorer called it a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for Wagga Wagga and the Riverina. He told Region that final design is not fixed and will respond to community consultation.

For developers, the scale matters. CDC says it will recruit locally and regionally, and is working with existing developers on how to increase housing supply.

The numbers

CDC says the campus would cost about $15 billion, excluding GST, according to W.Media. Region reports CDC puts the four buildings on 63 hectares, though Boorer later referred to a 100-hectare space. W.Media gives the whole site as about 103.8 hectares.

The scoping report, prepared by Willowtree Planning, describes four single-storey buildings with a combined gross floor area of about 189,325 sqm.

On backup power, W.Media reports plans for up to 384 diesel generators and about 6,400 tonnes of diesel storage. It also lists rooftop solar of about 13.1 MWp. CDC says the diesel is for emergencies only.

Water is a live issue. CDC says cooling would use up to 250,000 litres in a closed loop, filled once. W.Media reports the scoping report leaves the cooling technology undecided. The site has no reticulated water or sewer, and CDC proposes on-site wastewater treatment.

CDC says the nearest home is just over 500 metres away. It says the project would create about 1,500 construction jobs, at least 200 direct operational jobs and up to 2,000 flow-on jobs. The scoping report itself gives no job numbers, according to W.Media.

On grid, W.Media reports a dedicated connection to the 330 kV Transgrid substation about 1.3 kilometres north. CDC says it will pay the full cost of connection changes. W.Media notes final arrangements are not yet established.

What’s next

CDC has requested project-specific SEARs. If the project proceeds, an environmental impact statement would be prepared and exhibited before the NSW Government assesses it. Wagga Wagga City Council is not the decision-maker.

Boorer told Region a drop-in centre would open in Wagga within a couple of weeks and that neighbours would be invited to tour CDC’s Canberra facilities. CDC says construction would be staged over six to 10 years, starting a couple of years from now.

See our coverage across Sydney and regional NSW.