CPB picked to build Zerra's $32b Dalby data centre, DA still open

The ABC says the Powerlink agreement is a “first-pass” one and confirms capacity for only the first of four buildings. It does not say whether capacity for the other three has been sought or secured.

The numbers

The ABC briefing gives the precinct value as $32 billion and describes it as Australia’s largest proposed data centre. The first building is to be leased by AI company Anthropic from next year, it reports. Our October story put the reported full build-out figure at $31.9 billion, about 1.44GW of proposed capacity and a 725.5 hectare site, from earlier trade reporting. The ABC rounds that to $32 billion.

About 15 protesters gathered outside the forum. Western Downs Says Pause member Angela Prenzler told the ABC the rules and regulations are not in place and the project is moving too fast for the council to handle. Zerra DC chief executive David Cooper said the industry moves quickly but the company is following the process.

What’s next

Council approval is the gate. The ABC says the development application is yet to be approved, so the contractor and tenant announcements should be read as plans that depend on that decision. Watch for council’s assessment timetable, any further power agreements for buildings two to four, and whether the Anthropic lease for the first building is documented publicly. For Queensland civil, electrical and fit-out contractors, CPB is now the named builder if the project proceeds.