SMH examines whether Australia's data centre investment pipeline — estimated at around $155 billion — will deliver broad economic benefit or mainly flow to a small number of large investors and operators. Paywalled.
MAK Urban Group withdrew its North Katoomba data centre application after community pushback, including a Facebook campaign that drew more than 550 members. Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill welcomed the withdrawal as a sensible outcome. Useful precedent: a developer stepping back following organised community opposition.
ACT independent Senator David Pocock draws a direct parallel between Australia's failure to tax gas exports and the risk of repeating that mistake with AI data centres, arguing Australians deserve a "fair return" from companies using Australian land, energy and water. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt also confirmed that data centre projects with potential impacts on nationally protected species or water resources will require a federal environmental assessment.
At Australian Energy Week, an industry voice argued that data centres' backup diesel generators could substitute for new gas peaker plants — a framing directly relevant to the proposed Moss Vale gas plant. The article also notes the Climate Council's projection of a possible 26% rise in NSW wholesale electricity costs by 2035 if data centre demand is met with gas rather than renewables.
A $4.8 million data centre was proposed for North Katoomba, next to a creek, a community services building and parkland. Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill called the proposal inappropriate for the area. A comparable case of local council and community opposition to a data centre on environmental and amenity grounds.
Sydney Water's business manager told an industry audience that data centres across Sydney are projected to consume up to 250 megalitres a day within the next decade, more than the city's beer breweries. A single facility uses around 5 million litres a day, the equivalent of 9,000 homes.
US company Iren has announced plans to build Australia's largest data centre, an 800 MW campus in South Australia, citing the state's net 100% renewable grid as the reason. A working example that data centres of this scale can be built without on-site gas.
AAP report on a United Nations University analysis warning that global AI data centres could produce emissions equivalent to the UK's entire annual output by 2030 and consume 9.3 trillion litres of water. Notes the federal Senate inquiry into AI data centres now under way.
New Climate Council report warns that without enforceable rules, data centre growth could push up NSW wholesale electricity prices by up to 26% by 2035, lift grid emissions by 14%, and put Australia's climate targets at risk. Calls for binding national standards.
Local syndication of AAP coverage of the Climate Council's Clouded Future report, including the projection that gas-reliant data centre growth could lift NSW wholesale power prices 26% by 2035. The report calls for binding renewable standards.
$8.7 billion was invested in data centre construction in Australia in the March 2026 quarter, the largest single driver of business investment growth. NAB estimates that stripping out data centres would have left domestic final demand growing just 0.25%. Useful context on the scale of investment shaping government appetite for the sector.
National correspondent Mike Seccombe leads with the Moss Vale protest and Cr Heather Champion's 'Wild West' warning, then sets out how Australia's data centre rollout — and Cloud Carrier's proposed 673 MW gas plant in particular — is putting NSW and national emissions targets at risk.
Council's plain-English explainer of the two parallel pathways: the ~673 MW proposal assessed as State Significant Development by DPHI, and the ~16 MW DA under deemed refusal now before the Land and Environment Court.
New report with analyst Ketan Joshi arguing Australia's AI data-centre rollout risks entrenching gas; calls for a moratorium on new approvals. Names the Cloud Carrier Southern Highlands project, stating it would, if approved, offset NSW's entire projected 2028 emissions cuts.
Federal energy minister Chris Bowen suggests data centres could help secure power purchase agreements for stalled wind projects. The article notes the Cloud Carrier Southern Highlands gas proposal as an example of community opposition, alongside the EnergyAustralia Marulan expansion and the Greenpeace moratorium call.
Energy-sector coverage of the Greenpeace report; cites CEFC modelling on electricity-price impacts and again singles out the Cloud Carrier Southern Highlands gas project.
Abigail Boyd MLC, chair of the NSW parliamentary inquiry into data centres, welcomes the Greenpeace Energy Vampires report and says the NSW Department of Climate Change formally warned the Minister in 2024 that data centre growth would put legislated emissions targets at risk. The release names the Cloud Carrier Southern Highlands project directly.
Wire coverage of the Greenpeace report; notes criticism of on-site gas including the NSW Cloud Carrier ~700 MW project, and includes the industry body Data Centre Australia's response.
Residents gathered outside 30 Douglas Road during the Land and Environment Court conciliation on 22 May to voice their concerns about the proposal. Quotes WinZero's Kirstine Mackay on turnout and community concerns.
Coverage of the third hearing of the NSW Legislative Council data centre inquiry on 22 May. Sydney Water's managing director reiterated forecasts that data centres could use up to 25% of Sydney's drinking water by 2035. Greenpeace called for a moratorium on approvals for the largest, most energy-intensive proposals pending greater certainty on renewable energy supply.
Reports the combined gas proposal at roughly 703 MW and ranks the Moss Vale plant the third-largest gas plant proposed in Australia (per RenewMap); covers the corporate structure and the council deemed-refusal history; calls for the on-site protest.
Cr Heather Champion warns the gas-fired power proposal tied to the Cloud Carrier data centre could industrialise the Highlands and affect local air quality and health, and points residents to the 22 May on-site conciliation.
EnergyAustralia is seeking to expand its Marulan gas plant (about 33 km west of Moss Vale) to roughly 1.43 GW to meet demand including data centres. Useful regional-pattern context.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young announces the establishment of the federal Senate inquiry, citing concerns about rapid, under-regulated expansion of AI data centres and the lack of federal oversight of government deals with global AI companies.
Federal Senate inquiry established on 13 May 2026, chaired by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Examines regulatory frameworks, community impacts, energy and water use, and government deals with global AI companies. Submissions close 26 June 2026. Final report due 16 November 2026.
Climate Council's submission to Infrastructure NSW's data centre consultation process. Recommends binding requirements for additional renewable energy, water and efficiency standards, and infrastructure cost recovery from data centres rather than households. Explicitly recommends against data centres building off-grid fossil fuel generation.
The independent statutory climate body's submission on data centres and NSW's legislated emissions targets.
Australia's first parliamentary inquiry into data centres, chaired by Abigail Boyd MLC. Terms of reference cover planning, energy and emissions (including on-site gas and diesel), water and community impacts. Submissions closed 27 March 2026; final report due 30 September 2026.
Earlier reporting on Cloud Carrier's choice of gas over renewables and the project's corporate structure. Useful origin and background piece.
US reporting on public health advocates' concerns about PFAS ('forever chemicals') used in some data centre cooling systems and the lack of testing and reporting requirements. The article notes the questions are still emerging and largely untested. Useful broader context on the environmental issues data centres can raise.
For the latest updates, event details, and real-time news on the campaign, follow Stop the Gas Plant – Southern Highlands on Facebook.
We'll be in touch only when there's something worth knowing — a key hearing date, a submission window, or a significant development in the case.