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Data centre plan could bring water into Queensland, minister says
Queensland's water minister says a proposed data centre could bring new water sources into the state.
Key points
- Zerra DC says each of its four proposed buildings would require 21,000 litres of water per day.
- The company says its operations would not draw on groundwater or town water.
- Environmental accounting expert Michael Vardon said the modelling might not stack up in dry months.
Why it matters. Water supply is one of the biggest sticking points for residents in the drought-prone Western Downs, and the minister says new water sources will be needed for further expansion.
Queensland Water Minister Ann Leahy told the ABC that a proposed $32 billion data centre could help drive investment west of Brisbane. Developer Zerra DC says each of its four proposed buildings would require 21,000 litres of water per day, sourced from rainwater and recycled water from coal-seam gas projects. Leahy said the federal government had "constrained" water access, pointing to the $3.4 billion Nathan Dam as an option.
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Data centre plan could bring water into Queensland, minister says
The rapid industrialisation of agricultural lands west of Brisbane could be a catalyst for private sector investment, the Queensland water minister says. Oil and gas exploration in the Taroom Trough, a proposed $32 billion data centre and the agriculture and feedlot industry based in the Western Downs have been welcomed by the Crisafulli government. "For that to expand we do need to find new water sources. We have to look at all of the options available," Water Minister Ann Leahy told the ABC. Ann Leahy was part of a panel on the data centre discussion. ( ABC Southern Queensland: Dan McCray ) She said the federal government had "constrained" access to water in the region and that the developments provided scope for investment in projects such as the long-discussed $3.4 billion Nathan Dam. "Are there options of Nathan Weir? Nathan Dam? What are those options available to us?" Ms Leahy said. The MP for the vast southern electorate of Warrego blamed the federal government for "taking water away" from the via buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin. "Once they take that water out of this region it can no longer be traded back to other industries," Ms Leahy said. Ms Leahy, who was speaking at an economic forum about the proposed Western Downs Digital Park, said the federal government was "forcing" the state to "go and look at all of the different options that are available for this reg.