Community
15 August, 2026
Data centres on agenda at community forum
Discussion around data centres and what they mean for communities like the Southern Highlands will continue at the next meeting of the Southern Highlands Community Forum.
Discussion around data centres and what they mean for communities like the Southern Highlands will continue at the next meeting of the Southern Highlands Community Forum.
One of the speakers at the August 26 meeting, engineer Mark Finch, will talk about the strengths and weaknesses of data centres including what they are and how they work.
His talk will also touch on employment, the environmental impact and government legislation.
There has been a significant amount of interest in data centres locally because of a development at the Southern Highlands Innovation Park (SHIP) in Moss Vale.
A small data centre has already been built on the Douglas Road site however there are concerns around its future growth and the gas-fired power plant being proposed alongside it.
Wingecarribee Shire Council has already approved a small power plant however an application for a second plant is currently before the Land and Environment Court.
A State Significant Development (SSD) application for a third plant has been lodged with the NSW Department of Planning.
With a combined capacity of more than 700MW, the gas plant could potentially become one of the largest in the world.
Other speakers on the night will include local property developer Theo Onisforou, who is currently the subject of an interim AVO taken out on behalf of Wingecarribee mayor Jesse Fitzpatrick and council’s general manager Lisa Miscamble.
Mr Onisforou was controversially removed from a council public forum by police earlier this year.
He will talk about his experience to date and discuss broader principles concerning “lawful civic participation, responsible communication and procedural fairness”.
The forum’s August 26 meeting will commence at 7.30pm at The Venue in Station Street, Bowral.
Doors will be open from 7pm with free tea, coffee and muffins on arrival.
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