23/09/2026
“Communities are keeping up with the speed of change — but government regulations are not.”
A powerful contribution from our very own Councillor Heather Champion - Wingecarribee Shire Council, speaking at the Senate Inquiry into Artificial Intelligence and Data Centres.
Heather took the Southern Highlands experience directly to Canberra, highlighting the proposed 703 MW of off-grid gas generation associated with Cloud Carrier’s data centre plans — and the concerns being raised locally about emissions, health, water, our drinking water catchment, koala habitat and our regional economy.
But her strongest message was about community voice.
Despite the scale of what is being proposed, Heather told the Inquiry that our community has had little meaningful opportunity to shape the decisions being made.
Her message to government was clear:
“What’s needed most is time and consultation. We need a moratorium to consult with communities and to get the regulations right so they serve the public benefit.”
The Senate’s Environment and Communications References Committee is currently examining artificial intelligence and data centres, with its report due 16 November 2026.
This is exactly why the Southern Highlands needs to be part of the national conversation about where data centres are built, how they are powered, who bears the impacts — and what genuine public benefit communities receive in return.
Watch Heather’s statement below.
