State Government Advocacy on a Queensland Pilot to Regulate Data Centres - Location, Energy Use and Treated Wastewater Cooling - and State Funding for Council-Delivered Lifeguard Services to Reduce Coastal Drownings · 2026-09-17 Notice of Motion - Cr Lorentson - QLD Pilot to Regulate Data Centres & State Funding for Council Delivered Lifeguard Services

proposed $31.9 billion hyperscale data centre near Dalby and expected to be Australia’s largest, is
currently under assessment, with its water sourcing strategy, including the potential use of recycled
wastewater, still being finalised. A Burgess Creek pilot could provide practical evidence to help guide
decisions on projects of this kind. Unitywater’s Wamuran Irrigation Scheme shows how wastewater
reuse can work in practice. The $120 million project diverts treated water from the Caboolture South
Sewage Treatment Plant through a pipeline network to farms growing strawberries, raspberries,
pineapples, turf and avocados. It supplies about 2.6 gigalitres of Class A recycled water each year,
providing growers with a reliable, climate-independent water source while supporting local jobs and
investment. It also keeps significant nutrient loads out of the Caboolture River, delivering clear
environmental benefits, as well as economic. The scheme’s success reflects the key principles
underpinning this motion. Unitywater identified a genuine end use and worked with farmers from the
outset, rather than building infrastructure speculatively. It shows that reuse schemes can be
delivered at meaningful scale where demand, end use, environmental benefit and a workable
delivery model align. Together, these examples show the opportunity for councils across
Queensland: significant volumes of treated wastewater are still being disposed of, while proven
reuse models can turn that resource into a regional asset where there is demonstrated demand, a
suitable end use, a sound business case and a net environmental benefit.