(AirTrunk)
Newy 87.8 FM – AirTrunk has submitted a draft offer to Cessnock City Council to contribute more than $37 million towards district infrastructure, alongside its proposed 540 megawatt data centre at Kurri Kurri.
The company says more than $12 million of the offer would go towards Council's broader-catchment share of the proposed Loxford District Sporting Facility and Multipurpose Community Facility.
The data centre is proposed for the former Hydro Aluminium smelter site at Hart Road, Loxford. AirTrunk says the two-storey building would be about 16.8 metres tall with a 44,220 square metre footprint, located more than 500 metres from the nearest home.
Subject to approvals, AirTrunk proposes a Community Energy Program supported by investment in a community battery. Eligible local households who sign up through energy retailer Origin Energy would receive a $200 annual deduction on a standard electricity bill. The company says the partnership agreement is currently being finalised.
AirTrunk says the project would create more than 350 ongoing local jobs, including 250 on-site, plus several thousand construction jobs. It says the facility would use air-based cooling rather than community water, and that it would fund its full grid connection and a new on-site substation via a 132kV line.
The project is a State Significant Development in the Cessnock local government area. The NSW Planning Portal lists its status as "Prepare EIS".
Join the discussion on Facebook.
