Greens issues 2026

Contents

1. AI Data Centre - Moss Vale
2. Waste disposal - Tarago
3. Gas-fired power stations - Moss Vale & Tarago
4. References

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1. Introduction

The following is a working document relating to Greens issues of concern to the present writer, and specifically requiring additional research in order to understand the scope of the problem and its environmental and societal aspects. Critical thinking is key in addressing any issue, rather than simply relying upon an ideological response which often ignores the contemporary local and global context, all elements of which need to be considered in any political discussion.

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2. AI Data Centre - Moss Vale

The introduction of AI (artificial intelligence) to everyday life, through technologies and apps such as ChatGPT, especially in the educational and entertainment social media sector, has resulted in the need for vast data centres which are consumers of energy. That consumption impacts upon the wider community, giving rise to numerous issues, most notably environmental. An interesting comment on the project was released by Carol Berry MP, Federal Member for Whitlam, on 17 July 2026, stating the following:

Statement on the proposed Data Centre in Moss Vale

Thank you to everyone who has been in touch to outline your opposition to the proposed Data Centre in Moss Vale. I share your concerns. The proposed Data Centre will be powered by a large purpose-built gas-fired power plant. The Albanese Government will legislate Australian Standards for AI, building on the foundations of the Data Centre Expectations released earlier this year. The new standards will set out clear rules for large AI data centres relating to energy, water and where they are built. The Federal Government will require that large data centres put as much energy into the grid as they take out, to help underwriter the renewable rollout. We are working with states, territories, and market bodies to embed these expectations across planning and approval systems. I am concerned that the proposed Data Centre in Moss Vale does not align with the Federal Government's priorities in supporting the transition to renewable energy. I have contacted Senator Tim Ayres, Federal Minister for Industry and Innovation, and Paul Scully MP, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, to voice my own opposition to the this proposal, as well as to share the concerns of the the community. Thanks again to everyone who has contacted me about this issue.

The current 15MW facility is operated by Cloud Carrier and is described as follows:

Southern Highlands Data Campus (SHDC)

The Southern Highlands Data Campus (SHDC) is a next-generation, purpose-built data campus spanning 670,000 m² (7,211,820 ft²) or 67 hectares (166 acres). Designed as a pure liquid-cooled campus, SHDC sets a new benchmark in data infrastructure, supporting ultra-high-density workloads with advanced technologies tailored for mission-critical operations. SHDC features a scalable power capacity of up to 300 MW, enabled by a diverse, ultra-resilient (DUR) on-site power generation system. This includes primary grid supply, on-site natural gas-fuelled generation, and backup diesel generators, ensuring seamless redundancy and uninterrupted operations even during extended outages. The campus is optimised for native liquid cooling, supporting both Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) and immersion cooling with densities exceeding 160 kW per rack/tank, delivering unmatched performance for AI, HPC, and enterprise-grade workloads. With a strong focus on sustainability, SHDC integrates onsite water harvesting, eliminating reliance on utility water for cooling systems. Its flexible build-to-suit and powered shell designs provide customisable solutions to meet diverse operational needs while maximising energy efficiency and security.

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3. Waste disposal - Tarago

Increasing population and increasing amounts of toxic and non-organic waste materials is a problem for societies around the world (DW Planet A 2024). The West is not excluded from this, nor Australia. The problem needs to be confronted and addressed at all levels of government - local, state and federal. Science has turned its mind over the last half century to finding solutions to this problem, and minimizing the negative environmental and social impacts. The process is contentious and ongoing. A good example ins the Veolia Woodlawn Eco Precinct at Tarago, occupying some 6,000 ha of land near the New South Wales regional centre of Goulburn. A Google search inquiry returns the following information regarding the 2026 controversy and the proposed construction of an incinerator to supplement the bioreactor outputs:

The Goulburn waste disposal controversy centers on a proposed $600 million waste-to-energy incineration plant by Veolia at the Woodlawn Eco Precinct in Tarago, alongside past environmental warnings over wastewater overflow risks.The Tarago Waste-to-Energy Proposal. The Veolia proposed facility will burn 380,000 tonnes of rubbish from Sydney annually, aiming to generate 30MW of power [for up to 40,000 homes]. The NSW Government restricted such incinerators to four designated regional zones, including Goulburn-Mulwaree, triggering local backlash. Local residents, regional councils, and the Goulburn Mulwaree Council expressed unanimous opposition during a parliamentary inquiry, citing health risks, toxic fly ash, and air pollution near farmland. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) previously ordered Veolia to urgently lower wastewater and leachate levels in storage dams at the Woodlawn site to avert overflow risks into local creeks. Residents argued that placing an incinerator in a small rural community for Sydney's waste is unfair, compounding existing anxieties over traditional landfill operations.

Woodlawn Bioreactor waste disposal facility, Tarago.

The New South Wales Upper House Select Committee on Proposed Energy from Waste Facilities is conducting an investigation into the proposal (August 2026). Whilst the company has long promoted the positive environmental and renewable energy aspects of the precinct, the community has also raised legitimate concerns. For examples, toxic and odorous emissions have long been associated with the site, giving rise to the present conflict.

The following Veolia company promotional video from 2024 outlines the operations there at the point in time, emphasising in part the generation of Green Electricity via the Woodlawn Bioreactor which generates methane, of which some 92% of this greenhouse generating gas is captured and used:

Veolia's Woodlawn Eco Precinct, AussieGarbo, 2 March 2024, YouTube, duration: 11.47 minutes.

An ABC news report from November 2025 outlines some of the local community concerns regarding the proposed waste-to-electricity facility and expansion of use of the Woodlawn Bioreactor site and associated transport infrastructure:

Zaarkacha Marlan, Community concern over proposed Woodlawn waste-to-energy facility at Tarago near Canberra, ABC News, 27 November 2025.

The current community opposition campaign can be found at the following link: ....

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4. Gas-fired power stations - Moss Vale & Tarago

In a recent New South Wales government initiative, gas-fired power stations were listed as renewable energy options when in fact they are not. They are driven by fossil fuels, which have negative impacts upon the environment in a manner in which true renewable energy systems do not. Whilst Climate Change is both controversial and also the main driver for renewable energy options, the present issue needs to be addressed irregardless of the climate change argument. The issue is summarised in the following letter to Greens members dated 1 August 2026 from Abigail Boyd, NSW MP:

Labor is trying to greenwash gas! Right now, there is a piece of legislation being considered by the NSW Parliament, brought by the NSW Labor government, called the Energy Legislation Amendment (Prioritising Renewable Energy) Bill 2026. Sounds pretty good, right? Not when they’re including gas-fired generation in the projects to be fast-tracked as a Priority Energy Project. Gas is a dirty, polluting fossil fuel - it destroys our landscapes, threatens our farmland, poisons our waterways, harms our health and pollutes our climate. There is no need for an expanded role for fossil fuels like gas in our future energy mix. Tell Labor to get gas out of their renewable energy bill. Labor’s Prioritising Renewable Energy Bill would give the NSW Energy Minister new powers to hand-pick the most critical generation, storage and network projects in the planning pipeline to fast-track. This could see climate-destroying gas projects being prioritised and fast-tracked to the front of the queue, ahead of cleaner and greener projects waiting to be assessed. The Greens fully support fast-tracking renewable energy - but gas is not renewable. Keeping gas in this bill will be a fast-track to climate catastrophe. We need more solar, wind and battery power, not filthy polluting gas. Both the Albanese Labor government and the NSW Minns Labor government have a major gas problem. Since coming to government, Labor has given the green light to multiple new and expanded climate-wrecking gas projects. And not only is Labor bending over backwards to please the gas lobby, but they’re literally opening the door to a gas-fired AI data centre boom. The AI boom has set into motion the construction of massive hyperscale data centres, harming our lands, waters and communities. The massive energy demand they are generating is exactly what is driving the government to seek to prioritise gas projects, to address their power demands. Building new gas projects just to power AI data centres is absurd. Labor needs to get a grip. You can’t claim to be serious about climate change when you’re literally prioritising gas over renewable energy projects. There’s nothing renewable about a fossil fuel project. We’ll be debating this bill in Parliament as soon as next week. We need your help to tell Labor to support our Greens amendments to remove gas from the Priority Energy Projects list, so we can pass this bill and get on with the renewables rollout.

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4. References

DW Planet A, We need to fix landfills - here's how, DW Planet A, 28 June 2024, YouTube, duration: 12.41 minutes.

Fuller, Kelly, Community speakers unanimous in opposition to Tarago waste-to-energy plan at Goulburn hearing, ABC News, Illawarra, 15 May 2026.

Marlan, Zaarkacha, Community concern over proposed Woodlawn waste-to-energy facility at Tarago near Canberra, ABC News, 27 November 2025. Includes ABC news story video.

Overall, Nicole, New South Wales Nationals calling for an inquiry into opposed waste incinerators, The Nationals, July 2025, YouTube, duration: 8.19 minutes.

Tarago Community Information Session, 7 April 2020, Transport for New South Wales, 7 April 2020, YouTube, duration: 6.09 minutes.

Veolia, Veolia Australia's Mechanical and Biological Treatment (MBT) Project (July 2016 update), Veolia - Australia and New Zealand, 5 August 2016, YouTube, duration: 2.19 minutes.

-----, Veolia's Woodlawn Eco Precinct, AussieGarbo, 2 March 2024, YouTube, duration: 11.47 minutes.

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Last updated: 1 August 2026

Michael Organ, Australia