MEDIA RELEASE, AUGUST 18, 2026

Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) has welcomed the NSW Government's new Data Centre Policy Framework, but say the region hosting the state's fastest-growing data centre pipeline must see a fair share of the community infrastructure investment that comes with it.

Western Sydney is home to a significant concentration of the state's operating and pipeline data centre projects, placing local communities on the frontline of the energy, water and land-use demands this growth will bring.

Blacktown Mayor and WSROC President Cr Brad Bunting said the Framework's focus on funded energy and water infrastructure was a welcome first step, but must extend to the roads, community facilities, amenity and services that host communities rely on.

“Western Sydney is carrying a significant share of the nation's growth and data centres are no exception,” Cr Bunting said.

“We support the Government's commitment to ensuring data centres fund the energy and water upgrades they need. But energy and water are only part of the picture. These are large-scale developments landing in real communities, and those communities need to see the roads, amenity and local infrastructure upgrades that match the scale of investment moving in next door.

“Our message to Government is simple: if data centres are paying their fair share for the grid and the water network, they should be paying their fair share for the communities hosting them too.”
Speaking in his capacity as WSROC President Cr Bunting said the Framework's streamlined assessment pathway made it even more important that local infrastructure needs were addressed up front, not after approval.

“Western Sydney is doing the heavy lifting when it comes to hosting this growth,” Cr Bunting said.

“A 75-day assessment pathway is good for investment certainty, but our community needs the same certainty, that the traffic, amenity and community infrastructure impacts of these developments are planned for and funded from day one, not left for council and residents to absorb later.

“We're not opposed to this growth, Western Sydney has consistently backed the infrastructure our region needs to thrive. We're asking for growth that comes with the infrastructure to match it, in our communities as much as on the grid.”

WSROC will review the Guidelines in detail and engage with Infrastructure NSW, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and other relevant NSW Government agencies and the new Office of AI and Digital NSW to ensure Western Sydney councils have a direct line into how community infrastructure contributions are determined and delivered.\

Data centres in Western Sydney and NSW: the numbers

• Western Sydney hosts a significant and growing concentration of NSW’s operating and proposed data centres
• Across the state, 19 data centre projects valued at $50.3 billion currently in the State Significant Development pipeline
• More than 60 data centres already operating or under construction across NSW
• Data centre investment has grown at around 75 per cent per year on average over the three years to December 2025

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Media contact: Francine Binns I WSROC CEO I This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. I 0417 065 505

About WSROC
The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) is the peak body representing local councils across Greater Western Sydney, advocating for a fair share of investment to match the region's growth.