A 350-hectare mega data centre hub is being proposed for Melbourne’s western suburbs [1].
The project represents the largest publicly proposed data centre in Australia. Its scale poses significant implications for regional land use and the state's energy infrastructure as digital demands grow.
The proposed site covers 350 hectares [1]. To provide a sense of scale, this area is as big as 175 MCG fields [1]. The development aims to establish a massive footprint for data processing and storage in the region.
Energy requirements for the hub are substantial. The facility would require more power than the total output of Victoria’s largest coal-fired power station [2]. This level of consumption highlights the tension between the expansion of digital infrastructure and the capacity of the existing power grid.
While the proposal marks a significant investment in technology infrastructure, the sheer size of the project is unprecedented for the Australian market. The development will likely face scrutiny regarding its environmental impact, and its ability to secure a stable power supply without compromising other state needs.
“The biggest publicly proposed data centre in Australia.”
The scale of this proposal underscores the immense energy and land requirements of the modern AI and cloud computing era. By requiring more electricity than Victoria's largest coal plant, the project may force a critical acceleration of grid upgrades or a shift toward dedicated renewable energy sources to avoid destabilizing the state's power supply.
