Data CentresKirsten CrazeThu 03 Sep 26
Zerra DC Files Plans for $32bn Data Centre Campus in Queensland’s West
Thousands of hectares of grazing land would switch from grain production to data processing under plans by Zerra DC for a major digital campus at Kogan, Queensland.
The Western Downs Digital Park is planned for a 725.5ha site about 250km north west of Brisbane and would become the largest facility of its kind in Australia, according to its proponents.
If each of the four proposed buildings go ahead, the 1.44GW precinct by the Singapore-based data centre developer would dwarf AirTrunk’s 320MW-plus SYD3 campus in Western Sydney, which was billed as the largest Asia-Pacific data-centre campus outside China when announced in 2021.
The plans show that the $31.9-billion data centre would replace the Wambo Cattle Company’s 24,000-head feedlot on the site about 37km north-west of Dalby.
Zerra DC, which develops and operates hyperscale data centre campuses across the Asia Pacific, also has plans in the pipeline for a $1.1-billion centre on the former Campbellfield Ford factory site north of Melbourne.
As data centres continue to roll out across regional and rural Australia, their colossal water and energy usage has sparked widespread community concern.
Documents filed by Zerra DC show that during construction the data centre would require about 522 kilolitres of water a day, followed by an initial 26.9 megalitre flush-and-fill of its cooling system. Once complete, the centre is expected to use about 16.5kL of water daily, according to the application.
On its website, Zerra DC says that the Kogan centre will use 100 per cent air-cooled technology, removing the need for water-based evaporative cooling typically used in traditional data centres.
During operations, rainwater harvesting would be the preferred water source, with on-site recycling and an existing dam acting as a supplementary water source.
Earlier this year, the Western Downs Regional Council received $4.17 million in funding from the Queensland Government to deliver critical water infrastructure for Dalby.
Western Downs mayor Andrew Smith said the funding supported the council’s long-term vision for the region.
“Strong and reliable water infrastructure is fundamental for our communities and for supporting future growth across the Western Downs,” Smith said.
“It also reflects the council’s commitment to planning for and investing in long-term water security, flood resilience, and community safety as our region continues to grow.”
Zerra DC said that the Western Downs’ position as one of Australia’s major energy regions meant the region was well-placed to welcome major investment in renewable generation, battery storage and supporting energy infrastructure.
