A proposed AUD 3.7 billion data centre at the former Hydro Aluminium Kurri Kurri industrial site in New South Wales, Australia, could repurpose a major industrial property for digital infrastructure, with an estimated peak construction workforce of 1,210 people and around 254 ongoing jobs.
The Kurri Kurri Data Centre project, proposed at Hart Road, Loxford, is seeking approval for the fit-out and operation of a large-scale data storage facility with a planned power consumption of 550.5 megawatts (MW). The development application, listed as a State Significant Development under reference SSD-128819490, is currently at the public exhibition stage.
The proposal highlights how former aluminium industry sites could find new uses as demand for data storage and computing infrastructure expands.
The proposed development would convert an already approved, two-storey industrial building into a data centre with a gross floor area of 47,143 square metres (sqm).
The planned facility would comprise approximately:
- 32,297 sqm of technical data halls for data storage and computing infrastructure.
- 1,481 sqm of ancillary office space.
- 13,365 sqm of corridors and other supporting areas.
The building envelope, with a maximum height of 17.84 metres, and associated earthworks have already received approval through a separate Complying Development Certificate. The current application focuses on the internal fit-out, operation and additional infrastructure required to run the data centre.
The overall site covers 20.91 hectares, providing space for the proposed facility and its supporting electrical and cooling infrastructure.