Zerra DC Files Plans For Large Data Center Campus In Queensland, Australia

A large data center campus is planned for Queensland, Australia, with Zerra DC proposing the Western Downs Digital Park, a digital, energy, and computing hub in regional Queensland. The project, filed with the Western Downs Regional Council, could include up to four phases of AI-ready data centers. The 725.5-hectare site, located 37km northwest of Dalby and around 250km northwest of Brisbane, could cost more than AU$31 billion ($22.19bn) when fully developed.

Phase I will include the first 36,000 sqm (387,500 sq ft) data center, a battery-backed power system, a 540MVA substation, and supporting infrastructure. Three additional buildings — 1B, 2A, and 2B — will each provide the same floor area. According to the project website, the data centers will use 100% air cooling, eliminating the need for water-based evaporative cooling. The 725.5-hectare site currently houses a 24,000-head cattle feedlot operated by Wambo Cattle Company.

Zerra previously secured $127 million from Tata Capital to develop another data center in Navi Mumbai, India. The company is also considering a former automotive plant in Melbourne, Australia, for a potential data center campus. The Queensland Renewable Energy Council (QREC) said the Western Downs project highlights the region’s diverse energy resources and strong agricultural sector, making it attractive to energy-intensive industries.

“The Western Downs has long been one of Queensland’s great energy-producing and agricultural regions, with established coal and gas industries sitting alongside grain, cotton, feedlots and other agricultural production,” said Katie-Anne Mulder, CEO, QREC.