Major data centre campus planned near Geelong
HyperDC is seeking to build a 400-megawatt data centre campus on almost 40 hectares beside two major energy infrastructure projects north-west of Geelong.
The application for 715 Ballan Road, Moorabool, was submitted the day the state government – which will decide on the permit – announced a 150 metre buffer zone between these projects and residential.
To be known as MBL1, the facility will capitalise on the location neighbouring AusNet Services’ Moorabool Terminal Station – a 500kV transmission network.
The 300MW Victorian Big Battery is also next to the site, with 210 Tesla Megapacks, and 450MWh of storage.
That project was delivered by HMC Capital-backed Iluma.
The two infrastructure assets offer the Hyper DC holding near-existing high-voltage electricity infrastructure and large-scale energy storage.
The data centre developer is directed by ex-Villawood Properties’ acquisitions manager Gerard Adamsons.
MBL1, with an end value speculated at c$6 billion, will be its first campus.
It is being assessed under the Victorian government’s Clause 53.22 significant economic development pathway, which puts planning minister Sonya Kilkenny in charge of the decision (continues below).
The proposal comes two months since realestatesource.com.au reported a string of data centre proposals in Melbourne, including a multi-billion proposal by AirTrunk at Mickleham.
Last week we reported the Labor government approved an eight-level data centre – with half the area of the Rialto Towers – at Truganina.
Another farm eyed for data centre
The 39.65 hectare Ballan Rd property last sold publicly in 2018 as a farm – with an eight-bay machinery shed, shearing shed, cattle yards, a 2500-bale hay shed and 21 hothouse frames.
It was also offered for sale in 2024 and this year.
The application comes three months since bigger rival NextDC acquired a 169ha holding at nearby Lovely Banks for c$165m.
Also this week realestatesource.com.au reported CDC Data Centres applied to build a 1.4-gigawatt data centre campus in regional New South Wales’ Gregadoo, near Wagga Wagga.
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