NSW approves Macquarie's IC3 SuperWest data centre

Macquarie Technology Group’s data centre unit has had confirmation from the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) that a third data centre at its Macquarie Park Data Centre Campus, known as IC3 SuperWest, can go ahead.

Macquarie Data Centres said that early works at the site are now underway, with board approval required for commencement of stage one construction at the campus.

According to the IPC’s approval [pdf], Macquarie expects to invest more than $332 million in the expansion.

It also predicted more than 600 construction jobs and “20 additional knowledge intensive operational jobs” would come from the project.

The company said IC3 SuperWest will lift the total load at the campus to as much as 63 megawatts, with the new facility designed to support the power and cooling demands of high-density cloud and AI workloads.

The build will include liquid cooling and monitoring systems to deliver better energy efficiency than air cooling. 

CEO David Tudehope said the “megatrend” of AI is “driving higher power density and demand for greater capacity”.

The company also hopes the facility will achieve the federal government’s 'certified strategic' designation.