퀸즐랜드의 하이퍼스케일 데이터 센터는 해당 주 전체 전기 소비량의 약 사분의 일을 차지할 수 있다.

A cattle paddock on the Western Downs, 250 kilometres west of Brisbane, could become home to a $31.9 billion hyperscale data centre with the potential to increase Queensland's daily electricity use by 25 per cent. Singapore-based developer Zerra DC has proposed the Western Downs Digital Park on a 725-hectare site near Dalby, with a peak capacity of 2.16 gigawatts—a power draw equivalent to 1.5 million average Australian households. At the end of its four-phase rollout, the facility could consume approximately 47 gigawatt-hours per day, a significant addition to Queensland's average daily energy consumption of 170 GWh.

According to Andreas Helwig, an associate professor of electro-mechanical engineering at the University of Southern Queensland, the project would require "an enormous amount of energy" to operate. "Getting this wrong will impact grid stability and cost to consumers," Dr Helwig said. Zerra DC submitted its application to Western Downs Regional Council last month as the nation continues debating how to manage the growth of artificial intelligence technology.

Climate Finance Energy director Tim Buckley emphasized that the increased power demand would need to be matched by new energy generation investment, which could transform regional and rural areas. "The beauty of the land grab in the data centre gold rush that's underway right now is that capital is pouring in," Mr Buckley said.

The development application could take years to be approved, with construction estimated at four to six years. Zerra DC positioned the project advantageously relative to existing energy infrastructure: three gas-fired power stations, nearby solar and wind farms, and a major substation serving as a "critical electrical junction" connecting south-east Queensland and New South Wales. The digital park would connect directly to the substation rather than relying on Ergon Energy's local distribution network.

The project sits at the centre of a national energy policy debate. The federal government has outlined plans for developers to use renewables as the standard for powering data centres, while Queensland and the Northern Territory governments have advocated for gas or coal. Premier David Crisafulli has lobbied for an "energy-agnostic" approach, arguing that increased generation alongside data centre projects could decrease power prices. "By virtue of doing that, it can in fact help us drive down power prices," Mr Crisafulli said during a recent visit to the United States, where he met with AI companies. Mr Buckley countered that while gas could play "an important small and declining" role as renewable backup, "the climate science was absolutely crystal clear" that relying on fossil fuels would backfire due to cost and climate impact. "We need to embrace these industries of the future, but we've got to make sure they're not powered by industries of last century," he said.

Local perspectives on the proposal remain mixed. Cotton and grain grower Liza Balmain, a spokesperson for anti-gas group Save Our Darling Downs, expressed caution. Many of her neighbours have lost farming viability due to coal seam gas drilling's impact on land and groundwater. While not opposed to data centres, she called for guidelines around resource use. "As we've seen with coal seam gas, it can fracture communities," Ms Balmain said, cautioning that leaders should learn from previous industrial booms and question "what is the long-term legacy benefits for the communities that are being expected to absorb those impacts."

Western Downs Regional Council mayor Andrew Smith described the project as the dawn of a new era for the region. He noted that the area is the "energy capital of Queensland" and well positioned for such development. "We need to be looking ahead at what's going to sustain this region. We've got a perfect mix of coexistence of ag and energy," Cr Smith said. His council will have a say on whether the project is approved locally after the planning team completes its assessment, with conversations about community benefit agreements already underway.