July 23, 2024
Hon. Clare O’Neil MP highlighted importance of sovereign data centres at groundbreaking ceremony for new AI and Cloud Data Centre
Macquarie Data Centres, part of Macquarie Technology Group (ASX: MAQ), today welcomed the Australian Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, the Honourable Clare O’Neil, to officially open its newest data centre, IC3 Super West, in Sydney’s North End, which is purpose-built for high-density AI and cloud workloads.
Addressing the audience of senior technology executives and data centre experts at the company’s groundbreaking ceremony, the minister highlighted the role of secure and sovereign data centres in the country’s digital future.
“Our country has really woken up to the opportunities that the digital future presents and has begun to fully understand the need to think about cybersecurity and data security at the same time. We have very significant cyber issues and geopolitical tensions to manage as a country, and there is every indication that the challenges we face are going to grow and get more serious in the years to come,” the minister said.
The government’s Australian Cyber Security Strategy 2023-2030 places a strong emphasis on protecting the country’s critical infrastructure and strengthening its sovereign capabilities.
The campus will include a sovereign cybersecurity centre of excellence that integrates the latest advances in physical and virtual infrastructure security, supported by highly skilled, Australian Government-accredited engineers.
The centre has received investment from the NSW Government to expand the workforce of cybersecurity experts in the future, strengthening the country’s sovereign cyber capability.
“This is a major opportunity for Australia, and we are uniquely placed to take advantage of it. We have some extraordinary companies doing world-leading things, and Macquarie is one of them. One of the great things about Macquarie is that it is Australian-based and Australian-owned. It is a sovereign capability that will create jobs in technology and construction,” the Minister said.
IC3 Super West will be the third and largest addition to Macquarie Park Data Centres’ flagship campus. The facility will bring the campus’ total IT load to 63 megawatts (MW), with all final power already secured.
David Hirst, Group Director, Macquarie Data Centres, said:
“The impact of AI and cloud is so profound that it is being hailed as the fourth industrial revolution, powered by a different type of factory, AI factories. Scalable and flexible data centers purpose-built for high-density computing.
“IC3 Super West is our response to the country’s need for sovereign AI and cloud data centre capacity. As we expand, we will acquire new campuses here in Sydney’s north. We are committed to supporting the growth of Australia’s digital economy and keeping our intellectual property in Australia.”
Construction of the facility began in June after Appointment of Macquarie Data Centres FDC Construction, Australia’s leading construction services provider, as main contractor.
About Macquarie Data Centres
Macquarie Data Centres is Australia’s most trusted data centre provider. They host and protect data for the world’s largest hyperscalers, Global Fortune 500 companies and 42% of the Australian Federal Government. Part of the ASX-listed Macquarie Technology Group, they have been successfully building and operating data centres in Australia for over 20 years.
Macquarie Data Centres currently owns and operates three data centre campuses, two in Sydney and one in Canberra, all certified as strategic by the Australian Government. Offering the confidence of a 100% uptime guarantee, their Tier III data centres provide the highest levels of security, sovereignty, service and compliance to their customers.
For more information, visit macquariedatacentres.com And macquarietechnologygroup.com/.
