Plans for what could become Australia’s largest data centre have been welcomed as a major economic opportunity for regional Queensland, but agricultural leaders are urging developers and governments to ensure the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure does not come at the expense of productive farmland, water supplies or food security.
Anthropic Signs Long-Term Lease in Western Downs
San Francisco-based technology company Anthropic, developer of the Claude artificial intelligence platform, has signed a long-term lease at the proposed Western Downs Digital Park, north-west of Brisbane.
Singapore-based Zerra DC is proposing to develop the $30 billion data centre project, which, if completed as planned, would become the largest single data centre development in Australia.
The proposal has received support from the Queensland government and the local council as authorities seek to attract investment and diversify the regional economy.
However, some residents have raised concerns about the potential long-term effects of large-scale data centres on local electricity and water supplies. A petition to Queensland Parliament calling for the project to be abandoned had attracted more than 2,300 signatures by Thursday afternoon.
Agriculture Groups Call for Protection of Productive Land
Queensland’s peak agricultural bodies have indicated they are open to data centres being developed in regional areas, provided landowners and communities are properly consulted and agricultural production is protected.
Queensland Farmers Federation chief executive Kylie Porter said high-value agricultural land was already facing pressure from a range of emerging industries.
“High-value agriculture land is under a lot of competing pressures from these new and emerging industries at the moment, and we need to ensure that the focus on food security remains paramount,” she said.
AgForce Queensland president Shane McCarthy said data centres needed to be located in “appropriate places”, particularly given the importance of strategic cropping and agricultural land.
“We obviously have huge concerns about any strategic cropping or agricultural land being used for data centres because you can’t eat data,” he said.
725-Hectare Site Currently Supports Cattle Production
The Western Downs Digital Park is proposed for a 725-hectare section of privately owned land. The site forms part of a larger property that currently operates a feedlot capable of accommodating as many as 24,000 cattle.
The Western Downs region is known for productive cropping land, but its economy also includes major energy developments such as coal and solar power projects.
Western Downs Mayor Andrew Smith said the region had a history of adapting to economic and technological change, making it a logical location for consideration when Premier David Crisafulli recommended the area for Zerra DC’s development.
“Change is not new to us. We’ve seen it with the coal seam gas industry, we have an agricultural sector that is going through some real change at the moment in regards to agtech and intensive [agriculture],” Smith said.
“We have a reputation here for delivering on major projects. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us as a region to continually diversify our economy.”
Project Could Bring Thousands of Regional Jobs
Smith said the development remained before the council and was still progressing through the approvals process. The council has nevertheless welcomed the employment opportunities that could accompany a project of this scale.
Zerra estimates almost 1,500 workers would be needed during construction, while as many as 1,400 people could be employed to operate the facility once it reaches full capacity.
For communities in regional Queensland, those employment numbers could have broader implications for local accommodation, retail, hospitality and service businesses.
The company has said the facility would draw electricity from Queensland’s power system, which incorporates a mix of generation sources.
Queensland Government Backs Data Centre Investment
Crisafulli has presented Anthropic’s involvement as a significant investment win for Queensland. The agreement follows a recent trade mission to the United States, during which the Premier met representatives of the technology company.
His pitch included Queensland’s capacity to streamline project approvals and the state’s options for supplying energy to data centre developments, including gas-fired generation.
State MP Bryson Head, whose Callide electorate would be likely to accommodate some of the future workforce, said the expansion of the data centre industry could provide significant new employment opportunities for regional Queensland.
“When a workforce of the size we are talking about arrives, it will be a huge boost to anyone running a business in the region,” he said.
Economic Opportunity Balanced Against Farming Concerns
The Western Downs proposal highlights the competing demands emerging as Australia’s artificial intelligence sector requires increasingly large amounts of digital infrastructure, electricity and land.
For regional Queensland, the project could bring billions of dollars in investment and substantial employment. Agricultural organisations, however, are calling for development decisions to protect strategic farmland and maintain food production.
With the project still subject to the approvals process, questions surrounding land use, water, electricity and community impacts are likely to remain central as Queensland weighs the economic benefits of large-scale data infrastructure against the long-term needs of its agricultural regions.
Cory Weinberg is a contributor to Sproutwired.com, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Cory’s work highlights relevant stories, practical insights and important issues affecting communities and industries, with an emphasis on accuracy, clarity and information that readers can trust.
