Global Switch to build massive new Sydney data centre

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 25 November 2010 09:33

IT Industry - Strategy

The NSW Government has given data centre operator, Global Switch the green light to build a new $300m data centre in Pyrmont on the fringe of the CBD, adjacent to its existing data centre.

According to Global Switch, construction of the 34,000 square metre facilities, dubbed Sydney 2 - is planned to commence in Q2 2011 with completion 18 months and will create 400 construction jobs and around 50 full time permanent jobs.

However, as iTWire reported earlier this month, according to Global Switch's environmental assessment report, release by the NSW Government in March, the facility would have "A purpose built six storey building above three basement levels, accommodating a total a total gross floor area of 22,285 m² with a back up plant area of 15,227 m²," and would cost $200m.

The report said: "The upgraded and expanded facilities are anticipated to attract hundreds of millions of dollars worth of business investment into NSW and the Sydney CBD. In doing so, this development will both directly and indirectly assist in creating and maintaining employment."

Global Switch is also planning to expand into Melbourne. The report said: "As a result of [our] highly successful integration into the Australian market and the growing demand for world class data centre facilities, Global Switch has decided to rapidly expand its operations within Australia.

"Locations within both Sydney and Melbourne have been targeted for future development. The take up of regional facilities will be dependent on the timeframe for procurement of new facilities within each region but at this stage Sydney has been selected by Global Switch as its priority."

Global Switch said that Sydney 2 would be "a leading example of an environmentally sustainable data centre incorporating innovative design initiatives aimed at achieving long-term energy efficiency.

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