Australian data centre operator CDC is set to build its first major facility in Western Australia, responding to growing demand for high-density computing and artificial intelligence under the AUKUS security pact. The $415 million, 200-megawatt campus will be located in Maddington, about 20 kilometres south-east of Perth, and is expected to be operational in 2026.

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Key Points

• CDC’s WA campus: 200MW high-density data centre, Stage 1 investment $415 million, operational 2026.
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• Designed for AI, cloud computing, and secure government workloads under AUKUS.
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• Features advanced liquid cooling with a zero water consumption system for primary cooling.
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• Includes secure office space, collaborative facilities, and a range of customer amenities.

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Project Significance

The Maddington campus marks CDC’s expansion beyond its eastern seaboard footprint, which currently spans nearly 20 data centres across Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, and Auckland. With Western Australia emerging as a strategic hub for defence and advanced technology – especially under AUKUS, which includes nuclear submarines and joint research in AI and quantum technologies – the project addresses urgent national and regional security needs.

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Further Details: Technology and Strategy

The Maddington project will incorporate cutting-edge liquid cooling and a closed-loop water system, reflecting CDC’s focus on sustainable, high-performance infrastructure. It will also provide office and collaborative spaces for clients, a growing trend among high-security data centre operators.

Located near Perth’s shipyard for Australia’s new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, the facility reinforces WA’s strategic role in national defence infrastructure while supporting commercial AI and cloud workloads.

With construction set to begin shortly, CDC Maddington is poised to become a landmark in Western Australia’s technology and defence landscape – a secure, high-powered hub bridging AI innovation, sovereign infrastructure, and regional security priorities.