Digital Realty: Melbourne Project to Boost Economy

Digital Realty says its new data centre project near Melbourne, Australia is expected to have an economic impact on the region estimated at $365 million Australian ($392 million US). The data center developer discussed its plans during a groundbreaking today for the first of two planned data centres at Deer Park in the Western Melbourne Region. The event was attended by the Victorian Government Minister for Technology, Gordon Rich-Phillips, as well as members of the business community.

"In addition to direct economic impact projected to be approximately $365 million, we believe there will be a ripple effect on regional businesses which will also benefit western Melbourne significantly," said Kris Kumar, Regional Head, Asia Pacific at Digital Realty. "There is also potential for training and skills development for employees in small to medium enterprises in the data centre industry."

Digital Realty completed the acquisition of the 30,250 square meter development site within the Paramount Industrial Park development in August 2011 for $A4.1 million. The company has already announced that National Australia Bank has signed a long-term Turn-Key Datacentre lease for the first building at 98 Radnor Drive. The lease was signed in the fourth quarter of 2011.

The new 5,000 square metre data centre facility is scheduled for completion in early 2013. The first building constructed will be capable of supporting the development of two 1440 kW Turn-Key Datacentre PODs. The second project, 72 Radnor Drive, will be capable of supporting the development of four 440 kW Turn-Key Datacentre PODs.

The data centre developments are expected to provide approximately 220 direct jobs in the construction and operations phases, and more than 450 additional indirect jobs in the region.

"We are actively engaged in discussions with a number of serious prospects for our Australian data centres," said Kumar. "With our Australian staff in place, we are able to deliver secure, reliable and cost effective data centre solutions to customers that are expanding their IT operations in the region."