ADC to build new $100m Tier 3 data centre in Canberra

Company to target the Federal Government's whole-of-government data centre strategy

Australian Data Centres (ADC) will open up a 3000 square metre Tier 3 facility in Mitchell, Canberra, by the third quarter of 2010.

The new facility will comprise at least a $100 million investment with ADC targeting the Federal Government's whole of government data centre strategy.

ADC commercial director, Megan James, said the company had received substantial interest from clients — who will be announced in coming months — looking for a purpose-built data centre that operated under leading sustainability practices.

"It is that next generation of data centres and sustainability and power and cooling are things being taken into account,” she said. “We are putting it into Canberra because we know the demand is there. We didn't want to sit on our hands any longer and wait for these sorts of things to come out. Everything we do will fit in with the strategy — obviously we have had several detailed meetings with the appropriate departments but the strategy hasn't come out yet."

In late September, five data centre providers were chosen to service Federal Government agencies while they develop whole-of-government strategies as part of the Gershon Review.

Polaris Data Centres, Canberra Data Centres, Fujitsu, Global Switch Property and Harbour MSP were selected after submitting to the Department of Finance and Regulation’s Express of Interest Tender opened in May.

Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner, said he would not opt for one supplier or a super data centre as part of the whole-of-government plan and that the strategy was well underway. Sources say it is expected early next year.

The Gershon Review, which was publicly released in October, noted the absence of a whole-of-government strategic plan for data centres could cost taxpayers up to $1 billion over 15 years if a more coordinated approach wasn’t implemented.

ADC's announcement follows news from Fujitsu that it will build a new data centre in Perth, Western Australia and also reports that Melbourne, Sydney and Wollongong could play host to new world-class data centres as part of investment plans by a joint venture group that includes the company behind the Polaris facility in Queensland.

At ADC's new facility about 20 people will be brought on for day to day operations. The company has also brought on ‘industry experts’ Arup to design the facility to meet emerging US EPA gold star ratings.

Check out photos of HP's data centre in Sydney or Internode's facility in South Australia.

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Tags gershonADC

More about ADCFederal GovernmentFujitsuGlobal SwitchHewlett-Packard AustraliaHPInternodeTier 3

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