Marsden Park, Sydney NSW

A data centre is a building that houses powerful computers called servers. These servers store, process and manage the digital information behind everyday services, including online banking, shopping, government services and emergency systems.

CDC only builds in areas that are already zoned for industrial or similar use: we don't build in residential neighbourhoods.

We choose locations based on several practical factors:

• Access to major power infrastructure
• Availability of high-speed internet connections
• Appropriate zoning under local and state planning rules
• Ability to employ local workforce
• Ability to use local businesses in the supply chain
• Ability to partner with local TAFE and vocational education providers for building future workforce
• Ability to be a good neighbour to surrounding properties

Marsden Park is well connected to the infrastructure needed to support construction and operation. It is located within the industrial and logistics precinct and is separated from nearest residential areas by land that is zoned for a future motorway extension. 

Locating the facility within an industrial area, on land already owned by CDC, helps minimise potential impacts on surrounding communities and the environment while making efficient use of existing services and transport connections.

Every CDC development goes through a full planning assessment, including opportunities for community members to have their say.

We know that what a building looks like matters to neighbours, and we take this seriously.

CDC data centres are designed to be good-looking, long-lasting neighbours. Here's what that means in practice:

• Quality materials: We use materials that look good and age well over time - these facilities are built to last 50+ years
• Landscaping: We plant trees and native vegetation around our sites to soften the visual impact and blend with the local environment
• Professional design: We work with qualified architects and urban designers to make sure each facility fits its local context
• Visual amenity: our buildings are designed to blend into the surrounding landscape and enhance it, while remaining relatively discreet. We don’t use striking colours, lighting or other “branding” elements.

The Marsden Park data centre will be a purpose-designed, long-term facility that combines high-quality materials, thoughtful landscaping and modern infrastructure to create a secure and functional site.

It will consist of five four-storey buildings and one two-storey building that will house critical data and technology systems. The site will also include supporting infrastructure such as backup generators, cooling systems and other essential services required to maintain reliable operations.

In addition, the site will have on-site car parking and office facilities to support day-to-day operations and management of the data centre. We are also building a dedicated electrical substation on Hollinsworth Road.

An artist’s impression of the Marsden Park data centre is provided under the project resources section below.

CDC facilities create jobs during both construction and ongoing operations. 

A typical CDC facility provides work for hundreds of tradespeople and construction workers over the building period. At its peak in 2027, Marsden Park will host over 3,000 workers - our biggest workforce yet. 

Once running, our facilities employ people in roles including trades, facility maintenance, security, engineering, and IT services. These are long-term, skilled positions. 

According to economic modelling commissioned by CDC, the proposed data centre would support approximately:

• 3,500 jobs across the NSW supply chain and $2.2 billion of value added to the NSW economy throughout its construction.
• 1,900 ongoing roles and $500 million of value added annually across the NSW economy once operational.

We are committed to using local suppliers and contractors where available. We also bring ongoing economic activity to the area through things like accommodation, catering, and professional services.

CDC is actively recruiting people for well-paid and secure jobs for our data centre operations. Our preference is to always employ people who are local to our data centres. If you or someone you know are interested in a career with CDC, please visit Careers

We understand that noise can be an important consideration for communities and have made it a key focus in the design development process to date.

While the Marsden Park data centre is located within an industrial precinct, we are conscious of minimising any impacts for our nearest residents on Hollinsworth Road, and at Bidwill and Hassell Grove.

The site layout has been carefully configured to locate noise-generating equipment away from the nearest residential areas. We have also incorporated smart acoustic design measures to minimise potential impacts. As a result, noise generated from the facility once operational is expected to be comparable to typical suburban background noise levels.

To develop our sites and receive necessary approvals, CDC must meet stringent noise management standards and we usually go well beyond that.

We will continue to meet all relevant statutory noise requirements. Ongoing monitoring and management measures will ensure noise levels remain within approved limits and that the facility continues to operate responsibly within the local community.

During construction, people and vehicle movements will increase. This will be managed through traffic plans, set routes and safety controls. 

Some traffic measures we have in place at Marsden Park include:

• Parking areas on site and rented from nearby landowners, to minimise impact on local parking
• An additional site entrance accessible by Langford Road, to reduce pressure on Hollinsworth Road. 
• Shuttle buses between the site and Schofields Station, to encourage public transport use at peak construction periods.

Once operational, traffic to our sites is comparatively low relative to other industrial uses.

Once operational, the Marsden Park data centre will primarily use electricity to power its critical digital infrastructure.

Most of the electricity in a data centre goes to our customers to keep the digital services we all rely on running safely and reliably - things like banking, healthcare, government services, emergency systems, and everyday online tools.

A small amount of electricity is used to keep our security, cooling and control systems online.

CDC’s approach is to use electricity as efficiently as possible, while matching electricity used for our operations with renewable energy. Through a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy, CDC is working towards its commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2030.

Just like hospitals, airports, and emergency services, our data centres are equipped with emergency stand-by diesel generators. 

Because our generators run so infrequently, emissions are minimal. We comply with all regulatory air quality requirements, and our generator systems are designed to minimise both noise and emissions.

We need to test our generators periodically to make sure they work as intended. This is required by law for critical infrastructure. The generators in Marsden Park will need annual and monthly tests.

• Monthly: each generator will need to be tested for up to 15 minutes each month. We will test up to 10 generators at a time, for a total of 72 hours a month.
• Annually: Once a year, each generator will need to be tested more extensively, for up to one hour each. We will test two generators at a time, for a total of 120 hours each year.

Generator testing does create some noise. Testing will take place between 9am and 4pm, to minimise impacts on our neighbours.

CDC connects to the grid at a transmission level and does not interact with the local grid that powers homes and businesses.

In order to connect to the transmission, we pay for and build our own dedicated infrastructure that we then share with the grid operators. We only connect to the grid where there is enough spare capacity so we don’t compete with other users for power.

CDC is working closely with Transgrid to maintain the reliability of the network. Our work includes electrical upgrades along Hollinsworth Road to ensure reliable power availability for the data centre, and to improve the overall energy supply to Marsden Park. Our site also includes space for a new electricity substation, to accommodate future energy needs.

All proposed upgrades and energy usage will be paid for by CDC.

Once connected, our electricity use is very steady and predictable, unlike other industrial operations that have big spikes in demand. This actually helps the electricity grid remain stable and can lower prices for consumers as we cover a large portion of the existing infrastructure costs.

• CDC pays for all our own electricity infrastructure - including any upgrades needed to connect to the grid. We don't pass these costs on to local households or businesses.
• Our predictable energy use helps network operators plan better and invest more efficiently.
• The fixed costs of running the electricity network get spread across more users, and CDC covers a large portion of that, which may mean lower charges per household.

We work closely with energy regulators and network operators to make sure our connections benefit, rather than burden, the communities where we operate.

You may have read that data centres can use very large amounts of water. This is true for many facilities around the world.

CDC's technology is fundamentally different to the average data centre. Our cooling system is a sealed, closed-loop system. We fill it once when we build the facility and then recirculate it continuously for the life of the data centre. We don't draw water from local supplies on an ongoing basis.

This is different to many data centres that use water to cool their equipment, evaporating it in very large quantities and continuously drawing from local supplies.

The Marsden Park data centre has been designed to minimise water use using this technology. 

Beyond cooling, water use at the Marsden Park data centre will be limited to everyday purposes such as amenities, landscaping and building management, with much of this demand being met through rainwater collected onsite.

We believe in being open, transparent and connected with the communities in which we operate. We will listen to local feedback, share updates on progress and work collaboratively with the community as the project develops.

We are also committed to supporting stronger communities through partnerships with local organisations that make a meaningful difference. We have a history of supporting local initiatives and community groups. 

We will engage with Blacktown City Council and the communities of Marsden Park, Hassall Grove and Bidwill to identify potential projects or local organisations that we can support. If you have an idea, or if you would like to be involved in future engagement, contact our team at Marsden Park Engagement

Once operational, the Marsden Park data centre will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.

Data centre facilities require continuous operation to ensure uninterrupted digital infrastructure services. The site will maintain round-the-clock operational capability, including security, monitoring and essential facility management functions.

While the facility will operate continuously, staffing will vary throughout the day. Most activity will occur during standard business hours, and overnight operations will be limited to essential personnel. Vehicle movements will also generally occur during daytime hours, with after-hours access managed and limited to essential maintenance or emergency activities.

The 24-hour operating model is consistent with operations in Marsden Park industrial precinct and the important role data centres play in supporting the digital economy.

We want to hear from the Marsden Park community. 

We recognise that a new data centre can raise questions about what the project will mean for the local area. We’re committed to providing clear information, listening to local perspectives and keeping the community informed as the project progresses.

There are a number of ways to learn more about the project, ask questions and provide feedback. 

We will continue to be out and about in the community, meeting with local stakeholders and hosting information sessions. We will post details about those sessions here.

You don't need to wait to get in touch. If you have a question or would like to talk to us about the project, you can contact the project team at any time via Marsden Park Engagement