Ford's factory 'helped make Australia'. Can a data centre have the same legacy?
For more than half a century, this Ford manufacturing plant was known as the home of the iconic Falcon. Now there is a proposal to turn it into a giant data centre and locals are worried.
Ford's former Broadmeadows factory in Melbourne, once the hub of Australian manufacturing for the iconic Falcon, is now being repurposed as the cornerstone of Australia's AI revolution. The $1.1 billion data centre project, known as Project Dune, is set to be built over six buildings and consume a staggering 336MW of power. However, the plans have sparked controversy among local residents who are concerned about the potential impact on their community and the long-term job prospects.
While the project is expected to create around 670 jobs once fully operational, the current construction phase will only generate 407 jobs annually, which may not be enough to satisfy the community's expectations for sustainable employment. Despite efforts by Zerra DC to engage with the community through various channels, including a dedicated project website and community survey, many residents remain skeptical about the long-term benefits the data centre will bring to the area.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
