Brooklyn

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

Our Brooklyn facility is located within an established industrial setting which is well suited to critical digital infrastructure. The location provides access to the services and connectivity needed to support data centre operations, while its position within an existing industrial precinct helps minimise potential impacts on surrounding communities.

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 Brooklyn Campus is a purpose-built, long-term facility designed to provide secure, reliable digital infrastructure while fitting within Brooklyn’s established industrial precinct.

The campus currently includes two operational data centre facilities, supported by the specialist infrastructure and systems needed to maintain secure and reliable operations around the clock. Operating since 2024, the campus will continue to develop over time to meet growing demand for digital infrastructure in Victoria and nationally.

In addition, the site has on-site car parking and office facilities to support day-to-day operations and management of the data centre.

CDC facilities create jobs during both construction and ongoing operations.

• During construction: A typical CDC facility provides work for hundreds of tradespeople and construction workers over the building period.
• Ongoing operations: Once running, our facilities employ people in roles including trades, facility maintenance, security, engineering, and IT services. These are long-term, skilled positions.
• Local spending: CDC is 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.

The Brooklyn facility has supported thousands of jobs across construction, engineering, skilled trades, security and ongoing operations.

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 and construction.

The site layout was 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 now operational is comparable to typical suburban background noise levels.

Ongoing monitoring and management measures ensure noise levels remain within approved limits and that the facility continues to operate responsibly within the local community.

CDC's Brooklyn data centre uses 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.

CDC pays for all its energy connections, upgrades and usage.

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. Actual emergency use is uncommon and brief.

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.

All proposed upgrades and energy usage are 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.

CDC's Brooklyn data centre is designed to minimise water use using this technology. 

Beyond cooling, water use at the Brooklyn data centre is 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 listen to local feedback, share updates on progress and work collaboratively with the community as a long-term neighbour.

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.

CDC's Brooklyn data centre operates 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.

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

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

The 24/7 operating model is consistent with the activity in the industrial precinct and the important role data centres play in supporting the digital economy.