How proposed data centre at Petrie Mill site could supercharge Moreton Bay region

An under-the-radar southeast Queensland region could be set to become a tech powerhouse, thanks to the addition of a new data centre that will join other infrastructure at a major new development.

Drone pictures of the development of The Mill at Moreton Bay. Councillors voted to approve calling for expressions of interest for a new data centre at the site on Wednesday.

The Moreton Bay region could become a tech powerhouse with the addition of a new data centre at the Petrie Mill Redevelopment site.

Moreton Bay councillors voted unanimously at Wednesday’s meeting to call for expressions of interest in building a data centre at The Mill and for another expression of interest for energy projects at the site.

The first round of EOIs will be released next month and call for best-practice telecommunications and data infrastructure at The Mill.

Moreton Bay mayor Peter Flannery said the process was about securing future investment at the site and building better digital infrastructure.

Concept designs of The Mill at Moreton Bay, showing the various districts including the Central (blue), Innovation (yellow), Urban (red), Transit (purple) and Green (green) areas.

“A data centre strategically placed at the Mill perfectly complements the knowledge and innovation vision for precinct, and provides an access point to the soon-to-be-completed international undersea cable at Maroochydore,” Cr Flannery said.

“The cable will deliver Australia’s fastest telecommunications transmission speeds to Asia and the second fastest to the USA.”

Cr Flannery said the proposed data centre would be used to meet the digital needs of the region and provide secure data storage for businesses.

He said several operators had already expressed interest in locating to The Mill.

A review and assessment on the expressions is scheduled for October.

Wednesday’s motion comes just a few weeks after the council committed $25 million from the budget to upgrading the site.

How the $25 million will be spent on The Mill:

• Completion of the Stage 1 road and streetscape network within Mill Central.
• Completion of the district park, including the oval, adventure and water play facilities, amenities, BBQ areas and parking.
• Upgrade to Wyllie Park, including enhanced landscaping in line with its local heritage significance.
• Koala Habitat revegetation and habitat plantings on remediated land once occupied by the old paper mill.
• Works to the site’s existing gravel lakes precinct to eventually see it returned as a community asset.
• Concept design for Dohles Rocks Road connection, which will be a new road linking Mill Central to Dohles Rocks Road.
• Ongoing economic and town planning works to facilitate the strategic attraction of business and community uses within The Mill Central precinct.