NEXTDC lodges application for second Sunshine Coast data centre

ASX-listed data centre operator NEXTDC has lodged a development application for a second facility in Maroochydore's city centre, on the Sunshine Coast.

The application, submitted to Economic Development Queensland, seeks approval for a five-storey data centre on South Sea Islander Way.

NEXTDC's new facility wiil be adjacent to its existing SC1 data centre, which houses the region's international submarine cable landing station.

To be known as SC2, the proposed centre will provide digital infrastructure to meet growing demand for the Sunshine Coast.

SC1 is nearing full capacity, the application said, and a second facility is required to meet the growing demands of the rapidly growing city centre of Maroochydore.

The purpose-built facility will include data halls, standby power generators, and ancillary offices with meeting spaces.

It will have a gross floor area for SC2 is 7347.73m² with two 45 metre data halls.

Planned capacity for SC2 is 6 megawatts.

On the ground floor there will be front-of-house facilities that includes collaborative work areas, meeting rooms, a small auditorium and breakout spaces.

The application highlights the strategic importance of the site's proximity to the international submarine cable, which connects the Sunshine Coast directly to global digital networks and places the region "on the international business map as a leading investment destination for commerce and industry."

Architectus has designed the building with consideration for its context, incorporating articulated facades, horizontal banding and varied materials to break up the building's mass.

The design includes substantial landscaping along South Sea Islander Way and Sunshine Coast Parade frontages.

NEXTDC has undertaken extensive consultation with Economic Development Queensland and SunCentral throughout the design process.

If approved, the data centre will be operational well before the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in which Maroochydore will play a significant role.

The development application is currently under assessment by Economic Development Queensland.