Singapore firm’s $1.1 billion data centre plan for former Ford plant meets local resistance

Singapore-based Zerra DC has lodged a $1.1 billion development application to convert the disused Broadmeadows Ford plant into a six-building data centre, branded Project Dune, which would consume 336 MW of power over a 12-year construction period. The company projects 407 construction jobs per year and 670 ongoing positions, estimating a $158 million boost to the Victorian economy. Local residents, including former employee Zoe and campaigner Anastasia Drapaniotis, express concerns about constant traffic, noise and uncertain long-term career prospects.

Federal MP Basem Abdo questions whether the site will deliver secure, well-paid jobs comparable to its manufacturing past. The proposal was submitted directly to the state under fast-track rules, prompting the Victorian Environment Protection Authority to object over noise and cumulative impacts. Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny has not yet decided, and Hume City Council, joined by three neighboring councils, has moved for a temporary halt on data-centre approvals. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the need for national standards to protect communities as Australia pursues AI-related investment.