The New South Wales government has approved plans for a new hyperscale data centre development at Stockland’s MPark precinct in Macquarie Park, Sydney, advancing the developer’s ambitions to expand digital infrastructure in one of Australia’s largest technology hubs.
The project, located at 1-5 Khartoum Road, was granted approval under the state’s State Significant Development pathway by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. The facility will form part of Stage 2 of Stockland’s MPark development, a technology-focused precinct within Sydney’s Macquarie Park innovation district.
“Stockland is pleased to have received State Significant Development Application (SSDA) approval for the Talavera Road Data Centre to be built as part of Stage 2 of the MPark precinct in Macquarie Park,” a Stockland spokesperson said. “The Talavera Road Data Centre will provide a new secure location for much-needed data storage in Sydney and increase the speed of digital access for customers across NSW.”
“The data centre will also contribute to the innovation district’s ongoing evolution into a highly connected global technology and economic hub,” added the spokesperson.
Six-storey facility planned
The approved development will replace an existing multi-storey car park with a six-storey data centre building with a gross floor area of approximately 19,434 sqm, according to project documentation. The facility will include three levels of technical data halls alongside office and support space. Plans outline the creation of 12 data halls within the building, with the project designed to operate 24 hours a day once completed. The site covers roughly 10,015 sqm within Macquarie Park, around 12km north-west of Sydney’s CBD and within walking distance of both Macquarie University and Macquarie Park Metro stations.
The proposed development includes backup power infrastructure and associated utilities, with planning documents indicating 28 diesel generators, water tanks, and supporting electrical systems required to operate the facility. Stockland submitted the SSDA for the Talavera Road Data Centre to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) in December 2024.
Part of broader digital strategy
The Macquarie Park project sits within a broader push by Stockland to expand into the data centre sector. The developer has partnered with US operator EdgeConneX in a 50:50 joint venture to build, own, and operate a portfolio of hyperscale data centres across Australia. The MPark site is one of the first locations identified for development, with more than 100 MW of power secured for the precinct.
Macquarie Park has increasingly become a focal point for data centre development due to its proximity to major network infrastructure, technology companies, and research institutions. The area already hosts numerous global technology firms and research facilities and is considered one of Sydney’s largest employment centres outside the CBD.
With planning approval now granted, Stockland said it will move forward with the next stage of the project. This will include the detailed design and construction tendering process. Construction timing has not yet been confirmed, although previous plans indicated work could begin as part of the broader MPark Stage 2 rollout.
The approval also comes as Stockland expands its involvement in digital infrastructure beyond data centres. The company recently announced a national partnership with telecommunications infrastructure provider Waveconn to deploy new mobile towers across its masterplanned residential communities, aimed at improving mobile coverage and reliability as developments grow. Stockland said the initiative forms part of its broader strategy to embed digital connectivity into new communities, alongside its recently formalised 50:50 joint venture with US operator EdgeConneX.