LOCAL FACT CHECK
A $2.5 Billion Data Centre
Is Being Built In Your Suburb.
Right now, in Brendale, Queensland, one of Australia's largest-ever data centre projects is under construction. It will consume more electricity than 188,000 homes, drink millions of litres of water from your local supply, and transform 30 hectares of land next to the South Pine substation. This page is not fear. It's fact. Every number here is sourced, cited, and checkable.
BRENDALE, QLD 4500 — 20km north of Brisbane CBD
800 MW
MAX POWER CAPACITY
~2.9B L
EST. WATER USE / YEAR
~1,400+
CONSTRUCTION JOBS
WHAT EXACTLY IS BEING BUILT?
The "Supernode" is a hyperscale data centre campus developed by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, a US/UK-based infrastructure fund. It sits on 30 hectares of industrial land in Brendale, directly adjacent to Powerlink's South Pine substation — the central hub of Queensland's electricity grid. The project has FIRB (Foreign Investment Review Board) and Moreton Bay Regional Council approval.
The Data Centres
Up to four hyperscale data centre buildings housing servers for major cloud providers (AWS, Google, Microsoft, or similar). These buildings store and process the data that powers AI, streaming, banking, government services, and cloud computing. The facility is marketed as "multi-tenant" — meaning Quinbrook builds the shell, and tech companies rent space inside.
TypeMulti-tenant hyperscale
IT CapacityUp to 2 GW
Power connections3 x 275kV high-voltage
Fibre linkTorus to Maroochydore subsea cable
The Battery (BESS)
A massive Battery Energy Storage System — Australia's second-largest — that stores surplus solar and wind energy and releases it during peak demand. Stage 1 (260 MW / 619 MWh) went live on 17 February 2026. Stages 2 and 3 will bring total capacity to 780 MW / 3,074 MWh.
Stage 1LIVE (260MW/619MWh)
Stage 2Under construction (2026)
Stage 3Planned (2027)
OfftakeOrigin Energy + Stanwell
Financing$722M debt (largest AU BESS)
POWER: WHAT 800 MW ACTUALLY MEANS FOR BRENDALE
An average Queensland household uses about 5,900 kWh per year — that's roughly 0.67 kW of continuous power. Brendale has about 3,842 residents in roughly 1,500 households. Here's how this data centre compares to your suburb:
Enough to power 188,000 Queensland homes. That's every household in Moreton Bay, Redcliffe, Caboolture, and Strathpine combined — several times over.
Your entire suburb — every aircon, every fridge, every light, every TV — uses roughly 1/800th of what this one facility will consume.
THE DATA CENTRE WILL USE 800x MORE POWER THAN YOUR ENTIRE SUBURB
Queensland's largest hospital. The data centre will use more power than 53 Royal Brisbane Hospitals running simultaneously.
100 Westfield Chermsides. That's the scale of electricity this facility will pull from the grid.
THE RENEWABLE CLAIM
Quinbrook says Supernode will be powered by Queensland renewables (solar, wind, hydro). The BESS stores surplus renewable energy. This is genuinely positive — it's better than a coal-powered data centre. However: 800 MW of renewable energy directed to this one facility is 800 MW that can't go to homes, hospitals, or businesses. The question isn't whether the energy is green — it's whether this is the best use of that green energy for Queensland.
WATER: WHERE WILL IT COME FROM?
Data centres generate enormous heat. The primary cooling method used in Australia is evaporative cooling — essentially evaporating water to absorb heat. Industry data shows Australian data centres using evaporative cooling consume approximately 3.6 megalitres of water per megawatt per year. At 800 MW, that's potentially 2,880 megalitres per year — or 2.88 billion litres.
WHAT 2,880 ML/YEAR LOOKS LIKE LOCALLY
Supernode Data Centre (est. at full capacity)
Evaporative cooling at 3.6 ML/MW-year industry benchmark
2,880 ML/yr
All of Brendale's households (~1,500 homes)
Average SEQ household uses ~200 kL/year
~300 ML/yr
North Pine Dam (Lake Samsonvale) — current level
Currently at 50% capacity (107,204 ML). Under safety improvement works until 2027.
107,204 ML
Supernode's share of North Pine Dam (annually)
At current dam levels, this one facility could consume 2.7% of your local dam every year
~2.7%
Equivalent households
The data centre would use as much water as 14,400 households. That's nearly all of Strathpine-Brendale.
14,400 homes
IMPORTANT CONTEXT
Quinbrook has not publicly disclosed what cooling technology Supernode will use. If they adopt closed-loop or liquid immersion cooling (newer technology), water use could be dramatically lower. The 2,880 ML figure is based on the industry standard for evaporative cooling, which is still the most common method in Australian data centres. Until Quinbrook discloses their cooling method, this is the best available estimate. We will update this page when they do.
JOBS: THE HONEST NUMBERS
Data centres create two very different types of employment. The construction phase generates significant local work. The operational phase employs far fewer people — data centres are among the most automated facilities on Earth. Here's the honest breakdown:
CONSTRUCTION PHASE (2024-2028)
Estimated 1,000-2,000+ jobs across all stages of construction. Electricians, concreters, steel workers, plumbers, project managers, engineers.
All Energy Contracting (AEC) awarded construction package. Quinbrook committed to local procurement from Brisbane and SEQ.
$722 million in debt financing for Stages 1-2 alone — much of this flows to local contractors and suppliers.
Multi-year construction timeline means sustained employment, not one-off work. Each stage is a major project.
Temporary by nature. Once built, these jobs end. Construction workers move to the next project.
OPERATIONAL PHASE (ONGOING)
Estimated 50-150 permanent staff for a facility this size. Data centres are highly automated. Security, maintenance techs, network engineers, facility managers.
Most operational jobs are specialist roles. Network engineers, cooling system techs, cybersecurity — roles that often require importing talent rather than local hiring.
Indirect jobs are real: security contractors, cleaning, catering, fibre maintenance, emergency services.
The BESS operations support grid stability, indirectly protecting jobs that depend on reliable power.
For comparison: A Bunnings warehouse employs ~120 staff and serves the local community daily. This $2.5B facility will employ a similar number.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS
If you live in Brendale, Strathpine, Bray Park, Lawnton, Petrie, or anywhere in the Moreton Bay region — this project will affect your daily life. Some effects are positive. Some are not. All are real.
Your Power Bills
The BESS helps stabilise the grid and integrate renewables, which should help reduce wholesale electricity costs. But 800 MW of demand competing for the same renewable supply could put upward pressure on retail prices if supply doesn't keep pace.
MIXED IMPACT
Your Water Supply
North Pine Dam is at 50% capacity and under repair works. If this facility uses evaporative cooling, it could consume 2.7% of the dam annually. During drought (and SEQ has had severe ones), this becomes a direct competition between data servers and your tap water.
POTENTIAL RISK
Traffic & Roads
Construction phase: Heavy vehicle movements, road modifications near South Pine Road. Expect congestion during peak build periods. Operational phase: Minimal — data centres generate almost no regular traffic.
TEMPORARY DISRUPTION
Local Economy
$1.4+ billion invested in Moreton Bay. Construction workers eat at local cafes, stay at local accommodation, use local services. Council rates revenue from a $2.5B facility will be substantial and ongoing.
POSITIVE
Noise & Amenity
Data centres run 24/7. Cooling systems (fans, chillers) generate constant low-frequency hum. The BESS systems also produce noise during charge/discharge cycles. The Brendale site is in an industrial area, which limits residential impact — but nearby homes in Strathpine may notice.
LOCATION DEPENDENT
Grid Reliability
The 780 MW BESS will be Australia's second-largest battery. During storms, heatwaves, or grid emergencies, it can power 188,000 homes during evening peak. This directly improves power reliability for every SEQ resident.
SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT
Property Values
Industrial-scale data centres can affect nearby property values in both directions. Brendale is already industrial, so impact is limited. But Strathpine and Bray Park properties closest to the site should monitor noise and visual amenity changes.
MONITOR
Digital Infrastructure
Supernode connects to the Japan-Guam-Australia subsea cable via Maroochydore. This makes SEQ a significant node in global data infrastructure. Long-term, this could attract more tech companies to the region — but it also makes the area a strategic target in a conflict scenario.
DOUBLE-EDGED
PROJECT TIMELINE
2022
Project announced. Quinbrook reveals $2.5B Supernode plan for Brendale. FIRB and Moreton Bay Council approvals secured. Site acquired adjacent to South Pine substation.
2023
Phase 1 financial close. Origin Energy signs 12-year offtake for BESS. Construction planning and site preparation begins.
2024
Major construction begins. Powerlink installs 275kV conduits (500m). All Energy Contracting awarded Stage 1 build. $722M debt financing secured (largest standalone BESS in AU).
JAN 2025
North Pine Dam reduced to 54% capacity for safety improvement works. Dam strengthening project begins (2024-2027).
FEB 2026
BESS Stage 1 goes live: 260 MW / 619 MWh. Commercial operations begin. Grid-connected and dispatching to NEM.
2026
Stage 2 under construction. 260 MW / 1,239 MWh additional BESS. Stanwell signs offtake for Stage 3. Data centre buildings: tenant marketing active, no public tenant announcements yet.
2027
Stage 3 BESS targeted. Total battery capacity reaches 780 MW / 3,074 MWh. North Pine Dam improvement works scheduled to complete. Data centre buildings expected to begin operations.
2028+
Full buildout. All four hyperscale buildings operational. Up to 800 MW power draw. Full water and power impact felt by local grid and supply.
THE HONEST BALANCE SHEET
Every major infrastructure project has trade-offs. Here's Supernode's, laid out plainly so you can make up your own mind.
WHAT BRENDALE GAINS
$2.5B investment in Moreton Bay — largest single private investment in the region's history.
1,000-2,000+ construction jobs over 4+ years, with Quinbrook committed to local procurement.
780 MW battery (AU's 2nd largest) that stabilises the grid, powers 188,000 homes at peak, and integrates renewables.
Significant council rates revenue from a multi-billion dollar property — funding local roads, parks, services.
Global connectivity — positions SEQ as a major digital infrastructure hub ahead of 2032 Olympics.
Renewable-powered. Unlike many global data centres, this one claims 100% renewable energy sourcing.
WHAT BRENDALE PAYS
Up to 2.88 billion litres of water/year from an already-stressed local supply (North Pine Dam at 50%).
800 MW of renewable energy directed to one facility instead of homes, hospitals, and local businesses.
Only 50-150 permanent jobs for a $2.5B facility. A Bunnings employs similar numbers.
Profits flow offshore. Quinbrook is a US/UK fund. Revenue from tenants goes to international investors, not Moreton Bay.
No public tenant disclosure. We don't know who will operate inside or what data will be stored there.
Strategic vulnerability. Subsea cable connection makes it a potential target in military/cyber conflicts (as seen in the 2026 crisis).
THE BIGGER PICTURE: BRENDALE IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
Brendale's Supernode is not unique. It's part of a global data centre explosion driven by AI demand. But understanding what's happening locally helps you see the pattern playing out worldwide.
Australia's Data Centre Boom
Australia's data centre capacity is projected to grow from 1,350 MW to 3,100 MW by 2030. That's a 130% increase. Total energy use: 3.9 TWh/year currently, rising fast. Data centres already consume 2% of Australia's entire grid power.
AI Is The Driver
This isn't about storing your photos. AI training and inference is what demands hyperscale facilities. A single AI model training run can use as much power as 100 homes for a year. Every ChatGPT conversation, every Google AI search — it runs on facilities like this one.
2032 Brisbane Olympics
Supernode is positioned as digital infrastructure for the Olympics. Broadcasting, AI-powered event management, cybersecurity, smart city systems — all need massive compute. Whether this benefits Brendale residents specifically is debatable.
QUESTIONS EVERY LOCAL SHOULD BE ASKING
What cooling system will the data centre use?
This is the single most important unanswered question. Evaporative cooling (the current industry standard) could consume 2.88 billion litres of water annually. Closed-loop or liquid immersion cooling would use a fraction of that. Quinbrook has not disclosed their plans. Moreton Bay Council and local residents should demand this information before the data centre buildings become operational.
What happens during the next drought?
SEQ experienced severe drought from 2001-2009. Dam levels dropped below 17%. Will the data centre be subject to the same water restrictions as households? Or will it have a separate commercial allocation that's exempt? Who gets priority — your garden or their servers? These contracts need to be public.
Who are the tenants, and what data will they store?
As of March 2026, no tenants have been publicly announced. Will it host Australian government data? Foreign intelligence systems? Social media platforms? Military AI? The community has a right to know what's operating in their suburb, especially given the facility's connection to international subsea cables.
Where do the profits actually go?
Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners is headquartered in Houston, Texas and London, UK. They manage funds for global institutional investors. While the investment creates local construction activity, the ongoing rental income from tenants flows to international shareholders. Council rates are the primary ongoing local financial return.
Is 50-150 permanent jobs worth 800 MW of power and 2.9 billion litres of water?
This is the question only you can answer. For context: a large manufacturing plant might employ 500-2,000 people permanently while using a fraction of the resources. A hospital employs thousands and directly serves the community. Data centres generate enormous economic value — but that value is distributed to tech companies and their shareholders, not proportionally to the local community hosting the physical infrastructure.
What's the decommissioning plan?
Data centre technology evolves rapidly. In 20-30 years, this facility may be obsolete. Who pays for decommissioning? What happens to the site? Will Quinbrook restore the land, or will Brendale be left with 30 hectares of abandoned industrial infrastructure? These conditions should be written into development approvals.
SOURCES — EVERY FACT ON THIS PAGE IS CHECKABLE
We believe in transparency. Every statistic, claim, and figure on this page comes from verifiable public sources. Click any link to check for yourself.
This Is Your Suburb. These Are Your Resources.
This page exists so you can have an informed conversation about what's being built next door. Not fear. Not hype. Just facts. Share it with your neighbours, your local councillor, and anyone who should know what 800 MW and 2.9 billion litres of water means for Brendale, for Moreton Bay, and for Queensland.