AirTrunk Proposes Kurri Kurri Data Centre on Former Smelter Site, Pledging A$37M in Community Infrastructure

AirTrunk has unveiled plans to develop a new data centre on the former Kurri Kurri smelter site at Hart Road in Loxford, within the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia, as demand for digital infrastructure continues to surge across the country. The proposal underscores the growing role of data centres in supporting everyday digital services — from messaging and video streaming to online banking, photo storage and artificial intelligence — and arrives as more businesses and households migrate their operations online, fuelling the need for reliable, fast and secure computing capacity.

The proposed facility has been designed to operate without using community water for cooling, relying instead on air-based cooling technology. Minimal water use will be limited to sanitary facilities, kitchens and cleaning. The site sits more than 500 metres from the nearest residential home in an area zoned for industrial use, adjacent to the four-lane Hunter Expressway and near existing heavy infrastructure, a location AirTrunk says was selected to minimise noise and environmental impacts on surrounding communities.

The economic footprint of the project is substantial. AirTrunk expects the data centre to generate more than 350 ongoing local jobs over the coming decades, including 250 on-site roles and over 100 off-site positions supporting the facility, with several thousand additional jobs anticipated during the construction phase. Opportunities will span construction, engineering, electrical and mechanical services, supply chain, facilities operations, maintenance, security, administration, landscaping and cleaning. The company said it will partner with local suppliers and regional education and training providers to create apprenticeships, work experience and career pathways across both technical and non-technical roles.

Beyond employment, AirTrunk has engaged with Cessnock City Council and submitted a draft offer to contribute more than A$37 million toward district infrastructure. This includes over A$12 million for the Council's broader-catchment share of the proposed Loxford District Sporting Facility and Multipurpose Community Facility. The company also plans to extend its Social Impact Program to the Hunter Region, building on A$6.8 million in donations and commitments made to selected charities since the program's establishment in March 2025. AirTrunk is working with existing partners including Australian Red Cross, DeadlyScience and Rural Aid to localise activities during the delivery phase, with proposed initiatives covering bushfire preparedness, STEM and cultural learning in local schools, and practical support for farms and rural communities.

On energy, AirTrunk said it will fund the full cost of grid connection and the delivery of a new on-site substation, with the proposed site connecting via a 132kV power line. The company said this will help unlock investment in new renewable generation, including projects in the New England Renewable Energy Zone, and that it will support new renewable generation projects in the region to supply renewable electricity to the facility. AirTrunk is also developing a Community Energy Program, subject to approvals, that could provide nearby eligible households with a A$200 annual deduction on their electricity bills, supported by investment in a community battery.

The proposal remains subject to planning approval. AirTrunk has outlined a process that includes requesting Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements, preparing an Environmental Impact Statement, exhibiting the Development Application, responding to submissions, and awaiting assessment and determination by the relevant authority. A community drop-in centre will operate at the Kurri Kurri Visitor Information Centre at 199 Lang Street throughout October, open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 2pm, where residents can learn more about the proposal and speak with the AirTrunk team.