NEXTDC M4: 162MW AI Factory & Sovereign Tech Campus
Status: Approved / Pre-Construction (April 2026) | Location: Former Westgate Park Printing Complex, port melbourne
Project Overview
M4 Melbourne represents a significant evolution in Australia’s data center landscape, reflecting both the scale and specialization required by next-generation digital workloads. Backed by a $2 billion investment and now fully approved for development, the project is designed not just as a data center but as an integrated technology hub aligned with national priorities around AI capability, advanced manufacturing, and defense resilience.
From a technical standpoint, M4 pushes well beyond conventional infrastructure limits. Its ability to support rack densities of up to 1,000kW positions it at the frontier of high-performance computing environments. This is enabled by direct-to-chip, closed-loop liquid cooling systems that dramatically improve thermal efficiency while reducing reliance on traditional air cooling. The use of non-potable recycled water further reflects a deliberate focus on sustainability, particularly important given the energy and cooling demands of large-scale AI deployments.
Strategically located within the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct, M4 is intended to operate as more than a colocation facility. The planned Technology Centre of Excellence will foster collaboration between industry, academia, and government, accelerating research and commercialization in critical sectors. In this sense, M4 symbolizes a broader transformation shifting the area from its industrial heritage toward a digitally driven, sovereign AI-enabled economy for Victoria.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | NEXTDC M4: 162MW AI Factory & Sovereign Tech Campus |
| Location | Former Westgate Park Printing Complex, port melbourne |
| Status | Approved / Pre-Construction (April 2026) |
| Commissioning | Expected Phase 1 Online: Late 2027 |
| Total IT Load | 162.0 MW |
| Total Capacity | Hyperscale AI Factory + Mission-Critical Operations Centre |
| Tier Level | Tier IV (Sovereign-Grade / Fault-Tolerant) |
| Project Type | Giga-Scale AI Factory & Innovation Precinct |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | melbourne |
| Population | City Proper (Estimated 2026): ~5.2–5.3 million |
| Urban Agglomeration | ~5.3+ million (Greater Melbourne region) |
| City GDP | ~USD 320–380 billion |
| Per Capita Income | Approx.: USD 65,000–75,000 |
| City Tier | Global Alpha City (Beta+ to Alpha tier depending on index) |
| Key Strengths | Strong finance, banking, and professional services sector |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
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| Developer / Operator | NEXTDC |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | NVIDIA-Certified AI Factory / Fishermans Bend Innovation Hub. |
| Construction Contractor | NEXTDC GDC / Tier 1 Australian EPC Partners. |
| MEP Engineering | Tier IV Gold for Operational Sustainability; $2N$ Redundancy. |
| Network Connectivity | Tera-scale fiber ring connecting M1, M2, and M3 campuses. |
| Power Infrastructure | 162 MW; Direct high-voltage transmission tie-in. |
Technical Specifications
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| Power Capacity | 162.0 MW |
| UPS Redundancy | Tier IV Fault-Tolerant (Full Mechanical/Electrical Backup). |
| Cooling System | Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling (Closed-loop). |
| Connectivity | Core sovereign node for Australia's AI and research sectors. |
| PUE Target | < 1.10 (Optimized for AI high-density loads) |
| Energy Mix | 100% Carbon Neutral (Climate Active) + Recycled Water Use. |
Milestones
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| Announcement | April 20, 2026 (Record Growth & Funding Announcement) |
| Construction Start | Late 2026 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | 2027 |
| Full Buildout | 2030 |
Investment Details
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| Total Investment | A$2.0 Billion |
| Funding | A$2.2bn Capital Plan / Institutional Entitlement Offer. |