Anthropic to power Claude from $30B Queensland data centre
US AI company Anthropic will use a $30 billion data centre west of Brisbane to run Claude.
The Western Downs Digital Park is planned for cattle country 250 kilometres west of Brisbane and would cost some $30 billion to build. The facility would provide computing power for Anthropic's Claude program.
Operating the facility would require 2.16 gigawatts of electricity. That is roughly the same as powering 1.6 million homes.
Local residents are already opposing the project. A petition to Queensland parliament has gathered 1,340 signatures in two weeks.
Concerns include scale, noise, water use, traffic, environmental impact and construction. The data centre is awaiting regulatory approval.
It is scheduled to open next year. Anthropic plans to use the facility for running Claude rather than training it.
The company says this means Australian writers and artists are not affected.
- $30 billion
- Project cost
- 250 kilometres west
- Location from Brisbane
- 2.16 gigawatts (1.6 million homes)
- Electricity requirement
- 1340 in two weeks
- Petition signatures
Why it mattersThe deal tests whether the Albanese government can promote AI investment while managing public anger over energy-hungry data centres. These centres need lots of power to run AI systems.
AustraliaAustralian energy grid faces new strain from massive power demand. Regional Queensland community faces years of construction activity and infrastructure pressure. The facility could bring jobs and investment, but local opposition suggests the government faces a difficult balancing act between supporting AI and managing community concerns.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 8 d ago
