AirTrunk Pledges $18.18 Million in Community Benefits for Proposed Mickleham Data Center in Melbourne, Australia

AirTrunk has detailed how a proposed data centre campus at 45 Donnybrook Road, Mickleham, in Melbourne's north would be accompanied by a USD 18.18 million package of community investment should the project clear planning and environmental approvals.

Funds would flow to skills, sport, and education

Of that total, USD 10.29 million, the largest single component, would be allocated to education and training facilities in the Mickleham area, which the company says would allow local residents to learn and study closer to home.

A further USD 4.46 million would fund a Victorian Skills Partnership aimed at building the electrical and technical workforce required for data centres, energy infrastructure and broader electrification.

The remaining USD 3.43 million would go towards delivering local sporting and recreation infrastructure, supporting what AirTrunk describes as community participation and wellbeing.

Beyond the financial package, the company is proposing an expanded Social Impact Program across Melbourne's northern suburbs, offering ongoing support through partnerships in education, biodiversity and conservation, and digital inclusion.

Over a thousand ongoing jobs projected

AirTrunk says the proposal would support more than 1,000 ongoing local jobs if built, with additional opportunities for workers, suppliers, and businesses arising during the construction phase. The company frames the campus as bringing long-term employment, local business opportunities, and investment to the area.

Design addresses water, noise, and power

The campus design includes features AirTrunk says respond to common concerns raised about data centre developments. The facility is designed to use air-based cooling and would not draw on community water for cooling during normal operations.

The site would sit more than 400 metres from the nearest home, and the design aims to screen equipment and minimise noise beyond the site boundary. On energy, AirTrunk states it will fund the infrastructure needed to connect the campus to the Victorian transmission network.

The company has also committed to matching its electricity use with renewable energy and says it is exploring opportunities to support new renewable energy projects.

November information sessions planned

The company is running community information sessions and a webinar in November to explain the proposal and collect feedback on local opportunities, community benefits, and construction impacts. Details are available on the company website.

Rob Bartrop, Associate Vice President of Social Impact & Community at AirTrunk, said the company places importance on local engagement.

"We want to engage with people who live and work in Mickleham and the surrounding area," Bartrop said. "We're committed to keeping the community informed, creating opportunities for people to participate in the training, employment, and procurement opportunities, and investing into much-needed community infrastructure in Melbourne's northern suburbs."

Approvals still required

The Mickleham campus remains subject to planning and environmental approvals, and the company's announcement provides no timeline for a final decision. AirTrunk has pointed residents and businesses to its website for further information, including consultation details.

The proposal adds to AirTrunk's existing presence in the Australian market, with the company positioning the project as combining digital infrastructure with community benefits in one of Melbourne's growth corridors.

The announcement was published on AirTrunk's website, covering both the scale of the development and the investment commitments tied to its approval.