Our AI + Data Centre Forum moved the conversation beyond whether this infrastructure is coming to a more important question:
How does the Hunter make sure we benefit from it?
Technology already underpins many of our key industries, including energy and resources, freight and logistics, health, defence and professional services. As our economy and essential services become more dependent on secure access to data, cloud platforms and advanced computing, local infrastructure can also strengthen the region’s resilience and security.
The Hunter has many of the ingredients to attract data centre investment: energy, land, connectivity, industrial capability, a strong technology community and an emerging skills pipeline.
But hosting the infrastructure is only part of the opportunity.
The real value lies in what is built around it: high-value jobs, platforms, intellectual property, skills and, critically, the workloads running through those data centres.
One of the strongest ideas from today was that Hunter data centres should be used for Hunter workloads — helping local institutions and industries apply AI and advanced computing to solve regional problems, improve productivity and build resilience.
That means thinking about the wider opportunity, including the potential for co-location, industrial symbiosis and new uses for energy and waste heat. It also means building AI literacy and capability across a regional economy dominated by small and medium-sized businesses.
Just as importantly, communities need to be involved in decisions about water, power, noise, environmental impacts and local value. Social licence will depend on people understanding what is being proposed, who it will serve and what benefits will stay in the region.
A line from today captured it perfectly:
💡 Make sure it is done for you and with you — not to you.
Our ambition should extend beyond hosting data centres. We should build the skills, businesses, research, technology and local demand that allow the Hunter to participate fully in the AI economy.
