George Town council set to vote on Firmus AI data centre approval

George Town Council will decide on Tuesday whether to permit Firmus Technologies' 288-megawatt artificial intelligence data centre on the Long Reach site of the former Gunns pulp mill, located within the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone. Planning officers found the application fully compliant with the Tasmanian Planning Scheme and suggested approval with a suite of conditions, including an updated bushfire plan, restrictions on the operation of 276 backup diesel generators, and a fresh noise emissions assessment.

The proposal has attracted 349 written submissions and an electronic petition signed by more than 5,000 people, highlighting worries about water and power usage, pollution, and fire hazards. Council mayor Greg Kieser emphasized that the council's role is limited to assessing compliance with the planning code, not broader policy debates. Firmus is already constructing a 104-megawatt facility in St Leonards, Launceston, and has applied for a 52-megawatt site in Wesley Vale, which would make it the state's largest electricity consumer if all projects proceed.