Tasmania’s George Town Council approves 288-megawatt AI data centre amid public opposition

Consensus Summary

The George Town Council in Tasmania approved a 288-megawatt AI data centre proposed by Firmus Technologies at the former Gunns Pulp Mill site in Long Reach, despite strong public opposition. The decision, made on next Tuesday (August 27, 2026), followed a 6-1 vote by councillors, who described their approval as ‘reluctant’ due to the contentious nature of the project. The planning application attracted 349 submissions and an electronic petition with more than 5,000 signatures, reflecting widespread concerns about energy use, environmental impact, and the suitability of existing planning laws for such developments.

The project is part of Firmus Technologies’ broader plans to build three AI data centres in northern Tasmania, including a 104-megawatt facility in St Leonards, which is already under construction and set to begin operating early next year. The company has also submitted an application for a 52-megawatt data centre in Wesley Vale, with Latrobe Council expected to vote on it in October. The George Town Council’s approval came just one day before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced national datacentre standards, which are set to be legislated early next year, but the council proceeded under the existing Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993, a 33-year-old law critics argue is outdated for modern technologies like AI data centres.

Key figures in the debate include George Town Mayor Greg Kieser, who emphasized the council’s limited role in assessing compliance with planning codes, and Anne-Marie Bastian and Nicholla Thompson, leaders of the Environmental Awareness Association, who plan to appeal the decision within the 14-day window allowed by law. Councillors such as Heather Ashley and Winston Mason expressed regret over the decision but stated they were bound by existing regulations. Meanwhile, Firmus Technologies’ co-CEOs, Tim Rosenfield and Oliver Curtis, welcomed the approval, highlighting the company’s commitment to energy efficiency and responsible water use, as well as its ability to respond to grid signals to reduce power demand.

While both ABC and the Guardian agree on the core details of the approval, including the vote count, the number of submissions, and the federal government’s upcoming standards, there are differences in emphasis. The ABC focuses on the procedural aspects, such as the council’s extended public submission period and the incorrect reporting of diesel generators, while the Guardian highlights the broader political context, including the federal government’s role and the Greens’ call for a moratorium on new datacentres. The Guardian also notes Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority’s objection to a separate 366MW datacentre in Melbourne, underscoring the national debate over these projects.

The unresolved issue is whether the George Town Council’s decision will hold, given the impending federal standards and the planned appeals by local residents. Latrobe Council’s potential declaration of the Wesley Vale project as a ‘major project’ could also shift the approval process to the state planning commission, setting a precedent for how similar projects are handled. Meanwhile, Firmus Technologies continues to push forward with its developments, confident in its ability to meet the new national standards once they are in place, while opponents argue the projects should be paused until clearer regulations are established.