George Town Council approved Firmus Technologies’ proposed 288-megawatt artificial intelligence data centre at Long Reach in northern Tasmania, following a six-to-one vote by councillors on Tuesday, August 25. The facility will occupy the former Gunns pulp mill site within the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone, despite receiving 349 public submissions and an electronic petition with nearly 6,000 signatures opposing the development.
Council Vote and Planning Conditions
Six councillors—Greg Kieser, Greg Dawson, Heather Ashley, Simone Lowe, Winston Mason, and Jason Orr—voted in favour of the project, while Winston Archer was the sole dissenting vote. Council planners recommended the approval with specific conditions, noting in the meeting agenda that statutory assessments must be confined to the relevant provisions of the planning scheme. “In some instances, concerns raised in representations do not directly relate to the applicable provisions of the planning scheme and, as such, cannot be addressed through the planning approval process,” council planners wrote.
The approval comes with several operational and environmental requirements. Firmus must conduct a noise survey within 60 days of starting operations and submit an air quality assessment within 12 months. Additionally, the company must submit an updated bushfire and emergency management plan before building works commence, after an earlier filing incorrectly reported 128 diesel generators instead of the actual 276. The council limited the simultaneous operation of more than one generator to a combined 24 hours per year, restricting usage to unscheduled power outages, routine testing, maintenance, or genuine emergencies.
Did You Know?
The approved 288-megawatt AI data centre will be built at the former Gunns pulp mill site in Long Reach, positioning Firmus to become Tasmania’s largest electricity user ahead of major industrial operations like Bell Bay Aluminium.
Community Opposition and Protests
Ahead of the council meeting, about 80 residents gathered outside the George Town Council building to urge a rejection of the proposal. Protesters raised concerns regarding local energy security, water consumption, noise, light pollution, and potential impacts on local biodiversity and nature. Fifteen-year-old Ayla Heawood told reporters that her parents allowed her to miss school to join the demonstration. “If they’re going to use our land, the very, very least they can do is tell us about the water usage, the power usage, and everything, because it’s our right to know,” Heawood said.
Long-time local resident Katherine Collins expressed worry over whether the regional grid holds sufficient capacity. “I think it’s the energy security that worries me the most, I really can’t see how we’re going to have the energy in Tasmania for this,” Collins said. Another demonstrator, Ashly Craig, attended with a dog wearing a vest labeled “more nature, less data,” noting a lack of independent reports regarding effects on flora and fauna. Liz Flaherty, another local opponent, stated that the anti-data centre movement would persist, comparing its trajectory to historical pulp mill rallies.
Project Scope and Next Steps
Firmus welcomed the decision as an important milestone for the company. In a statement, a spokesperson said the project is expected to create more than 380 jobs during construction and support over 115 permanent local roles once operational. The company stated that the facility will feature capabilities to respond to grid signals every five minutes, allowing it to cut load by shifting non-urgent computing work or switching to on-site backup generation during grid stress.
The Bell Bay development sits alongside other Tasmanian projects by Firmus, including a 104-megawatt data centre under construction in the Launceston suburb of St Leonards and a development application for a 52-megawatt facility at Wesley Vale in the state’s north-west. Anyone who made a formal representation to the council regarding the Bell Bay proposal has a 14-day window to appeal the decision through the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the Firmus AI data centre be located?
The 288-megawatt data centre will be built at the former Gunns pulp mill site in Long Reach, located within the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone in northern Tasmania.
How did the George Town Council vote on the proposal?
Six councillors voted in favour of the development application, while Winston Archer was the only councillor to vote against it.
What appeal rights are available to opponents of the project?
Anyone who made a representation to the council about the proposal is able to appeal the decision through the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal within 14 days of the ruling.
How should regional councils balance local community concerns about energy security against large-scale industrial investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure?
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