Arabic version: مجلس بلدية في تسمانيا يوافق على مركز بيانات للذكاء الاصطناعي بقدرة 288 ميغاواط

According to The Guardian, George Town council in Tasmania voted 6-1 to approve Australian developer Firmus’s planned 288 megawatt datacentre at Long Reach, north of Launceston, despite strong opposition from local residents.

The proposed AI factory would be built on the former Gunns Pulp Mill site near the Tamar River. A petition seeking to stop the project had nearly 6,000 signatures, while more than 300 people made submissions to the council. Concerns raised included energy use, AI and commonwealth regulation, though the council agenda said those matters were outside its role in deciding the application.

Councillors said they were required to apply current planning rules rather than wait for proposed federal standards. Councillor Heather Ashley called it one of her hardest decisions in four years on council. Councillor Winston Mason said councillors had been “very reluctant” but had to make a decision under planning rules and regulations.

The approval came shortly before Anthony Albanese announced that the federal government would legislate from early next year for a nationally consistent framework setting minimum requirements for large datacentres. The government plans to work with states and territories on mandatory standards covering energy, water and land use, while complementing rather than duplicating state and territory approval processes.

Residents who objected have 14 days from Tuesday to appeal. Firmus welcomed the decision and said the project would move into design, procurement and construction planning. The Australian Energy Market Operator said 225 datacentres were in development nationally, while Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young called for a moratorium on new AI datacentres until rules are in place.