Firmus Technologies Secures Approval for 288MW AI Data Center in Tasmania Amid Local Opposition

Firmus Technologies, a tech firm based in Singapore, has been granted approval to build a substantial AI data center in Tasmania, marking one of the largest projects of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The George Town Council approved the 288MW facility on August 25 with a 6-1 vote, despite considerable local opposition that included 349 written submissions and nearly 6,000 signatures on a petition against the project.

The data center will be located at Long Reach in the Bell Bay industrial precinct, on land previously designated for the now-defunct Gunns pulp mill. The project includes two data halls, office and workshop spaces, a substation, cooling infrastructure, and notably, 276 diesel backup generators, which have raised concerns among residents regarding air quality and noise pollution.

Firmus Technologies claims the facility will focus on high-performance computing workloads for advanced AI model training, utilizing direct-to-chip liquid cooling technology. However, the approval comes with conditions, requiring comprehensive assessments of noise and air quality, and imposing strict operational limits on the diesel generators.

Local sentiment is clearly against the project, with nearly as many petition signatures as there are residents in George Town, which has a population of about 7,000. The decision can still be appealed within a 14-day window following the vote.

From an economic perspective, Firmus anticipates creating over 380 construction jobs and more than 115 permanent positions once the facility is operational. The site is part of the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone, designated to attract large-scale industrial projects. Additionally, Firmus is developing another project near Launceston, which is expected to operate initially at 90-104MW, as part of its strategy to establish a significant presence in the Australian market.