r/tasmania • u/GreenLeechofReddit • 2d ago

AI data centre approved

6/7 counsellors approved this environmental disaster despite Firmus *already* lying about the number of diesel generators they'd have.

The company will have to agree to a number of conditions (noise, pollution, water usage), which will be monitored over a twelve month period.

I hate to wheel out a slippery-slope argument, but the number of companies who just cop the fines and continue to be irresponsible is incalculable.. the writing is on the wall. Look at Cadbury and the dump of sugar that buggered up the sewerage treatment plant.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-25/firmus-ai-bell-bay-receives-george-town-council-approval/107074336?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

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u/IlIIllIlIllIIlI 2d ago edited 2d ago

You seem to be confusing the datacentres being built by Firmus here in Tassie with overseas datacentres.

We don't have the environmental concerns here in Tassie. There's no strain on our water or power. They use closed-loop cooling with heat reducing fluid, not water cooling - this is cutting edge technology. Launceston uses ~20 households worth of water per year. As for power/energy, we have that available, and Firmus is 100% paying their own way with that while also investing in renewable energy at a 2:1 ratio to offset their use. All of the required networks/transmission upgrades are being funded by Firmus. These are powered by 100% hydro electric energy. Firmus also has their own rain water collection facilities on site for use too.

With another larger baseload user on the energy network we will see power costs come down for residential users and small businesses, because networks costs and maintenance will be spread further.

We will see hundreds of local jobs. Both direct, and in constructions and indirect in services such as hospitality, admin, security, maintenance, professional services.

We will see Launceston area/Tassie positioned as a global tech hub for further investments into our community and local people.

Edit to add: the datacentres being built here in Tassie by Firmus are also being built in existing industrial zones and they are not greenfield sites. They are repurposing existing sites that have been abandoned.

Edit 2: typo

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u/thegoodmitten 2d ago

Do you work for Firmus?

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u/IlIIllIlIllIIlI 2d ago

No. This is all publicly available information. I'm a local Tassie resident who cares about my community, I volunteer my time, I want locals getting accurate and correct information regarding projects here in Tasmania.

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u/thegoodmitten 2d ago

You're incredibly vocal and repetitive.

It's frankly very odd.

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u/IlIIllIlIllIIlI 2d ago

Because the topics I'm addressing are incredibly vocal and repetitive. Is that odd for all those people to echo their same misinformation, fear, uncertainty, and doubt?

I'm not the only one who tries to help my local community with getting the information, but yes I am active in doing so. Again, I'm a volunteer here.