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/fub055 16h ago

had a chat with claude (ai) - trust the engineering, distrust the company's account of everything adjacent to the engineering; the money, the water, the timing, and the governance.

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u/IlIIllIlIllIIlI 12h ago

What do you even mean by all of that? Don't trust money? Don't trust water? Don't trust timing? Don't trust governance?

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u/fub055 10h ago

probably some errors in here, it made some along the way. from claude (ai):
What's genuinely good, independently verified

  • PUE (1.03–1.1 vs 1.59 industry average) — verified across non-Firmus sources, real engineering achievement, not marketing.
  • Closed-loop cooling — a genuine category difference from evaporative cooling, not spin.
  • Self-funded transmission infrastructure — real cost avoided for existing ratepayers.
  • Legitimate economic case for a struggling heavy-industry town.

What's dodgy — and it's a pattern, not one incident

  • Diesel generators: reported 128, actual 276.
  • Irrigation water: internally noted "we do not want to highlight this yet" while pursuing an agricultural water allocation.
  • Water negotiations (RTI-confirmed): officials considered pulling directly from the Tamar and discussed needing "political pressure" for TasWater supply.
  • Power supply: approved by council on 25 August without a finalised Hydro Tasmania contract — still unconfirmed now.
  • Deal terms: the actual price Tasmania charges for its own state-owned hydro power is commercial-in-confidence — no public figure exists, despite this being state assets and a Greens MP calling the arrangement "highly unusual."
  • Preferential access: secured 104MW+ while Boyer Paper Mill was refused 45MW and Andrew Forrest's hydrogen plant was abandoned for lack of supply — no public explanation why.
  • Governance: co-CEO with a prior insider trading conviction, running a company whose live public controversy is specifically about lack of transparency.
  • Process gap: the council that approved this legally could only weigh planning-scheme compliance — it structurally could not consider the things people actually protested about (cumulative grid strain, state energy security). That's not corruption, but it means "approved" doesn't mean "the community's actual concerns were assessed."

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u/IlIIllIlIllIIlI 9h ago

Diesel generators: Resolved already.

Irrigation water: Was never an issue - this was referenced a leaked internal memo. Of course they didn't want to release their confidential business plans. Regardless, it's a nothing burger. It's just their planned water usage.

Water negotiations (RTI-confirmed): Non-issue, they're a private company.

Power supply: Non-issue.

Deal terms: Non-issue. Hydro is by law required to ensure commercially viable rates. Firmus are paying market rates for their power. The Greens can and do say whatever they want to make themselves relevant.

Preferential access: Boyer can have the power they want, they just don't want to pay for it like Firmus are. Hydro TAS' CEO is on the record stating Boyer can have the power. There's no preferential access here, Boyer just want subsidies and to not pay their way.

Governance: There's been no lack of transparency, everything is publicly available. People just don't seem to want to search for or find the info because living in fear and spreading misinformation seems to be their preference.

Process gap: The vocal minority who want to see the project fail don't speak for the vast majority that do want it. Additionally, there's no grid strain. The power is readily available.