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A Singapore-headquartered tech firm just got the green light to build one of the largest AI-focused data centres in the Southern Hemisphere, and the locals are not exactly throwing a parade. George Town Council in Tasmania approved Firmus Technologies’ 288MW “AI factory” on August 25 with a 6-1 vote, overriding substantial community opposition that included 349 written submissions and close to 6,000 signatures on an electronic petition.
The facility will sit at Long Reach in the Bell Bay industrial precinct, on land once earmarked for the now-defunct Gunns pulp mill.
What Firmus is actually building
The project scope is significant. Two data halls, office and workshop spaces, a substation, cooling infrastructure, and, most controversially, 276 diesel backup generators. That last detail has drawn sharp criticism from locals worried about air quality, noise, and the irony of running diesel generators in a state that prides itself on renewable hydroelectric power.
Firmus says the facility is designed for high-performance computing workloads tied to advanced AI model training. The company plans to use direct-to-chip liquid cooling, a technology that circulates coolant directly over processor surfaces rather than blasting cold air through server racks.
The approval comes with conditions. Firmus must complete comprehensive noise and air quality assessments, and the diesel backup generators will operate under strict limits.
Local opposition and the planning process
The numbers tell a clear story about community sentiment. Nearly 6,000 people signed an electronic petition opposing the project. Of the 349 formal written submissions, the objections centered on environmental impact, power consumption, noise pollution, light pollution, and water usage.
Only one councillor voted against approval. George Town is a municipality of roughly 7,000 people. When nearly as many petition signatures stack up as there are residents, the disconnect between council action and public sentiment becomes hard to ignore.
The decision can still be appealed within a 14-day window following the vote.
The economic pitch
Firmus projects more than 380 construction jobs during the build phase and over 115 permanent positions once the facility is operational.
The Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone, where the Firmus site is located, was specifically designated to attract industrial-scale projects. Firmus also has a parallel project under construction near Launceston, expected to operate initially at 90-104MW, as part of its broader strategy to establish a significant presence in the Australian market.
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