Tamar vineyard owners weigh leaving as Firmus 288MW data centre goes to TASCAT
An environmental group has taken George Town Council's approval of Firmus's 288MW AI data centre at Long Reach to the Tasmanian tribunal on 12 grounds, and Firmus has launched its own appeal over limits on its diesel generators.
A planning fight over Firmus Technologies' 288MW AI data centre at Long Reach, on the Tamar River, has reached the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT). The Environmental Awareness Association Inc filed an appeal listing 12 grounds against George Town Council's approval, The Examiner reported on 24 October. Firmus has made a separate appeal, aimed at the conditions the council set for the site's back-up diesel generators.
The Examiner detailed two of the 12 grounds. One is that the council wrongly classed the project as a utility; the other is that the notification material behind the approval left out the risk from electromagnetic radiation. Another objector, Anne-Marie Bastian, has questioned whether the project can be handled under the state's 1993 planning legislation at all.
Firmus's appeal concerns the restrictions on its diesel generators, which apply to the 276 back-up units at the site. The company had not commented when the Examiner published its report.
Peter and Loraine Kossmann farm at Rowella, about 1.2km across the river from the site. They told the paper they are concerned that generator particulates could settle on their vines and cattle. Peter Kossmann said it would be "time to move" if the project proceeds. Nicholla Thompson, who is the association's secretary and president, said a tourism venture she planned with her daughter is on hold until the appeal is settled.
George Town Council general manager Shane Power said TASCAT is the right place to test the planning concerns that have been raised. No hearing date has been reported for either appeal. The approval and the generator conditions stay in force until the tribunal rules.