00:02On a quiet property near the Tamar River, residents are preparing to fight the plans of a multi-billion dollar
00:09company.
00:10We're going to do everything within our legal right to get this thing stopped.
00:15Earlier this week, the Georgetown Council approved Firmus Technologies' proposal to build an AI data centre at Longreach, despite broad
00:24community opposition.
00:28The newly formed Environmental Awareness Association plans to appeal that decision through the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
00:39We'll have to prove that it didn't fit into planning regulations from 1993 that were not designed for an AI
00:45megafactory.
00:46Others share their concerns about the legislation.
00:49It's not necessarily appropriate for development applications that are highly technical, as in the tech sector.
00:57Firmus also wants to build an AI data centre at Wesley Vale.
01:02La Trobe Mayor Peter Freshney expects the Council will vote on that development application in October,
01:07well before the Federal Government legislates its planned national standards for AI data centres.
01:14And I regret that that work is retrospective, rather than proactively doing that prior to these applications coming before planning
01:24authorities.
01:24The La Trobe Mayor says the Council will this week consider formally asking Tasmanian Planning Minister Kerry Vincent
01:31to declare the proposed Wesley Vale data centre a major project.
01:36This will mean the Tasmanian Planning Commission assess it instead of the local council.
01:41In my view, it fits the major project criteria.
01:45Planning expert David Adams says councils currently can't assess the cumulative effects of multiple data centres,
01:53their social licence or broader water or energy impacts.
01:57The legislation is no longer fit for purpose.
02:01With the Georgetown Council decision already made,
02:04Ms Bastian and Ms Thompson say the stakes for their appeal couldn't be higher.
02:09And if we lose, I guess we're moving.
02:13Tasmania loses a fantastic community to an AI factory.
02:19You might get a little bit smaller.
02:20You might get a little bit smaller.
02:21You might get a little bit smaller.
02:21You might get a little bit smaller.
02:21You might get a little bit smaller.
02:22You might get a little bit smaller.
02:22You might get a little bit smaller.
02:23You might get a little bit smaller.
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