‘Reluctant’ approval for Tasmanian datacentre sets marker for national battle

Concerns over planning process as George Town council gives go-ahead for 288MW AI factory despite opposition from locals

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The day before Anthony Albanese secured agreement with states and territories to https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/26/albanese-backs-down-on-states-powering-ai-datacentres-using-sustainable-energy">develop national datacentre standards, a small council in Tasmania was grappling with the existing regulations in the face of strong community opposition to a new AI factory planned for its town.

The George Town council voted 6-1 to approve the plans of Australian developer Firmus to build a 288 megawatt (MW) datacentre at Long Reach, north of Launceston, but said it did so reluctantly.