A visualisation of the Firmus site submitted as part of the planning application for Bell Bay. (Supplied)
The future of a proposed AI data centre at the old Gunns Pulp Mill site will soon be determined, with George Town Council planners recommending the project be approved.
The planning application has attracted more than 300 submissions from the public, but George Town mayor Greg Kieser says the council's decision is limited to determining if the development is compliant with the planning scheme.
The council will vote next Tuesday on whether to approve the 288-megawatt AI data centre.
Council planners have recommended a controversial proposed artificial intelligence data centre in Tasmania's north be approved.
George Town Council will vote on Tuesday whether to approve Firmus Technologies's proposed 288-megawatt facility at Long Reach, at the old pulp mill site, in the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone.
The planning application attracted 349 submissions from the public, while an electronic petition containing more than 5,000 signatures called on the council to reject it.
The council had extended the period where the public could make submissions, after complaints from nearby residents about a lack of community consultation.
The submissions detailed concerns including water and energy use; noise, air and light pollution; bushfire risk and environmental impact.
If approved, Firmus Technologies' proposed AI data centre will be built at the former Gunns Pulp Mill site near Bell Bay. (Supplied)
Council's planning officers responded to each of the concerns in the upcoming council meeting's published agenda, stating some of them were not factors regulated by the Tasmanian Planning Scheme.
"While many representations raise broader issues relating to energy policy, artificial intelligence, national security and Commonwealth regulation, these matters are either addressed through separate statutory frameworks or fall outside the scope of the planning authority's role in determining the application," they stated.
They recommended council approve the development, with conditions.
Firmus is currently building a 104-megawatt AI data centre in the Launceston suburb of St Leonards, which is slated to begin operating early next year.
Firmus Technologies' construction of an AI data centre in St Leonards is underway. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)