Aug 21, 2026 – 4.17pmData centre developer Firmus, which is planning a $15.5 billion Australian sharemarket listing, is a step closer to building a new data centre on Tasmania’s north coast after council planners suggested it proceed despite community objections.The proposal to build a 288-megawatt data centre at Bell Bay, north of Launceston, will be voted on by ​George Town Council on Tuesday amid strong community concern over the project’s water and energy usage, as well as light and noise pollution.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles