Data CentresLindsay SaundersWed 02 Sep 26
Firmus Files Plans for Mooted Third AI Factory in Tasmania’s North
Firmus has added another 52MW AI data centre to its Tasmanian development pipeline, filing plans for a facility at Wesley Vale just days after securing approval for a much larger project at Bell Bay.
The proposed Wesley Vale AI Factory would be built at 226 Mill Road, on part of the former Wesley Vale Pulp Mill site, within the established Mill Park industrial precinct.
The development application filed with the Latrobe Council covers a 3502sq m building, including a 2689sq m data hall, 793sq m of administration space and a guardhouse.
The building would have a primary roof height of about 8.5m, with rooftop mechanical equipment taking the maximum height to about 15m.
The proposal includes cooling infrastructure, electrical equipment, water storage, internal roads and more than 25 car spaces, as well as 40 diesel generators for backup power.
Firmus plans to deliver the facility in two stages, initially operating at 26MW before expanding to a maximum 52MW capacity. The company says the site would have a critical IT load of about 23MW initially, rising to about 46MW at full capacity.
The project is being proposed on previously developed industrial land, with the site adjoining major electricity transmission infrastructure including the Wesley Vale substation.
Firmus is planning upgrades to the substation to support the future 26MW connection, while it says the facility will be capable of reducing its electricity demand during periods of energy scarcity or network constraint.
The company has proposed rainwater harvesting and on-site storage as the primary water source for cooling, with dry cooling to be used for most of the year.
Firmus says the facility would use water for cooling only on days when temperatures exceed 26C, with average annual cooling water consumption forecast at 448kL.
The development application is open for public comment. Submissions are due to close on September 9.
Latrobe Mayor Peter Freshney has raised concerns about whether the existing planning framework is appropriate for a project of this scale. The council is expected to consider the application later this year
The Wesley Vale filing follows George Town Council’s approval last week of Firmus’ proposed 288MW AI Factory at Long Reach near Bell Bay.
That project on the former Gunns Pulp Mill site was approved six votes to one despite 349 public submissions and a petition signed by almost 6000 people objecting to the plan.
Firmus is also building a 104MW AI Factory at St Leonards near Launceston.
If all three projects proceed, the company’s Tasmanian pipeline would total about 444MW of capacity, making Firmus the state’s largest electricity user.
The Bell Bay approval has now moved into detailed design, procurement and construction planning.
Its approval has also prompted renewed scrutiny of how Tasmania assesses large-scale AI infrastructure, with residents preparing an appeal and Latrobe Council considering whether the Wesley Vale proposal should instead be declared a major project and assessed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.
Firmus has argued the Wesley Vale site is suited to the development because of its existing industrial zoning, proximity to high-voltage electricity infrastructure and separation from sensitive residential uses.
The company expects the project to support about 70 civil, electrical and trades contractors during construction and more than 20 permanent workers once the first stage is operational.
Firmus said its three Tasmanian AI factories would represent more than $2 billion in investment, with the projects expected to generate significant construction and ongoing economic activity.
