At a Special Council Meeting last night, Council considered a report from their Development and Regulatory Services team relating to a proposed 52-megawatt AI data centre at Wesley Vale and the broader challenges these developments present for local government when assessing the applications as a Planning Authority.
Council resolved to seek greater State Government oversight of the proposed Wesley Vale project, including consideration of the project as a major project, together with appropriate environmental assessment, and has also called for urgent reform of Tasmania’s planning framework to enable appropriate assessment of current and future development applications for AI infrastructure.
The decision recognises that AI data centres are a relatively new and rapidly evolving form of development, with potential implications extending well beyond traditional planning considerations - including energy demand, water resources, environmental impacts, infrastructure, land use, community health and wellbeing, and long-term economic benefits.
Mayor Peter Freshney said Council's position is not about being for or against AI technology or investment.
"Despite the State Government promoting AI data centre development, there has been no consideration of how such proposals would be assessed within the defined use classes in the planning scheme. Councils need a planning and assessment framework that is fit for purpose and capable of appropriately considering projects of this scale and complexity, and a process that gives communities confidence that the broader impacts are being appropriately assessed and considered."
The decision comes as the Tasmanian Parliament's Government Administration Committee A conducts an inquiry, including consideration as to whether the Resource Management and Planning System recognises and addresses the specific impacts of the development and construction of AI and data facilities in Tasmania.
Council's decision provides an important local government perspective to that broader discussion, particularly given the Wesley Vale proposal is currently being assessed by our team prior to determination.