Councillors' pleas for the community to understand their decision on impending data centre developments have fallen on deaf ears, with some Tasmanians vowing to sell up, move out, and pursue legal action to stave off artificial intelligence (AI) in the region.
George Town Council voted to approve the development of a Firmus data centre to be built at Lot 1 East Tamar Highway, Long Reach.
Despite a chamber full of data centre opponents, only councillor Winston Archer voted against the development application.
People from the George Town municipality, across the Tamar, Launceston and Latrobe spoke during public question time against the application.
They questioned the long-term health and environmental impacts of the development.
During the meeting, there were regular interruptions, including debate with the mayor or council officers, multiple people walking out with commentary, and clapping for speakers.
One woman left the chamber after her disruption saying they did not care about the community.
"It doesn't matter about the community," she said.
"Stuff the community."
The vote to approve the development was initially met by silence as most people filed out, disappointment and frustration palpable.
Once outside, more inflammatory language was thrown back through the door, such as calling the council "disgusting".
The August agenda noted the application had "attracted significant public interest", with 349 individual representations and an e-petition containing more than 5000 signatures being received.
During the August meeting another petition was raised by George Town resident Elisa Crespi.
She said after the e-petition was rejected, she went around to businesses and community members and collected more than 140 signatures.
George Town general manager Shane Powers said the petition was not valid for consideration at the August meeting because of the timeline under which it was submitted.
Ms Crespi said both in the chamber as she left, and afterwards, that the council was not listening to the community.
"Everyone knows it's an environmental disaster," she said.
"They're supposed to be public servants, but they're not listening to the people."
Ms Crespi said she planned to sell her house and leave the area.
"I will sell my home ... I'm out of here," she said.
She said she did not want to stay and watch "this beautiful place" be destroyed.
Environmental Awareness Association Inc (EAA) representative Heather Knyn said the group intended to take the matter further, if approved.
EAA president Anne-Marie Bastian said the council and councillors would be responsible for the impact of their decisions, and said the data centre was a "futuristic crisis".
She said the planning scheme was an outdated framework that was not constructed with technology such as AI in mind.
The council planner said the council was "bound by the confines of the planning scheme", including legislated timelines.
Mayor Greg Kieser said he believed the council had fulfilled its obligations under the planning scheme, and adequately represented the community despite the pushback during the meeting.
"There's no formal polling, but the overwhelming message we received is that the public are supportive [with caveats]," he said.
The council had imposed 13 pages' worth of conditions on the development.
All councillors spoke before the vote, citing their role and obligations as a planning authority as the prevailing reason behind their decisions.
Significant time was given to outlining the appeal pathway for any parties wanting to do so.
Cr Kieser said the issue was of high interest, and the council was prepared for the matter to be appealed through legal processes.
A Firmus spokesperson said they welcomed the decision and expected to create more than 380 jobs during construction, and support more than 115 permanent local roles once operational.