Data company urged to be 'good' after water plan slip reveals intentions

A farmer has called on an artificial intelligence company to demonstrate "corporate citizenship" after it inadvertently disclosed plans to use water reserved for agricultural purposes to cool a data centre. The incident came to light when Firmus Technologies, which operates three data centres in northern Tasmania, posted an internal document on its website detailing the use of water from the Tasmanian Irrigation scheme at its proposed Wesley Vale centre. The information was quickly removed following inquiries from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The firm, led by co-CEOs Tim Rosenfield and Oliver Curtis, stated that the majority of the water required for cooling the Wesley Vale data centre would come from rainwater harvested and stored on-site. Any additional water, described as part of "contingency and resilience planning," would be sourced elsewhere. In previous statements, Firmus claimed the centre’s annual water consumption would be comparable to that of a restaurant. The Tasmanian Irrigation scheme, a state-run initiative established in 2008 to ensure reliable water supply for farming, has been central to the controversy. Farmer Nathan Richardson, chair of the Sassafras Wesley Vale portion of the irrigation scheme, expressed concern that the data centre’s potential water usage could affect the broader agricultural community. He noted that farmers had long supported the development of irrigation infrastructure on their land, believing it beneficial for farming. However, he emphasized that the current situation involving Firmus was new and unanticipated. Richardson argued that the decision on Firmus’ water access should rest with Tasmanian Irrigation and the government, urging them to prioritize the interests of local landowners. “I would expect TI and the government to negotiate very handsomely on the side of our district and our community,” he said. He also encouraged Firmus to consider the well-being of existing landholders in the region. “Be a good corporate citizen, Firmus.” Another local farmer, Matt Ryan, acknowledged that the volume of water Firmus might require was not alarming. However, he pointed out that discussions about expanding the irrigation scheme to accommodate industrial users were already underway. “If that makes the scheme viable, then that's worth considering,” he said. “If it's going to be a big user and it's going to fundamentally change the scope of the scheme or the impact on irrigators, then obviously that's another conversation.” Firmus responded to the ABC’s inquiry by clarifying its water management strategy. It highlighted that rainwater harvesting would serve as the primary method for cooling the data centre, particularly during periods exceeding 26 degrees Celsius. The company noted that while it planned to store up to 1 million litres of water on-site, only 700,000 litres would be allocated specifically for cooling. Based on historical weather data spanning 26 years, Firmus estimated that the maximum water usage during summer would be approximately 608,000 litres. Though Firmus has not yet formally requested a connection to the Tasmanian Irrigation scheme, it appears poised to explore such options if necessary. As the debate over water allocation continues, both local farmers and regulatory bodies await further clarification on how Firmus’ operations will align with regional water management priorities.