Hervey Range Landfill Gas Project

The Hervey Range Landfill Gas Project is a waste emissions avoidance project located at the Hervey Range Waste Facility, approximately 20km southwest of Townsville in Queensland. Registered in May 2015, the project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2015. The site itself, situated on Hervey Range Road near the suburb of Alice River, has transitioned from an active landfill to a Resource Recovery Centre and Transfer Station. While the facility now transfers new general waste to the larger Stuart Waste Facility, this project specifically targets the "legacy waste" deposited in the site's older, closed landfill cells.

The project involves the installation and operation of a gas collection system designed to extract landfill gas (LFG) generated by the decomposition of organic matter underground. Under the Landfill Gas methodology, proponents must capture methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and combust it, converting it into less harmful carbon dioxide. At Hervey Range, this is achieved through a network of wells and pipes that channel the gas to a combustion device, typically a flare. Townsville City Council reports indicate the use of specialized bituminous geomembrane (BGM) lining at the site to cap the landfill and trap methane for these "burn-offs," ensuring effective emissions control during the site's rehabilitation phase.

The region is characterized by a dry tropical climate, with a distinct wet season (summer) and dry season (winter). Rainfall in the Townsville area is highly variable, often occurring in intense bursts during the monsoon, which necessitates robust landfill capping to prevent water infiltration and leachate generation. The local terrain around Hervey Range generally consists of dry sclerophyll bushland with soils that can range from sandy loams to clays, typical of the coastal dry tropics. The project is operated by LMS Energy, a leading Australian bioenergy company, which manages the gas collection infrastructure under contract with the Council.