Mulgoa Road LFG Emission Avoidance Project (Revoked)

Mulgoa Road LFG Emission Avoidance Project (Revoked) was a landfill gas project located at the Penrith Landfill Depot, approximately 10km south of the Penrith CBD in Western Sydney, New South Wales. Registered in November 2018, the project operated at a waste facility at 842 Mulgoa Road, situated within the peri-urban region of the Cumberland Plain. The area is characterised by a mix of waste management infrastructure, rural-residential properties, and grazing land, sitting near the developing Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

The project operated under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology credits the capture and combustion of methane generated by decomposing organic waste in landfills. By installing a collection system to flare or generate electricity from this gas, the project converts methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into carbon dioxide, which has a significantly lower global warming potential. This specific project involved a new gas collection system targeting both legacy (pre-2012) and non-legacy waste.

The environmental conditions in the Mulgoa region are typical of the Cumberland Plain, featuring warm summers and mild winters with an average annual rainfall of approximately 750mm to 800mm. The local geography is defined by undulating hills with clay and shale-based soils (Wianamatta Shale), which are common across Western Sydney.

The project was voluntarily revoked on 29 September 2023 under section 30 of the CFI Rule. Such revocations often occur when a proponent determines the project is no longer commercially viable, or if the site operations change significantly. Public records from the ACCC and NSW Parliament suggest that the Penrith Landfill Depot (operated by the proponent Penrith Waste Services Pty. Limited) was a smaller facility compared to major regional hubs, potentially limiting the volume of gas available for viable long-term abatement.