Harvey Beef Covered Anaerobic Lagoon Project

The Harvey Beef Covered Anaerobic Lagoon Project is an industrial wastewater treatment project located at the Harvey Processing Facility, situated just outside the town of Harvey, approximately 140 kilometers south of Perth, Western Australia. Registered in October 2019, the project operates within the facility's existing footprint rather than a broad land area. The surrounding Peel-Harvey region is a significant agricultural hub, heavily utilized for intensive dairy farming, beef production, and horticulture due to its extensive irrigation networks.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Wastewater) Methodology. This methodology incentivizes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by changing how wastewater is treated. Specifically, the project involves replacing deep open anaerobic lagoons, which naturally release methane (a potent greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere, with covered anaerobic digesters. The system captures the biogas generated during the breakdown of organic matter in the wastewater. This captured gas is then combusted in an on-site boiler, converting the methane into carbon dioxide (which has a lower global warming potential) and generating renewable thermal energy for the facility.

Environmentally, the Harvey region experiences a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The area typically receives high winter rainfall, historically averaging between 800mm and 1000mm annually, which supports the region's lush pastures. The facility sits on the Pinjarra Plain, where soils are predominantly alluvial, consisting of sandy duplexes and clays that are often poorly drained but highly fertile for grazing when managed correctly.

A notable feature of this project is its integration into the operations of Western Australia's largest beef processor, Harvey Beef (part of the Harvest Road Group). The installation of the Covered Anaerobic Lagoon (CAL) allows the facility to offset a significant portion of its natural gas consumption, estimated at around one-third, by utilizing the captured biogas. In March 2025, the project underwent a methodology variation to Compilation No. 3, ensuring it remains aligned with the latest regulatory standards for wastewater methane capture.