Gracemere Landfill Gas Project (Revoked)

Gracemere Landfill Gas Project (Revoked) was a landfill gas project located at the closed Gracemere Landfill, approximately 10km southwest of Rockhampton in Central Queensland. Registered in May 2020, the project was designed to capture and combust methane generated by legacy waste at the site. It was managed by LMS Energy Pty Ltd in partnership with the Rockhampton Regional Council. The project was voluntarily revoked in February 2024.

The project operated under the Landfill Gas methodology, which involves installing a system of wells and pipes to extract methane produced by decomposing organic waste. This gas is then flared or used for electricity generation, converting the potent methane into carbon dioxide, which has a significantly lower global warming potential.

The Gracemere region is situated in a sub-tropical climate zone with a mean annual rainfall of approximately 800mm, predominantly falling in summer. The surrounding landscape is characterized by the flat to gently undulating plains of the Fitzroy Basin, with soils typically consisting of heavy clays and texture-contrast alluvial soils. While the site itself is a waste management facility, the broader region is famous as the "Beef Capital of Australia," dominated by cattle grazing and agricultural operations.

Notably, this project appears to have been a victim of low gas yields. In late 2022, LMS Energy installed a "biogas flare trial" at the site to determine if the volume of gas from the closed landfill was sufficient for permanent extraction. The Council noted at the time that because the site had not received waste for many years, gas volumes were unknown. The subsequent revocation in early 2024, under Section 30 of the CFI Rule (voluntary revocation), suggests the trial determined that permanent extraction was not viable.