Union Pastoral Effluent Management

Union Pastoral Effluent Management is an emissions avoidance project located at Union Station, a historic pastoral property near Woolsthorpe, approximately 25km north of Warrnambool in the Western District of Victoria. Registered in September 2024, the project is operated by The Union Pastoral Co Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the prominent Australian agribusiness The Midfield Group. While specific coordinates were not provided, Union Station is a well-known flagship property in the region, covering fertile volcanic plains renowned for intensive grazing and agriculture.

The project operates under the Animal Effluent Management methodology, which generates carbon credits by reducing methane emissions from the decomposition of animal waste. This specific project involves the installation of a new facility that treats effluent using solid separation, a process that removes organic solids from the waste stream before they break down anaerobically (without oxygen) in storage ponds. By diverting these solids for aerobic treatment or alternative use, the project prevents the generation of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. Given The Midfield Group's significant "Union Dairy Company" operations in the region, this project likely addresses effluent from a large-scale dairy facility on the property.

The Woolsthorpe region lies within Victoria's Western District, an area characterized by a cool temperate climate and reliable, high rainfall (typically 600–700mm annually). The landscape is defined by the Victorian Volcanic Plain, featuring nutrient-rich basalt soils (heavy clays and loams) that support high-stocking densities for dairy cattle, beef, and sheep. Union Station itself is a legacy property dating back to the mid-19th century and was acquired by The Midfield Group in 2001 to serve as a hub for their vertically integrated meat and dairy supply chain.