Ryan Group Anaerobic Biodigester

Ryan Group Anaerobic Biodigester is a wastewater treatment project located in the Moira Shire region of Victoria, approximately 17km west of Yarrawonga and 45km east of the proponent's main abattoir in Nathalia. Registered in February 2025, the project operates under the Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Wastewater methodology. The project is managed by Ryan Meat Company (No 2) Pty Ltd, a family-owned business established in 1948 that specializes in processing and exporting lamb, mutton, and goat.

The project involves the installation of anaerobic digesters to replace deep open anaerobic lagoons previously used for treating industrial wastewater. Under the Carbon Farming Initiative methodology, this transition prevents the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Instead, the biogas generated during the anaerobic digestion process is captured and combusted using a boiler. This not only mitigates emissions but also allows the facility to displace fossil fuel energy with renewable biogas for process heat.

The project is situated in the Goulburn Valley, a region dominated by irrigated agriculture, cropping, and grazing. The environment is classified as temperate to semi-arid, characterized by hot, dry summers and cool winters, with an average annual rainfall of approximately 450–500mm. The local soils are typically red-brown earths and clay loams, common in the Riverine Plains, which support the region's intensive farming and livestock operations.