Chesworth Dairy Partnership Animal Effluent Management Project

Chesworth Dairy Partnership Animal Effluent Management Project is an emissions avoidance project located at Rawsonville, approximately 20km west of the major regional city of Dubbo in New South Wales. The project was registered on September 9, 2025, and is situated on the fertile alluvial flats of the Macquarie River. The site is the home of the well-known "The Little Big Dairy Co," a vertically integrated family business that milks approximately 800 Holstein cows and processes milk on-farm.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Animal Effluent Management) Methodology Determination 2019. This methodology incentivizes the reduction of methane emissions from the anaerobic decomposition of livestock manure. The specific activities for this project involve a solid separation system and post-diversion treatment. By separating organic solids from the liquid effluent stream before it enters anaerobic holding ponds, the project significantly reduces the amount of methane generated, as the solids can be managed aerobically (e.g., composting) while the remaining liquid has a lower potential for gas production.

The Dubbo region is characterized by a warm temperate to semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 600mm, which is slightly summer-dominant. The landscape around Rawsonville features productive alluvial soils and cracking clays (Vertosols), supporting a mix of intensive irrigation, cropping, and grazing. The Chesworth family, who moved their operations from the Hunter Valley to the Central West to escape mining encroachment, have positioned themselves as leaders in sustainable dairy practices. Notably, family member Campbell Chesworth was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship to study circular economy innovations in dairy, aligning with the project's focus on advanced waste management.