Hogans Pocket landfill gas project

Hogans Pocket landfill gas project is a landfill gas emissions destruction project located at the Hogans Pocket Landfill in Eton, approximately 50km southwest of Mackay City in Queensland. It was registered in March 2026. While the specific carbon project area is strictly tied to the active waste cells, the entire municipal landfill facility covers 275 hectares.

Landfill gas projects under the Reducing Methane Emissions from Landfill Gas methodology involve capturing biogas (primarily methane) generated by decomposing organic waste and safely combusting it to prevent it from entering the atmosphere. This specific project upgrades an existing gas collection system to capture the landfill biogas and combust it using flaring devices. By doing so, the project heavily reduces the greenhouse warming potential of the emissions by converting the harmful methane into far less potent carbon dioxide.

The Eton and broader Pioneer Valley region is traditionally dominated by sugarcane farming and cattle grazing. Positioned on the Connors Range, the environment is classified as a high-rainfall area, receiving in excess of 1400mm of rain annually. Most of this rainfall arrives during a distinct wet season between November and May. The regional soils include alluvial and cracking clays in the valleys, alongside shallower rocky soils on the ranges. Because of the intense rainfall, the active landfill site itself relies on highly engineered imported clay placements, multi-layer double geosynthetic liners, and sedimentation ponds for safe waste containment and vital leachate management.

This emissions upgrade project represents a progressive, long-term collaboration between the proponent, LGI Limited, and the Mackay Regional Council. It operates as a non-biomethane and non-safeguard facility that currently relies exclusively on flaring for emission destruction. Interestingly, while it is currently a flaring-only operation that safely burns off the gas to reduce pollution, the advanced capture infrastructure establishes a strong operational foundation that could eventually be utilized to generate dispatchable, renewable electricity for the Mackay region.