Casino Biohub
The Casino Biohub project is a proposed environmental infrastructure project in Casino, New South Wales. It aims to improve how organic wastewater is treated at the Casino Food Co-op’s existing livestock processing facility.
The Biohub will use a proven and safe treatment method known as anaerobic digestion to break down liquid waste. This process will capture greenhouse gases, which will then safely destroyed via flaring to reduce emissions.
The project is being delivered by LMS Energy, through its subsidiary Helmont Energy, in partnership with the Casino Food Co-op.
What the Biohub Will Do
The project includes a Covered Anaerobic Lagoon (CAL) system and biogas flare. Here’s how the process will work:
- The Biohub is planned to be built on the Co-op's San Marla farm, located off Reynolds Road in Casino, New South Wales.
- After treatment, the water will continue to be irrigated on adjacent Co-op land using the existing irrigation infrastructure.
- The biogas produced during the AD process will be piped to the flare for safe combustion, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- The facility will be fully integrated with the existing wastewater treatment infrastructure and will be able to process up to 803,000 tonnes of liquid waste each year.
Location and Planning
The Biohub is planned to be built on land next to the Co-op’s existing livestock processing facility, located off Reynolds Road in Casino, New South Wales.
Previously considered a State Significant Development (SSD), the project has been scaled down and is now proceeding through a local development pathway. A development application will be lodged with Richmond Valley Council and will be supported by a Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) and detailed technical assessments.
Revised Project Scope
The original concept for the Casino Biohub included capturing biogas from wastewater and using it to generate renewable electricity for the Co-op.
The revised Biohub project will now solely focus on improving the management of the Casino Food Co-op’s organic wastewater by using a Covered Anaerobic Lagoon (CAL) system. This process will still utilise anaerobic digestion to capture biogas, but instead of using the biogas for energy generation, the gas will be safely flared to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The streamlined version maintains the original goals of environmental improvement and emissions reduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the Biohub an incinerator project?
No, the proposal does not involve any burning of waste. Instead, it uses a biological process called anaerobic digestion to treat the wastewater, where naturally occurring bacteria break down the organic material to produce biogas. The biogas is then safely destroyed through flaring, which prevents its release into the atmosphere and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Anaerobic digestion is a natural process, similar to our own bodies’ digestion processes or what occurs in wetlands.
2. Will there be any odours?
The enclosed nature of the Biohub system creates a controlled treatment environment. This is expected to reduce odours and minimise potential environmental emissions.
3. Where will the wastewater end up?
After treatment, the water will continue to be used for irrigation on Co-op land through existing infrastructure.
4. Are there any environmental and health impacts associated with the project?
Specialist reports will be prepared as part of the development process and will assess any potential impacts to land, air and waterways, and how they will be managed. Potential environmental impacts are expected to be minimal, with an overall net benefit for the Co-op and the community.
Furthermore, there are no negative health implications created by this project.
5. Will there be an increase in truck movements?
There may be some short-term increases in truck movements during the construction phase. Construction activities, including an increase in heavy vehicle movements on the local road network, have the potential to impact traffic. However, these impacts are anticipated to be relatively minor due to the scale of the project and the neighbouring industrial land uses.
Want to Learn More?
This page contains the most up-to-date information on the Casino Biohub project. Updates will continue to be provided here as the project progresses.